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On the Kentucky Derby worktab

Last updated: 4/22/08 7:35 PM

Big Truck, a game winner of the Tampa Bay Derby two back,

will attempt to rebound from a disappointing effort over the

Polytrack at Keeneland

(Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner BIG TRUCK (Hook and Ladder) breezed four furlongs

in :48 4/5 on Keeneland's Polytrack on Tuesday in preparation for the 134th

running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Trainer Barclay

Tagg described the move as a "maintenance work." It ranked eighth out of 43

works at the distance.

"He went a little faster that I wanted, but it's fine," Tagg said. "I

generally like their maintenance works to be around :49, but it's no problem."

Big Truck most recently finished 11th in the Blue Grass S. (G1) on April 12

at Keeneland. In his prior start, he defeated Atoned (Repent) in the Tampa Bay

Derby. The bay colt currently ranks 20th on the Kentucky Derby graded stakes

earnings list with $194,500.

Tagg's other Derby contender, Wood Memorial (G1) hero TALE OF EKATI (Tale of

the Cat), is scheduled to work five furlongs at Keeneland on Wednesday.

Javier Castellano has the mount on Big Truck and Eibar Coa is slated to ride

Tale of Ekati. Tagg plans to ship both colts to Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Gotham S. (G3) winner VISIONAIRE (Grand Slam), who finished a closing fifth

in the Blue Grass, breezed four furlongs in :49 3/5 in company with Scenery

Change (Royal Academy), a four-year-old maiden filly who was awarded the same

time.

Jockey Jose Lezcano was aboard the Michael Matz trainee, who is scheduled to

turn in his final work prior to the Run for the Roses on Monday at Churchill

Downs.

"He just did a little maintenance work here, and then he'll do one more at

Churchill," Matz said.

Visionaire currently ranks 19th on the graded earnings list with $202,500.

OBS Championship S. winner HALO NAJIB (Halo's Image) breezed four furlongs in

:50 2/5 on a firm turf course at Churchill Downs. The Dale Romans trainee most

recently finished seventh in the Blue Grass after a good runner-up performance

in the Lane's End S. (G2) on March 22 at Turfway Park.

"I wanted to see how he would handle the grass," Romans said. "If you don't

get in (the Kentucky Derby), he would go in the Crown Royal (American Turf S.

[G3] on May 2). It looked like he handled if fine."

Halo Najib has $157,996 in graded stakes earnings and is on the outside

looking in with respect to securing a position in the Kentucky Derby field.

TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park), last seen finishing third in the Arkansas Derby

(G2) on April 12 at Oaklawn Park, breezed three furlongs on the main track in :35 3/5.

The Beau Greeley trainee has only $118,000 in graded stakes earnings and would need many

defections in order to make the field for Derby 134.

"It is not really frustrating," co-owner John Greeley said. "If a bunch drop

out and we get in, fine. If not, we go on to the Preakness (S. [G1] on May 17 at

Pimlico)."

In other Kentucky Derby news:

Blue Grass winner MONBA (Maria's Mon) and runner-up COWBOY CAL (Giant's

Causeway) remain on target for their final works on Saturday or Sunday at Keeneland prior to Derby 134, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

"We'll stay here through the weekend and move to Churchill next week

depending on the weather," Pletcher said.

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