Kentucky Derby horses getting set for Saturday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Plenty of horses worked out yesterday for the Kentucky Derby, though few did so at Churchill Downs.

Four of trainer Todd Pletcher's five Derby horses were in action - one on the dirt track where Saturday's race will be run and three on the artificial surface at Keeneland. The fifth, Cowtown Cat, went out for a mile jog at Keeneland a day after having turned in his final major workout.

Pletcher is in Lexington until tomorrow, when he'll bring Cowtown Cat, Circular Quay, Scat Daddy and Any Given Saturday to Churchill.

At Keeneland, Any Given Saturday covered 5 furlongs in 1:01.20; Circular Quay was timed in 1:00.20; and Florida Derby winner Scat Daddy in 59.40 seconds.

Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. was aboard Any Given Saturday, Circular Quay and Scat Daddy. He retired in 1992, but is Pletcher's main exercise rider.

Pletcher said the only thing left for the "Todd Squad" is the details. "Getting them shipped. Getting them settled in. Some paddock schooling," he said. "The little things that make it all right."

Also at Keeneland, trainer Doug O'Neill's trio of Cobalt Blue, Great Hunter and Liquidity took a final jog before leaving for Churchill.

In Louisville, projected Derby favorite Curlin joined stablemates Zanjero and Reporting for Duty for 2-mile gallops under the eye of trainer Steve Asmussen. Their final workouts are scheduled for today. *