DOWNS DAWN PATROL (4/19): Dublin; Paddy; Awesome; Rachel..

[Kasept]

First morning at Churchill and a beautiful morning at that. The new Churchill policy allowing Derby/Oaks horses the run of the oval after the harrow break is a hit, though you need to have your eyes moving in all directions to keep track of all of the yellow and pink saddle towels...

The work of the day came earlier in the morning though, as RACHEL ALEXANDRA turned in her third a.m. since arriving back to Louisville from New Orleans, and produced a scintillating effort that DRF's Mike Welsch said was an a par with her 2009 pre-Oaks drills. Steve Asmussen was all smiles after the work as well, and speculation is increasing that she will return a week from Friday in the La Troienne...

As for Derby/Oaks players, DUBLIN worked a professional-looking and fast :59.1 (galloping out in 1:13.1), but pulled up very quickly afterwards seemingly tired from the dash... No other works were scheduled, but PADDY O'PRADO made a nice impression jogging under a stranglehold and looking like he wanted to do more. The Romans' trainee pawed at the ground eagerly...

Speaking of Romans, his Oaks hopeful SASSY IMAGE looked tremendous this morning and has an anticipated work Wednesday. Romans (Paddy O'Prado, Sassy Image) joins Todd Pletcher (Sundry Derby entrants/Devil May Care, Ailalea possible), John Sadler (Sidney's Candy, Line of David/Crisp), Rick Dutrow (Homeboy Kris/Amen Hallelujah), Ken McPeek (See below) and Wayne Lukas (Dublin/Tidal Pool) trying to pull off the Oaks-Derby Double...

AWESOME ACT, who is scheduled to drill tomorrow, has a Euro style morning routine that finds him jogging directly behind a barnmate. The Noseda team has apparently been doing it every morning since their arrival from New York... ICE BOX was out hobby-horsing a couple days after his Friday :48.2 half and looks terrific... McPeek's possible Derby starter NOBLE'S PROMISE and likely Oaks starter BEAUTICIAN both were out jogging a day in advance of what will be their respective 'important' KD/KO efforts tomorrow...

John Sadler's Arky hero LINE OF DAVID works tomorrow, but SIDNEY'S CANDY reportedly had tongues wagging Saturday with his first Churchill move, a :59.4 effort with a partner. The Santa Anita Derby winner tripped splits of :12.3, :24.4; :36.1 and :48.0, galloping out 6f in 1:12.80 and 7f in 1:27.40...

MORE LATER AND OF COURSE "ATR" COVERAGE LIVE FROM CHURCHILL DOWNS KICKS OFF AT 4PM...