Derby Hopefuls Upstart, Frosted Take to Track

TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Frosted and Lambholm South Holy Bull (gr. II) winner Upstart were both on the track for the first time at Churchill Downs April 29, joined by multiple graded-stakes winner El Kabeir as the days counted down to the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Those three took their first look at the Twin Spires under sunny skies at the 8:30 a.m. EDT training hour reserved for contenders in the Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), with Frosted and Upstart having shipped in April 28 and El Kabeir finally emerging after taking a walk in the shedrow following his April 27 arrival.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he was pleased with Frosted's arrival and with the way the son of Tapit   has recently improved.

"(He shipped) great," McLaughlin said. "The plane was delayed a few hours just because of a storm, but it was no problem. It was an easy trip, no stress, so he'll train every day. He just does things effortlessly and trains great. He's just a nice horse, and finally we got it all put together."

Rick Violette Jr. was also keeping his fingers crossed for Upstart, who was disqualified from first in the Feb. 21 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) and then finished a troubled second in the March 28 Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I).

"This horse has been pretty resolute," said Violette, who noted that the son of Flatter   bounced back well from a three-day fever scare that caused him to miss a work April 11 in Florida. "(His) blood has been good, his breezes have been great, his energy level has been terrific, his appetite has been good, he has held his weight. If there's another measure I'm supposed to measure him by, I don't know. He has passed all those tests with flying colors.

"He always shows up and if we get a decent trip we're very, very dangerous."

UAE Derby (gr. II) winner Mubtaahij visited the track for the second time after arriving April 27 and stood calmly in the starting gate under Christophe Soumillion. The champion French jockey will ride in his first edition of the Kentucky Derby this Saturday.

MITCHELL: First Derby for Jockeys Soumillion, Geroux

Later in the afternoon, trainer Bob Baffert schooled likely Derby favorite American Pharoah and undefeated Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Dortmund in the paddock before the first race after both galloped during morning training. The Hall of Fame horseman said Dortmund would need to school again this week after he got a little keyed up in his first visit to the Churchill saddling area.