HEADLINE NEWS For information about TDN, call 732-747-8060. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2009 TDN Feature Presentation Off since winning the Mar. 14 GII Louisiana Derby, Friesan Fire worked in fractions of :11.20, :22.20, GRADE 1 KENTUCKY DERBY :33.60 and :45.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14. AGabe said he thought he went in about a min- ute,@ Jones said. AIf I could have written the perfect script, I would have had him gallop out in 1:12, but he has been watching those tents every day [on the back- side] and I wanted to put the blinkers on to keep him TWO WEEKEND STAKES PERFORMERS FOR more focused.@ STEPHEN GOT EVEN: Pioneerof the Nile on Track NEWEST SPL IS EVEN ROAD AT CALDER & Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker) tuned up for Satur- RETURNING SPL NORTH RODEO AT HOLLYWOOD. day=s Derby with a five-furlong work in 1:01. The Zayat Stables colorbearer cut out fractions of :11.80, :23.80, QUALITY ROAD OUT OF DERBY :36 and :48.60. He galloped Edward Evans s homebred Quality Road (Elusive = out six furlongs in 1:13.40. AHe Quality) will miss Saturday s GI Kentucky Derby due to = went really nice,@ trainer Bob a quarter crack in his right front hoof. Trainer Jimmy Baffert said after the work. Jerkens had hoped to work the colt yesterday morning AThere was a lot of wind. He at Belmont Park, but the hoof had not responded well left the half-mile pole, went enough to treatment to go ahead with the breeze. AIt=s five-eighths and he galloped out not terribly bad, but it=s not right,@ Jerkens reported. pretty strong all the way AHe=s really sensitive on the quarter.@ Quality Road around there. He was moving developed a different quarter crack after winning the really well and looked comfort- Mar. 28 GI Florida Derby and suffered this latest set- able over the track.@ The Derby back late last week. It s unfortunate, Evans said. The Pioneerof the Nile Horsephotos A = @ A will be Pioneerof the Nile=s first Preakness and Belmont are possibilities.@ Hoof specialist start on conventional dirt, but Baffert is not concerned. Ian McKinlay, who has been treating Quality Road, AHe=s got a long stride as it is, but he really moves better anticipates a quick recovery. If this thing calms right A over the dirt, I think,@ said Baffert. AHis stride is just down, he ll be back on track, McKinlay said. = @ tremendous.@ Exercise rider Joe Steiner was also pleased with the work. AIt was a comfortable, smooth move,@ Friesan Fires Bullet Steiner said. AHe just kind of coasted around there and Friesan Fire (A.P. Indy) blazed a bullet five furlongs at we let him gallop out on his own. He felt perfect.@ Churchill Downs yesterday in :57.80 with jockey Ga- briel Saez in the irons. That DERBY DRILLS time was just off the pre- CHURCHILL DOWNS Derby drill of fellow Larry Advice (Chapel Royal), 4f, :47.20, 3/26 Jones trainee Hard Spun Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}), 5f, :59.20, 2/26 (Danzig), who went the same Flying Private (Fusaichi Pegasus), 4f, :47.40, 4/26 distance in :57.60 the Mon- Friesan Fire (A.P. Indy), 5f, :57.80, 1/26 day before his runner-up ef- Join in the Dance (Sky Mesa), 5f, 1:00.20, 5/26 fort in the 2007 Derby. AA Mine That Bird (Birdstone), 5f, 1:02.00, 19/26 Friesan Fire Horsephotos fifth of a second off,@ Jones Pioneerof The Nile (Empire Maker), 5f, 1:01.00, 11/26 said with a laugh. AThat=s Take the Points (Even the Score), 5f, 1:00.20, 5/26 good. People would have said I worked him too fast.@ Win Willy (Monarchos), 5f, 1:02.40, 20/26 www.juddmonte.com P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 4/28/09 • PAGE 2 of 10 Pletcher Possibles Work AWe were lucky we got to finish the work,@ said Three potential starters from the Todd Pletcher barn trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. ASo many things can happen. worked yesterday at Churchill Downs, and the condi- It is worrisome.@ Hollendorfer has had his share of bad tioner said a decision on who would be entered for luck on Derby week; his Event of the Year suffered a Saturday=s Classic would be made today. Join in the fractured knee during his final pre-Derby work in 1998 Dance (Sky Mesa), second in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby, and two years later Globalize had to be scratched two worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 under Hall of Fame days before the big race after getting kicked by a stable rider Angel Cordero. AHe=s an enthusiastic work horse, pony. The trainer is confident Chocolate Candy is ready so it was good to see him settle and work well today,@ to run a big race Saturday. AI think my horse has a chance Pletcher said of the colt, who entered the day at num- to run well here,@ Hollendorfer said. AHe can handle this ber 21 on the Derby eligible list. GII Coolmore Lexington track and now we know he can run well here. Handling S. winner Advice (Chapel Royal) worked four furlongs the track is key and he=s shown us he can.@ in :47.20 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00. The Also Working colt=s owner, WinStar Farm, is already set to be repre- Robert Baker and William Mack=s Flying Private sented by Hold Me Back (Giant=s Causeway) and Mr. (Fusaichi Pegasus), second in the GII Lane=s End S., Hot Stuff (Tiznow) in the Derby. Take the Points (Even worked four furlongs yesterday at Churchill in :47.40. the Score), working in company, went five furlongs in AHe went well,@ said jockey Robby Albarado, aboard for 1:00.20. The gray colt, runner-up in the GIII Sham S., is the drill. AIt was just a maintenance work with com- number 22 on the Derby earnings list. AI was happy to pany. [Trainer] Wayne [Lukas] wanted to get a good see the work by Take the Points,@ Pletcher said. AHe finish, and that=s what we got.@ ... Also working yester- picked up his workmate and went right on by. He day, Mine That Bird (Birdstone), Canada=s champion looked good doing it.@ The Pletcher-trained Dunkirk juvenile last season, went five furlongs in 1:02 under (Unbridled=s Song), runner-up in the GI Florida Derby, jockey Calvin Borel, cutting out fractions of :13, shipped in from Florida yesterday afternoon. :25.40, :37.40 and :49.80. AThings went super,@ trainer Chip Woolley said after the work. AI=m really happy with Candy on the Work Tab my horse. It=s pretty much exactly what I wanted--he Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) turned in a five- started slower and finished up super-strong. He came furlong work yesterday at Churchill in :59.20 under back to the barn really playing. That=s as good as you jockey Mike Smith. There was are ever going to see him feeling.@ ... GIII Rebel S. win- unfortunate drama during the ner Win Willy (Monarchos) went five furlongs yesterday workout when two horses in 1:02.40. With exercise rider Eli Lopez up, the colt collided near the finish line. recorded splits of :13.20, :25.60 and :37.80 and gal- AWe both saw the horses loped out six furlongs in 1:15.60. AHe looked good, down,@ Smith said. ALuckily, it went along nice and smooth,@ commented trainer Mac happened over by the outer Robertson. AIt looked like he finished strong, which is rail. He just looked that way what I wanted to see.@ ... Hold Me Back (Giant=s Cause- for a second, but he turned way) worked Sunday morning, but the GI Toyota Blue back and kept on going. We Grass S. runner-up was back on the track Monday to Chocolate Candy Horsephotos both were able to focus and gallop a mile. AHe doesn=t like to walk,@ trainer Bill Mott complete what we had to do.@ explained. AHe=d rather train. He=s full of energy and Chocolate Candy, second in the GI Santa Anita Derby, gets anxious. He wants to get out and do a little some- worked in fractions of :12, :23.60, :35.60 and :47 and thing.@ The WinStar Farm runner went five furlongs galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.80. Sunday in 1:01.60. P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 4/28/09 • PAGE 3 of 10 Triple Threats RACHEL ALEXANDRA SIZZLES Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d=Oro) was forced to walk the shedrow for 30 minutes while a training acci- dent closed the track, but once on track the star filly proved worth the wait, turning in a bullet four furlongs drill in :46.40. Clockers caught the multiple graded stakes winner in fractions of :11.60, :23.20, :34.80. The dark bay galloped Rachel Alexandra Horsephotos out five furlongs in :58.40 and six furlongs in 1:10.60 in prep- aration for Friday=s GI Kentucky Oaks. AI thought she went too fast, but [jockey] Calvin [Borel] swears she does that ever time,@ said trainer Hal Wiggins. AThat is what she did at Oaklawn Park before the [GII] Fantasy; she worked in :47 and three, but that=s just the way she is. I am glad to have one that can go that fast.@ Also working for the Oaks, GII Fair Grounds Oaks runner-up Flying Spur (Giant=s Causeway) went four furlongs in :48.40 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.80.