DOWNS DAWN PATROL (4/23): Paddy O (:58.2) wows.. Ice Box (:46.2) sharp
 

Rain started light early this morning but became more steady through the first half of training hours. Ice Box and Paddy O' Prado appear likely to go ahead and work after the break, but Pletcher looks to only send his Oaks gals for their slated spins. Boys will wait to work, and may not go until Sunday with the forecast for Saturday dreadful...

Looking forward to hearing about Ice Box.

Will be totally shocked if anyone works Saturday. I thought about canceling my trip for opening day (for about 2.5 seconds).

"Dreadful" is the perfect word for the forecast, Steve. Looks like it's gonna rough for the majority of the weekend.

Same here.

PADDY O'PRADO with absolutely stunning 'work of the day' going :35.0, :46.2, :58.2 and out in 1:11.2 and 1:25.3... Wasn't asked and kept going all the way around on the gallop out... Anyone on him before should be giddy now.

Nick Zito wanted a quick move from ICE BOX and got it with a sharp half mile plus in :46.2 and :59.3... Looked good...

Maybe Paddy can dirt.

Any gallopers of note Steve?

Don't have all the splits, but there was Oaks action aplenty too as Bret Calhoun's JODY SLEW (:48.2/1:01.1) and Dale Romans' QUIET TEMPER (1:03.0) worked, while Todd Pletcher sent AILALEA and Colizeo out in tandem with Ailalea getting the better of her stablemate in a shade over 1:00.0...

Jody Slew's effort was the notable best of the 4 as she really picked it up late and past the wire...

TY

If we go back to Saratoga as a 2yo and recall ATR conversations about Paddy with Romans, he always felt he'd be fine on dirt based on all he was seeing in the mornings. He is a big threat next Saturday as long as that goofy jock doesn't get cute or stupid.

With all the workers it was tough to watch gallops but Eskendereya again turned it up a notch with a little more than yesterday which was more than Wednesday. Still under a hammerlock.

How was the Ice Box gallop out? Lead change ok?

I guess I'll recycle the pp's.......

I've tossed Paddy O'Prado long ago for a variety of reasons - why does he keep impressing in the a.m.? Still seems to have a bit of a turfy action to my very untrained eye.

STEVE, any word on how Stately Victor looked in his work this morning?
It was over at Trackside.

He was strictly going the fast half, so the :59.3 was the majority of the gallop out. He was easing up at that point and I turned the binocs back up to the 5/8ths for what was coming next. Will ask Welsch about the change as I picked him up past the quarter pole.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/112407.html

Welsch said that Colizeo and Ailalea worked together.

No.. Marty McGee was going to go tomorrow but didn't get there this morning...

That's right... Clocker assistants had it wrong when the workers came out and called it on the walkie-talkie up to the stand incorrectly. Got clarified when Mike went over to the backstretch. Added confusion too because of Colizeo slipping and falling after galloping out.

CRISP also worked in amongst the crush and Sadler told Welsch he was happy with her seemingly casual 1:14.0...

Post race Derby comments...

Paddy O'Prado ( 13th )....Desourmeaux " I really thought he was going to win on the backstretch but he got discouraged when Super Saver backed up in his face at the 5/8ths pole and just shut down. Romans " I guess despite working well on the dirt he's, not surprisingly, a turf horse. We'll regroup and point for the Secretariat this summer. I should have listened to Paseka and left him in the barn. "

LOL.. :tro:

You forgot to include Desormeaux saying that he's working on being the best horse he ever rode.

If Paddy O'Prado wins the Derby I'll kindly ask Andy's source to make me a super dunce cap (with an Italian flag decal) and wear it each day I'm at Saratoga.

NT