Candy Boy gallops; Pletcher to monitor Vinceremos before making a final decision

Candy Boy gallops; Pletcher to keep tabs on Vinceremos

before making a final decision

Candy Boy, winner of the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis two starts back, visited the main track at Churchill Downs early Thursday morning, galloping 1 1/2

miles at 6:30 a.m. (EDT). Exercise rider Jelani Grant was up for trainer John

Sadler.

"It was an easy first day, just letting him get his feet wet," Sadler said of

Candy Boy, who arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday, walked Tuesday and jogged

Wednesday.

Sadler said Candy Boy would gallop again Friday morning and is scheduled to

work Saturday with three-time Kentucky Derby-winning rider Gary Stevens slated

to be aboard. Owned by C R K Stable, Candy Boy came back from a two-month

freshening to finish third in arguably the toughest prep race this year, the

Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Stevens has the return call on May 3.

Trainer Todd Pletcher's quartet of Kentucky Derby hopefuls galloped after the

morning renovation break.

Pletcher, who will remain at Churchill Downs through the Derby, said the four

colts would work Sunday, "if the weather cooperates" and that a decision on

Vinceremos' Derby participation would not come until early next week after he

watches the colt train and work.

Vinceremos, who finished 14th when making his first start on Polytrack in the

Grade 1 Blue Grass, is owned by WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing Stables. He

was sent to WinStar after the Blue Grass and arrived back in Pletcher's

Churchill barn Wednesday afternoon. Ovel Merida was aboard Vinceremos on

Thursday morning.

Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Danza was partnered by Ezequiel Perez Thursday

morning; Grade 2 Risen Star winner Intense Holiday had Isabelle Bourez aboard;

and Grade 3 Spiral winner We Miss Artie was ridden by Nick Bush.

In other Kentucky Derby news:

Probable Derby favorite California Chrome is scheduled to work at his Los

Alamitos base in Southern California Saturday and will ship to Churchill Downs

on Monday. Trained by Art Sherman, California Chrome will be ridden in Kentucky

Derby 140 by Victor Espinoza.

Blue Grass winner Dance With Fate is scheduled to work Saturday morning on

the turf at Santa Anita for trainer Peter Eurton. The colt will be on the same

flight to Louisville, Kentucky Monday with California Chrome.

Grade 2 Rebel winner Hoppertunity, runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby, walked

the shedrow a day after working five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Hoppertunity will be attempting to become the first

horse to win the Kentucky Derby without a start as a two-year-old since Apollo in

1882.

"Hey, I had him entered in a race at two and scratched him because I had

another one there," Baffert said. "He was ready to run, so that should count."

Arkansas Derby runner-up Ride On Curlin galloped after the renovation break

for trainer Billy Gowan under exercise rider Bryan Beccia.

"He's doing just as good as we had him in Arkansas," Gowan said. "He's held

his weight well, stayed sound and is galloping around with his ears up. He likes

this track."

Ride On Curlin is scheduled to work Saturday, weather-permitting.

Uncle Sigh is scheduled to work Friday morning on the Belmont Park Training

Track around 9:30 a.m., according to Gary Contessa. The trainer said Uncle Sigh

would leave New York by van early Saturday morning with a Saturday evening

arrival at Churchill Downs anticipated. Contessa will fly to Louisville on

Sunday.

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