Plans for Jaycito to be finalized after weekend work

Grade 1 winner JAYCITO's (Victory Gallop) status for the April 9 Santa Anita

Derby (G1) was still on hold Friday morning.

"I'm going to have a talk today with (owner) Ahmed Zayat and then we're going

to decide," Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. "We have to work over the

weekend. A lot depends on the work whether we stay here or ship (for the Wood

Memorial [G1] at Aqueduct, also on April 9)."

Jaycito, who joined Baffert following his eventful seventh in the Breeders'

Cup Juvenile (G1), kicked off his three-year-old campaign with a distant second

to PREMIER PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) in the San Felipe S. (G2).

Baffert also confirmed plans for his exciting three-year-old THE FACTOR (War

Front), an impressive winner of the Rebel S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park in his first

try around two turns.

"The Factor is definite for the Arkansas Derby ([G1] back at Oaklawn on April

16)," the trainer said. "He looks good."

Meanwhile, likely Santa Anita Derby favorite Premier Pegasus is scheduled to

work at 8 a.m. (PDT) Saturday for Myung Kwon Cho with regular rider Alonso

Quinonez up, while INDIAN WINTER (Indian Charlie) is set to go five furlongs

Monday under new rider Pat Valenzuela for Jerry Hollendorfer.

Besides Premier Pegasus and Indian Winter, others listed as probable for the

Santa Anita Derby, with riding assignments, are ANTHONY'S CROSS (Indian

Charlie), Joel Rosario; BENCH POINTS (Benchmark), Rafael Bejarano; CELESTIC

NIGHT (Vindication), Joe Talamo; COMMA TO THE TOP (Bwana Charlie), Corey

Nakatani; MR. COMMONS (Artie Schiller), Mike Smith; OFFLEE WILD BOYS (Offlee

Wild), no rider; and SILVER MEDALLION (Badge of Silver), Garrett Gomez.

Trainer Peter Miller has officially removed Comma to the Top from Kentucky

Derby (G1) consideration, citing concerns about the 1 1/4-mile distance for the

speedy gelding.

"The horse is doing good for the Santa Anita Derby," Miller said. "He breezed

good on Wednesday (going four furlongs in :49 2/5 at Hollywood Park) and came

out of the work good. I'll work him back on Tuesday.

"But we were never on the (Kentucky) Derby trail, really. The media had it

all 'Derby this and Derby that.' I don't think he's a mile and a quarter horse.

His strong suit is speed and we'll be on the lead (in the Santa Anita Derby).

"Unless I felt had a real chance in the Kentucky Derby, I don't have to go

just for the mint juleps," Miller said. "I can get them at my local bar."