Papa Clem arrives at Churchill

Bo Hirsch's homebred PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike), winner of Saturday's $1

million Arkansas Derby (G2) at Oaklawn Park, arrived at Churchill Downs late

Tuesday afternoon to continue his preparation for the 135th running of the

Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 2.

Papa Clem flew from Arkansas to Lexington, Kentucky, then traveled just over

an hour by van to Churchill Downs.  He arrived at the Louisville track at

5:30 p.m. (EDT) and took up residence in Barn 10A, which houses horses trained

by Cody Autrey.

Trained by Gary Stute, Papa Clem's regular pilot is former Churchill Downs

leading rider Rafael Bejarano.  The colt finished second when making his

dirt debut two starts back in the March 14 Louisiana Derby (G2) and earned his

first stakes victory in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, improving his overall

record to 6-2-2-0 with earnings of $790,940.

The arrival of Papa Clem raises the number of likely Kentucky Derby

contenders on the grounds to seven.  The others are Wood Memorial (G1)

winner I WANT REVENGE (Stephen Got Even); Blue Grass (G1) hero GENERAL QUARTERS

(Sky Mesa); Illinois Derby (G2) victor MUSKET MAN (Yonaguska); Godolphin's

one-two finishers in the $2 million UAE Derby (UAE-G2), REGAL RANSOM (Distorted

Humor) and DESERT PARTY (Street Cry [Ire]).

Seven horses trained by three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert

-- headed by Kentucky Oaks (G1) candidate GABBY'S GOLDEN GAL (Medaglia d'Oro)

and champion female sprinter INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) -- arrived at

Churchill Downs on Tuesday afternoon. The Baffert horses settled into Barn 33,

the trainer's traditional spot under the Twin Spires. Baffert's Kentucky Derby

contender, Zayat Stable's Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner PIONEEROF THE NILE

(Empire Maker), is scheduled to arrive at the Louisville track on Thursday.