LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Steve Asmussen is on the verge of becoming just the second trainer in North American racing history to hit the 8,000-win mark, although obviously the monumental feat would be obscured by all the Derby goings-on if he happens to reach the milestone this weekend.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 36 hours prior to the Monday morning post-position draw of the Oaks led to quite a bit of reshuffling of the field, although Churchill still got a full gate of 14 for the filly classic.

Blamed was withdrawn after emerging from a half-mile Saturday breeze at Churchill with what trainer Joel Marr described as a small hairline fracture of her right hind pastern. The injury is not believed to be career-ending.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Corey Lanerie has been the leading jockey at 15 of the last 17 meets conducted at Churchill Downs, but it will be his wife of 21 years, Shantel, who will have the brightest spotlight here on Kentucky Oaks Day.

Shantel Lanerie has been diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer, and her recovery efforts will be recognized in a big way during the track’s annual Oaks Day push to raise research funds for and increase awareness of breast cancer.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – He rode back on his pony after overseeing the training of his horses, just as he’s done for decades, the only concession to age being that he used a stepstool to help him dismount when he reached his barn at Churchill Downs.

His wit is still sharp, and while the bite it once had has softened with age, trainer D. Wayne Lukas still wants things done his way. The straw in the stalls just so, the shed row raked and cleaned as though a state dinner will be served. It’s all black and white. The only gray area is Winning Colors.

CHURCHILL DOWNS
SUNDAY, APRIL 29
WEATHER: SUNNY    
TEMPERATURE: 40    
TRACK: FAST 
TURF: FIRM

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It was the calm after the storm on a crisp and clear Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. The racetrack was nearly deserted during the special session reserved for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders following two whirlwind days during which the majority of the horses stabled locally turned in their final preps for those races.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Bill Mott found himself in an unusual position Sunday morning on the backside of Churchill Downs. He was the center of attention in a media scrum, talking about his participation in Saturday’s 144th Kentucky Derby after the 3-year-old Hofburg worked a half-mile in 48.03 seconds over the main track.

“It’s nice to be here, we’re glad to be here and we’re glad to be here with a good horse,” Mott, who hasn’t run a horse in the Derby since Hold Me Back in 2009, told the assembled media outside barn 19, where he has kept a string at Churchill Downs since 1980.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Everyone knows Bolt d’Oro is an outstanding colt, a three-time graded winner who finished a creditable second last out in the Santa Anita Derby.

What is less clear is how much chance Bolt d’Oro has to win the Kentucky Derby. After his final workout Saturday at Santa Anita, the issue is unresolved.

Owner-trainer Mick Ruis said the half-mile workout by Bolt d’Oro was “perfect.”

The colt’s rider, Victor Espinoza, said the work was “just a little maintenance, nothing crazy.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The third start was the charm for Good Magic as a 2-year-old, and the way he trained Saturday morning at Churchill Downs, it looks as though the third start as a 3-year-old for last year’s champion juvenile male will be his best this year.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rayya slowed down Saturday morning, by design, in her final workout before shipping to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Oaks.

Her six-furlong drill at Santa Anita was her second work for trainer Bob Baffert and a stark contrast to last week, when she worked a fast six furlongs from the gate.

“She worked hard last week, I didn’t want to do too much [Saturday],” Baffert said. “We were trying to get her to sit off, get her to relax.”