Prospective breezes at Churchill Downs

Prospective, who locked up a berth in the $2 million Kentucky Derby with his

victory in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby, breezed five furlongs in 1:03 for

trainer Mark Casse Tuesday morning over the fast track at Churchill Downs.

Casse said the dark bay colt would make his final prep for the Kentucky Derby

in either the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 7 or the Blue Grass at

Keeneland on April 14, both Grade 1 races. There is no timetable for when the

final decision will be made.

Winner of the Grade 3 Grey Stakes over Woodbine's Polytrack last October,

Prospective trailed the field when trying dirt in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup

Juvenile at Churchill Downs in his 2011 finale. He recorded his first victory

over a conventional surface when opening his sophomore season in the

seven-furlong Pasco Stakes and then recorded a troubled second in the Grade 3

Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay.

Casse added blinkers for the March 10 Tampa Bay Derby and Prospective scored

by nearly a length.

Working shortly after the track opened at 6 a.m. (EDT), the John Oxley-owned

son of Malibu Moon recorded fractions of :14 1/5, :27, :39 1/5, :51 3/5 under

regular exercise rider Melanie Giddings, galloping out six furlongs in 1:16 2/5

while working in company with a stablemate.

"The work went very well," assistant trainer Norman Casse said. "We're

excited that he's become much more professional in his works. He was on the

bridle the whole way and galloped out very nicely. He seems to be maturing

physically and mentally at the right time."

Also working for the connections of Oxley and Casse Tuesday morning was

Florida Oaks winner Dixie Strike, who recently finished third in the Grade 3

Herecomesthebride on the turf at Gulfstream Park. The Canadian-bred daughter of

Dixie Union breezed five furlongs under exercise rider Juan Bernardini in :59

3/5. It was the fastest of four works at the distance.

"She worked tremendous this morning," Casse said.

Casse noted Dixie Strike would make her next start in the Grade 1 Ashland at

Keeneland on April 7 with hopes of going on to run in the Grade 1, $1 million

Kentucky Oaks, America's premiere race for three-year-old fillies on May 4.