Bodemeister work pleases Baffert

Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Bodemeister, working in company with stablemate

and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks candidate Jemima's Pearl, worked five furlongs in 1:00

4/5, the third fastest of 23 at the distance on a clear, brisk Tuesday morning

at Churchill Downs over the fast main track.

Working after the morning renovation break in the time reserved for Kentucky

Derby and Oaks contenders, Jemima's Pearl started about four lengths in front

under Shaun Bridgmohan for the drill that began at the 4 1/2-furlong pole.

Bodemeister, with Martin Garcia up, halved the margin by the quarter pole and

the two finished on even terms at the 7 1/2-furlong pole.

Fractions for Bodemeister were :12 4/5, :25, :36 4/5, :48 4/5 with a

six-furlong gallop-out time of 1:13.

"I liked the way he went this morning," trainer Bob Baffert said. "He likes

this track. He just skipped over it. He is very fluid when he picks it up and

just floats over the ground."

Mike Smith, who was aboard Bodemeister for his 9 1/2-length romp in the

Arkansas Derby, has the Kentucky Derby riding assignment.

As Bodemeister finished his work, Grade 1 winner Liaison made his first

appearance on the track and galloped 1 1/2 miles under George Alvarez. Liaison

had arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday afternoon from his Southern California

base.

"I'm gonna run him (in the Derby)," Baffert said. "He was a different horse

out there today. He was never comfortable at Santa Anita and just didn't like

the track."

Baffert said that Garcia, who was aboard Liaison for his fourth-place finish

in the Grade 2 San Felipe, would have the mount in the Derby.

Mark Valeski walked the shedrow at Barn 35, a day after working five furlongs

in :59 3/5 under jockey Rosie Napravnik.

"He came out of the work fine," trainer Larry Jones said.

Mark Valeski is scheduled for his final Derby work next Monday.

Former Kentucky governor Brereton Jones, who owns Mark Valeski, also owns

Believe You Can, a leading candidate for the Kentucky Oaks. No owner has

completed an Oaks-Derby double since Calumet Farm in 1952 with Real Delight and

Hill Gail and the feat has been accomplished only two other times.

In other Kentucky Derby news:

Creative Cause, a leading Derby contender based at Betfair Hollywood Park

with trainer Mike Harrington, recorded his final California work on Tuesday,

logging five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 over the Cushion Track.

The Grade 1-winning colt is scheduled to leave for Louisville, Kentucky, on

Saturday and will work once more at Churchill Downs next Tuesday, weather

permitting.

Beaten a length when third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Creative Cause

opened 2012 with a third in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes and then captured the

Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, defeating Bodemeister by nearly a length. He exits a

nose second to I'll Have Another in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.

Harrington told reporters Tuesday morning that Creative Cause will run

without blinkers in the Kentucky Derby. The gray sophomore raced without the

headgear for the first time in the Santa Anita Derby.

The Steve Asmussen-trained trio of Daddy Nose Best, Isn't He Clever and

Sabercat walked the shedrow Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs and all came out

of their Monday workouts in good order, according to assistant trainer Scott

Blasi.