Saturday News

Here is the report of the Kentucky Derby contender workouts this morning.

At Churchill Downs:

The Godolphin owned and Saeed bin Suroor trained duo:

Regal Ransom - 5 furlongs (5/8 mile) in :59.80. The fourth fastest of 28.
Desert Party - 5 furlongs (5/8 mile in 1:00.20. The sixth best of 28

"Both of them seemed to grab the track really good," said assistant trainer Rick Mettee.

Word is that Desert Party has looked tremendous since shipping back to the United State from the Middle East last week. Suroor was quoted yesterday in Ireland that he believes Desert Party is best chance ever to win the Derby.

Both horses aren't definite for the Derby but it would be a surprise to see one sit on the sideline.

The other horse to work out at Churchill:

Musket Man - 6 furlongs (3/4 mile) in 1:13. Fastest of three.

This was the first workout since he won the Illinois Derby and moved his overall record to five wins in six starts. Trained Derek Ryan was thrilled afterward

"It went very well - it couldn't have been a better work," he said.

The other big workout occurred in South Florida.

Dunkirk - 5 furlongs (5/8 mile) in 59.90. The fastest of 12.

The $3.7 million auction purchase, trained by Todd Pletcher, will not arrive at Churchill Downs until April 28.

Expected to workout on Sunday is Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem (7 furlongs) as well as Take The Points. Pletcher said Take The Points , currently 24th on the Graded Stakes Earnings List, is still not definite to run in the Derby but any defections could change that.