Super Saver pleases Walden leading up to Preakness

WinStar Farm's homebred Kentucky Derby (G1) winner SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon) jogged

one mile for

the second consecutive day under exercise rider Kevin Willey. The bay colt, who

gave trainer Todd Pletcher his first win in the Run for the Roses, hit the track

shortly after 7 a.m. (EDT) on Thursday under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. Looking on

was retired trainer Elliott Walden, now the vice president and racing manager of

WinStar.

"The phone is still ringing," Walden said of the congratulatory calls. "It's

a nice problem to have."

Not only is Walden getting calls from well-wishers, the phone of

Bill Casner, chairman and co-owner of WinStar Farms, has also been

ringing off the hook.

"A friend asked me if I am getting tired of the phone calls," Casner

said. "Bluegrass Cat ran second in the 2006 Derby and nobody called, so this is

pretty special.

"It's just an elusive race to win," he continued. "From the time that foal is

born to the time he crosses that wire at Churchill, everything has to go

perfect. Any interruption compromises the time table. He will also need the

experience and the seasoning to be able to perform on the first Saturday in May

and then you have all the factors that unfold in the race. Everything has to go

perfectly. So when it happened on Saturday, it was a very surreal moment when

the horse crossed the wire."

Super Saver is now headed for the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the

Preakness S. (G1), on May 15 at Pimlico. In the saddle for that race will be

Calvin Borel, who captured last year's running with Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia

d'Oro).