Shirreffs returns to work

Only hours after sending out GIACOMO (Holy Bull) to a surprise victory in the

Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, trainer John Shirreffs returned to work

at 5:30 a.m. (PDT) in Barn 55 South at Hollywood Park on Sunday.

"We flew back here last night at 11 on the Mosses' (owners Jerry and Ann Moss)

private jet," Shirreffs said. "I'm not quite in sync with everything going on

here, so you probably shouldn't ask too many questions. The reality hasn't sunk

in yet. When I get a chance to look at the pictures in the newspapers and relive

it a little, it will all come back."

Shirreffs, who trains year-round at Hollywood Park, gave special credit to

the track for Giacomo's upset victory.

"I think Hollywood Park has the best surface on the circuit," Shirreffs said.

"It's a mile and an eighth, a nice big oval to train on. It's wider than Santa

Anita and doesn't get as crowded. And the barns have great ventilation."

Giacomo worked six furlongs in a bullet 1:11 4/5 at Hollywood Park six days

before the Derby and was on the last plane to arrive in Louisville on Wednesday.

Prior to that, the gray colt worked seven furlongs in a bullet 1:23 4/5 at the

Inglewood, California, track on April 25.

Shirreffs said Giacomo would walk and rest for a few days at Churchill Downs

before being shipped to Baltimore, Maryland, for the Preakness S. (G1) at

Pimlico on May 21.

"I'm not familiar with Pimlico," Shirreffs said. "I've never been there

before."

In other Preakness news:

Kentucky Derby runner-up CLOSING ARGUMENT (Successful Appeal) and third-place

finisher AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet) are both likely starters for the middle

jewel of the Triple Crown, according to the Pimlico press office.

Trainer Nick Zito will be represented, but the conditioner ruled out

ANDROMEDA'S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus), who finished eighth in the "Run for the

Roses."

Other possible entrants include DON'T GET MAD (Stephen Got Even) (fourth),

WILKO (Awesome Again) (sixth) and FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted Humor) (ninth).

New shooters could include Federico Tesio S. winner MALIBU MOONSHINE (Malibu

Moon), Withers S. (G3) winner SCRAPPY T (Fit to Fight) and Unbridled S. winner

HAL'S IMAGE (Halo's Image).

The Kentucky Derby winner has won the Preakness in the last three consecutive years and

reached the finish line first in six of the last eight runnings. Last year, the top

three finishers in the Derby ran back in the Preakness.

The Preakness is limited to 14 starters but there has not been a full field

since 1992.