May 18, 2024

Going Wild preps for Lexington

Last updated: 4/18/05 5:19 PM


Sham S. winner GOING WILD (Golden Missile) breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5
over a fast track at Churchill Downs on Monday in preparation for Saturday’s
$325,000 Lexington S. (G2) at Keeneland. The move by the D. Wayne Lukas trainee
was the third best of 29 works at the distance.

In his most recent outing, Going Wild finished last, beaten 41 lengths by
likely Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite BELLAMY ROAD (Concerto) in the Wood Memorial
(G1) at Aqueduct on April 9. The dark bay colt, who currently has $47,500 in
graded stakes earnings, needs a strong effort in the 1 1/16-mile Lexington to
ensure a spot in the starting gate for the Derby.

Best Pal S. (G2) runner-up ACTXECUTIVE (Noactor), who could also run in the
Lexington, breezed four furlongs in :49 at Churchill Downs for conditioner Steve
Asmussen. In his only start this season, the chestnut defeated allowance foes
going one mile at Oaklawn Park on March 18.

In other news: Sam F. Davis S. winner ANDROMEDA’S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus),
who finished third in Saturday’s Arkansas Derby (G2), will remain at Keeneland
in order to avoid the excitement at Churchill Downs in the weeks leading up to
the Derby.

“He’s going to train at Keeneland,” trainer Nick Zito said. “He’s a Fusaichi
Pegasus and he’s high strung. So we’ll just leave him there at Keeneland and
bring him to Churchill Downs a couple of days before the race.”

Zito’s four other Kentucky Derby contenders are stabled at Churchill Downs.
He said that SUN KING (Charismatic), a disappointing fourth in Saturday’s Blue
Grass S. (G1), was doing well after that race.

Bellamy Road, a dominating 17 1/2-length winner of the Wood Memorial, is
scheduled to work on Thursday.

Zito’s 1-2 finishers in the Florida Derby (G1) — HIGH FLY (Atticus) and
NOBLE CAUSEWAY (Giant’s Causeway) — are expected to work again this weekend.