HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A stall toy gave trainer Lonnie Briley a tip-off about how to proceed with Coal Battle on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Briley has been closely monitoring the Rebel winner, to see if he should run him back in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday or just train up to the Kentucky Derby. He said last week that Coal Battle gave him a clear sign to enter the Arkansas Derby.

“I thought he was going to rip his ball off the wall yesterday, playing with it,” Briley said. “He’s jumping out of his skin. He’s feeling so good right now.”

Although Bullard may be nominated to the Santa Anita Derby, trainer Michael McCarthy said it would be “just to keep our options open.” Bullard is more likely to be trained toward the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on April 12 at Keeneland.

Journalism, early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, worked in company Saturday with Kentucky Derby alumnus Endlessly. Both colts are trained by Michael McCarthy. Endlessly, a turf/synthetic specialist who finished ninth in the 2024 Derby, is training toward a spring comeback on turf.

“Endlessly is a pretty lackluster type work horse, so I needed something to pique his interest,” McCarthy said. “I put Journalism inside, just to get his attention. It was just a solid work, that’s all I was looking for. I don’t need to go fast. We know he’s fast.”

Barnes has slipped in popularity, partly based on a disappointing blinkers-off workout Sunday at Santa Anita. Barnes was outworked by Rodriguez, a stablemate he defeated by more than nine lengths while finishing second in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 1.

The tables turned in the workout. Barnes pressed Rodriguez from the outside, but Barnes could not get past his rival and pulled up soon after the finish while Rodriguez went another furlong. It was a puzzling work by Barnes, five furlongs in 1:00.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The racing week at Santa Anita begins Friday with a carryover of $71,789 in the $2 pick six.

The bet proved too difficult to hit Sunday after upset wins by Wink And a Nod ($93) in the seventh race and Simplexity ($13.80) in the ninth and final race.

There were two horses covered in the pick six in Sunday’s ninth race. Mega Moon, who finished second, would have resulted in a pick six payout had he won the turf sprint.

ARCADIA, Calif. – With his first win as a 4-year-old in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes on Saturday, Atitlan confirmed his affection for Santa Anita’s turf course and showed he can run an extended distance of 1 1/2 miles.

Atitlan won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita last October for his first stakes win. His next assignment is likely to be at 1 1/4 miles in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on May 3.

“That seems like good timing,” trainer John Shirreffs said Sunday morning. “I don’t think he has distance limitations.”