Derby hopefuls take the track on a rainy Kentucky morning

With Super Ninety Nine and Den's Legacy being taken out of Derby

consideration, last Saturday's Lexington victor Winning Cause moved to No. 20 on the "Road to the

Kentucky Derby" leaderboard. A decision regarding

his Kentucky Derby status is not likely to come soon.

"We're going to see how he trains this week and I'm

considering breezing him on Sunday," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "We won't make

any sort of decision until then."

Winning Cause and Blue Grass third-placer Charming Kitten galloped

Wednesday morning prior to the renovation break when the Churchill Downs track was listed as

fast.

Following the renovation break, unbeaten Wood Memorial winner Verrazano,

Arkansas Derby hero Overanalyze,

Louisiana Derby scorer Revolutionary and Blue Grass neck runner-up Palace Malice galloped in the rain over a

sloppy track.

"I contemplated training them earlier to beat the rain, but I decided to

continue to take advantage of that 15-minute window (reserved for Kentucky Derby

and Kentucky Oaks contenders)," Pletcher explained. "I also wanted to see what they looked like in the

slop."

Pletcher added that he was pleased with the way his horses

went over the off track. He also said he is still sorting out plans on how to

work as many as six Kentucky Derby contenders on Sunday.

"I haven't decided yet exactly how we're going to do it,"

he remarked. "We'll be watching the weather and it looks like there is

potential for more rain on Saturday and Sunday. We'll monitor that and see. We

might have to shuffle some days around, but assuming they all breeze on Sunday,

I would say a couple would go earlier and most would go during the 15-minute

break."

Florida Derby hero Orb made his first appearance on the track a little after

6 a.m. (EDT) with regular

exercise rider Jennifer Patterson up. Orb stood for five minutes before jogging

three-eighths of a mile and galloping a mile.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said the bay son of Malibu Moon Orb would train early the next

couple days and then go after the break during the time reserved for Kentucky

Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses.

"There was not a whole lot to look at when he was at Payson

(Park)," McGaughey said. "There's no lights, no grandstand and not a lot of

activity. There you have deer and you can hear the cows move. He'll go early the

next couple days to get used to things."

Orb, who will be ridden in Kentucky Derby 139 by Joel

Rosario, enters the Run for the Roses on a four-race win streak, a run of

success matched only by Verrazano. In his past two starts, Orb won the Fountain

of Youth and Florida Derby.

"He gained weight between the Fountain of Youth and the

Florida Derby," McGaughey said. "He was a totally different horse in looks and

demeanor."

Orb is scheduled to work Monday.

Grade 2 victor Vyjack beat the rain and

galloped 1 1/2 miles shortly after the track opened for training with trainer Rudy

Rodriguez up.

"He was nice this morning and on his toes," said Rodriguez,

who plans to work Vyjack on Friday or Saturday. "I am trying to dodge the

weather. We'll see. Probably one of those two days."

Trainer Bob Baffert's three Derby hopefuls also took to the track Wednesday,

with Sunland Derby conqueror Govenor Charlie galloping 1 3/8 miles after the

renovation break over a sealed track with exercise rider Jorge Alvarez up. Risen

Star second Code West and juvenile Grade 1 winner Power Broker returned to the

track to jog following a day off and working Monday. Power Broker went to the

track before the break with Alvarez up and Code West after the break with Peter

Hutton up.

Baffert plans to be in Louisville Saturday with works scheduled Sunday or

Monday.

Sam F. Davis winner Falling Sky also galloped 1 3/8 miles under exercise

rider Cassie Garcea aboard shortly before 8 a.m. and the break. Trained by John

Terranova, the Lion Heart colt is scheduled to work Saturday or Sunday.

Seven other Derby contenders galloped 1 1/2 miles on Wednesday, with Spiral

star Black Onyx beating the rain under exercise rider Aurelio Gomez shortly

after 6 a.m. Trainer Kelly Breen is expected to return to Louisville on Friday

and his Derby hopeful is expected to work Saturday or Sunday.

Blue Grass victor Java's War galloped on the sealed track after the break

with exercise rider Marvin Abrego up, while Arkansas Derby runner-up Frac Daddy

went after the break with exercise rider Hugo Garcia aboard. The Ken McPeek

trainees are scheduled to work Saturday.

Grade 3-placed Golden Soul was on the track at 6 a.m. to gallop 1 1/2 miles

under exercise rider Emerson Chavez. The Dallas Stewart pupil needs three

defections from the list of intended Kentucky Derby entrants to make the field.

Stewart, who plans to work his Perfect Soul colt on Friday, said he had not

confirmed a rider for the Derby but had one in mind

Wood Memorial second Normandy Invasion galloped under exercise rider Javier

Herrera before the renovation break for Chad Brown, while D. Wayne Lukas sent

out LeComte scorer Oxbow over the fast dirt shortly after the track opened with

exercise rider Rudy Quevedo up. Lukas also had Will Take Charge out after the

break and on a sealed track to do a similar exercise with Quevedo aboard.

Louisiana Derby neck runner-up Mylute was on the track shortly after it

opened at 5:45 Wednesday morning and galloped under regular exercise rider

Maurice Sanchez.

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