DERBY NEWS (4/27): Wet a.m.; Ramon on Kris; 'Luck' 6-5 fave

[Kasept]

Another dreadful weather morning in Louisville with racetrack sopped and hard after being rolled hard and tight.. Only workers were AWESOME ACT and CONVEYANCE, with Awesome Act pretty nearly out-worked by Peace Town, and the Baffert speedball going evenly. A host of Oaks and Derby runners made appearances despite the track condition, with some looking particularly spirited including BLIND LUCK and ICE BOX.

Awesome Act started 2.5 lengths behind Peace Town and ended up a neck in front, but only because Peace Town was being managed. In fact, the Vinery sprinter was quite happy to dig in against the Noseda trainee after the wire and stayed on even terms through the gallop out... Awesome Act's splits were :13.0, :24.4, :36.3, :48.1 and out in 1:00.4 & 1:15.2.

Conveyance started slow and then picked it up to finish well, a solid and professional spin that earned fractions of :13.0, :25.2, :36.3, :48.0, :59.4 and out in 1:13.1.

Those galloping with particular authority and relish included BLIND LUCK and ICE BOX. This was my first look at Blind Luck since Breeders' Cup, and the fine lined filly looked a picture despite the overwhelmingly gray day. Ice Box just seems to be coming towards Saturday in as good a mood and shape as can be. He clearly wanted to do more as he threw his head about during his light jog down the stretch.

Also out this a.m. was Bret Calhoun's strapping JODY SLEW who is a nice bottom wrung candidate on deep exotic tickets Friday. Her work was superb the other morning and she looked like a coiled spring jogging today; QUIET TEMPER wasn't asked to do anything; Pletcher players AILALEA, DEVIL MAY CARE, SUPER SAVER and MISSION IMPAZIBLE all were out and looking great through simple exercise routines, with Ailalea surprising me on appearance. Mission Impazible seems to be justifying everyone's praise of how he looks too, as this was the best chance I had to eyeball him... Got a nice chance to watch CRISP through the stretch, and PADDY O'PRADO had another uneventful spin.

As mentioned the other day, RAMON DOMINGUEZ had a backup plan, and indeed landed on HOMEBOYKRIS... OAKS DRAW today at 11am in the Racing Office...

MORE LATER...

Jay Privman, Mike Welsch, Steve Haskin, Dr. Steve Allday, Jon White, Satish Sanan, Dale Barnstable Jr., and more all on ATR tonight...