LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As he did two days before winning the Wood Memorial, Wicked Strong blew out three furlongs Thursday, this time going in 36.78 seconds over the Churchill Downs main track, two days in advance of the Kentucky Derby.

Under exercise rider Kelvin Pahal, Wicked Strong galloped from the eighth pole all the way around to the quarter pole, where he got into his work. Wicked Strong, looking fluid while reaching out in the stretch, went from the quarter pole to the wire in 24.13 before galloping out an additional furlong around the clubhouse turn in 12.65.

Churchill Downs will attempt to address complaints lodged by two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Ron Turcotte about his treatment by the company on several Derby Days in the past, a spokesperson for Churchill said, adding there had been “a communication breakdown.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Jimmy Jerkens was enjoying his first Kentucky Derby experience until Wednesday’s post-position draw, where his Wood Memorial winner, Wicked Strong, was assigned post 20 for Saturday’s 140th Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.

“I didn’t like it,” Jerkens said afterward. “At least you got a long run to the first turn.”

Since 1930, there have been 14 horses to break from post 20 in the Derby, with Big Brown in 2008 the only one to win from there. Caveat, in 1983, was the only other horse to finish in the top three.

Spokane is not among the more heralded Kentucky Derby winners. By an Illinois sire, he was foaled in Montana, trained for the races in Tennessee, and won the Derby’s 15th edition on May 9, 1889, 125 years ago.

The details of Spokane’s early years are fairly well documented, but the end portion of his life is a mystery. In Montana folklore, he’s known as the “Spirit Horse of the Rockies.” Spokane blazed forth from the western mountains and briefly dominated racing’s 3-year-old division. And when twilight beckoned, he disappeared.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – By riding in their first Kentucky Derby together Saturday, Jose and Irad Ortiz Jr. will become the first set of brothers to ride in the same Derby since Eddie and Sam Maple did so in 1984.

Jose Ortiz, 20, will be aboard Samraat, while Irad Ortiz Jr., 21, has the mount on Uncle Sigh in the 140th Derby at Churchill Downs. The brothers are from Puerto Rico, where they would sneak into the Hipodromo Camarero as young boys. Among their idols are fellow countrymen Angel Cordero Jr. and John Velazquez, both Hall of Fame jockeys.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Kentucky Derby invariably brings together an eclectic mix, not only among horses but their jockeys as well.

The 140th Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs is a case in point. The starting gate will be filled with riders who have known Derby glory on multiple occasions, those who have savored victory one precious time, those who have known the frustration of riding the race but are still seeking a first win, and the rookies who will get a Derby thrill for the first time.

[bc_video_id:323080:]LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In Kentucky Oaks developments on Wednesday, odds-on favorite Untapable paid a visit to the starting gate, perhaps in reaction to drawing post 13, while Sugar Shock blew out a quarter-mile down the stretch in 26.25.

The following are impressions of this year’s Oaks field from observations made during training hours over the past 10 days:

Please Explain: Did not see much of this filly, who was entered into the race at the last minute. Her work last Saturday was just average at best.

[bc_video_id:322896:]LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Another series of overnight showers created a muddy racetrack for training hours Wednesday. Although the regular Derby/Oaks training session at 8:30 a.m. attracted plenty of attention, the star of the show, Derby favorite California Chrome, went out early at 6:50. California Chrome visited the paddock and then several minutes later galloped locally for the first time.[:slideshow-right:]

Wednesday at Churchill Downs
54 degrees, cloudy, muddy

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ten years ago, trainer Rick Violette Jr. sent out his first starter in the Kentucky Derby, Read the Footnotes, who finished seventh. He’s back anew at Churchill Downs with Samraat, the once-beaten runner-up in the Wood Memorial, and is savoring the moment.

“Part of it seems like it has been more than 10 years, but other parts feel like it was yesterday,” Violette, 61, said Wednesday morning. “There’s that same electricity, the way it builds day by day.

“Being a little older, maybe I’m appreciating it a little more. I’m taking the time to enjoy it.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill is teaming with its sister company, Twinspires.com, to offer pick-six pool guarantees on Oaks and Derby Days. The Oaks pool is guaranteed at $250,000 and the Derby at $1 million.

The pick six carries a $2 minimum, with the sequence concluding with the marquee race each day.