Derby winner Orb's workout impresses trainer

Kentucky Derby winner Orb pleased trainer Shug McGaughey on Thursday with a steady workout on a sloppy track at Belmont Park.

"He jogged three-eighths to a half-mile and galloped a mile. I thought everything was good," said McGaughey, whose colt had jogged a mile Wednesday at the track in Elmont, N.Y., in his first workout since his 21/2-length victory at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

"The track was still sloppy," he said. "[Exercise rider Jenn Patterson] said he was kind of bucking and playing and jumping the water puddles on the backstretch. I was pleased with what I saw. His energy level is right where you'd want it to be on Thursday after Saturday."

The second leg of the Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes on May 18 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

McGaughey is aware of the challenge he faces while preparing Orb for a return to the races in just two weeks. The Hall of Fame trainer said it was likely that Orb would ship to Pimlico on Monday after his breeze that morning.