Daily Kentucky Derby Report, 5/5
Photos and Text by Emily Hufford, additional photos by Amelia Baldree

The last day of Turf Angels morning workout reports is here, and what a day it was. The first thing on the agenda was visiting Buzzards Bay and Giacomo, the two California shippers. Giacomo is very small (albiet not as small as Wilko) and Amelia noted that he was on the thin side, but he's simply built like that. The colt's coat is polished and bright and the journey across the country took nothing out of him. When he emerged on the track he cantered and jogged in circles in the chute, then took to the rest of the track and galloped easily. Later in the day he schooled in the paddock, and the entire time he posed, threw his ears around, and was relaxed and quiet. At one point a farrier had to step in and remove a shoe, but the little gray colt didn't mind and remained calm.

Giacomo

Giacomo

Jeff Mullins Ponies Wife Amy on Buzzards Bay

Buzzards Bay

The horse who absolutely surprised me was Buzzards Bay. Perhaps because the talk has been that the California horses are nothing more than "cheap speed," I wasn't expecting to see a big, strong, muscular colt. Buzzards Bay is glowing, on the muscle, and beautiful to look at. He didn't mind a massive throng blocking his path to the wash area, and he didn't mind cars moving dangerously close behind him. He is the horse who has surprised me most in physical appearance, I must say.

Buzzards Bay Wearing a Halter For Sale on eBay

Buzzards Bay Schools

Afleet Alex

The true star of this year's Derby, Afleet Alex, still has yet to take a bad step. The son of Northern Afleet has been drawing rave reviews, although I've started to hear whipsers that he's not looking as well as he was last week. In all honesty it shouldn't matter, because the colt was already acting head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

One horse that we finally got to see in action was Sis City. The bay filly strolled around the Churchill track with her head bowed, and I heard some photographers say she didn't look that great. She looked fine to me, and of course she will always look better as she's pulling away from a good field, rather than galloping on her own. I wasn't as impressed with her as I have been with Rugula, but Sis City has all the back class and all the talent behind her, and everyone else has some major stepping up to do.

Sis City

Wilko Gallops

Wilko and Craig Dollase

The pint-sized hero, Wilko, galloped eagerly today and then schooled in the paddock in the afternoon. Craig Dollase himself walked the son of Awesome Again around the Churchill Downs paddock, and laughed and joked with reporters and officials as well. Wilko didn't display the nervous jigging and sweating that a lot of schoolers show, and he simply seemed interested and curious in his surroundings. Because he wore his Derby saddle towel, the colt drew admiring cheers from the crowd outside the paddock. High Limit, who schooled while Giacomo and Buzzards Bay were in the paddock, went almost unnoticed by the crowd.

Greeley's Galaxy Schools

Sort It Out

The one horse that I cannot get a handle on is Sort It Out. Some days, his powerful shoulder muscles are to die for, but other days I question why they are attempting the Derby. He can appear dull and disinterested, or on the muscle, depending on his mood. I'm going to have to toss him, and hopefully he doesn't jump up and surprise me (and everyone else).

Going Wild Schools

There is one horse who really surprised me today, and that is Going Wild. We were walking back from Barn 45 and saw him getting a bath - all alone. Not a single reporter or photographer was there, and the colt simply stood, almost as if he wasn't a Derby horse. It was the first time I've seen him not in the pitch black undercover of early morning in several days, and I did let myself admit that at least he looks better than he did before the Lexington Stakes. When he came over to the front side to school, everyone was impressed. His coat gleamed and he pranced with an arched neck. At least D. Wayne Lukas has him heading in the right direction physically and perhaps mentally as well. Tomorrow is the Kentucky Oaks, and we will have an update after the race is run.