HOT
Buddha
Worked a solid six furlongs over a sloppy training track Sunday morning at Belmont. Went six furlongs in 1:13.42. He's ready. "It was a superb workout," trainer Jim Bond said. "He couldn't have done it better."

Sky Terrace
Once looked like a nice horse, rebounded in a big way to capture Saturday's Derby Trial over favorite Cashel Castle. Stable says they may run in the Preakness. Huh? Horse isn't nominated to the Triple Crown.

Jerry Bailey
The smart bet is that he'll wind up on Johannesburg after Mick Kinane's appeal of a suspension in England was not granted. After his defeat in the Gladness Stakes in Ireland, Johannesburg is not the hot property he once was, but still represents a move up for Bailey, that is if he gets to ride him.

The McPeeks
Ken McPeek is doing a diary for the Daily Racing Form. Wife Sue is doing one for the Louisville Courier-Journal. The New York Daily News did a two page spread on both of them Sunday. Infant daughter Jenna is as cute as can be. Who needs Bob Baffert? We have this year's media darlings.

John Ward Jr.
With so many horses rushing to get into the Derby field who don't belong, Ward looks like one of the few sane trainers on the planet. Wisely kept Booklet out of the race, knowing horse would never win at a mile and a quarter.

NOT
Sunday Break
The earnings-challenged colt still needs two horses to come out of the Derby in order for him to get in. Obviously deserves to be in the field and would have a legitimate shot of winning. Time is running out.

Neil Drysdale
You can applaud him all you want for his ultra-conservative nature, but this time it backfired. He has a colt who is good enough to win the Kentucky Derby, but Drysdale took it so easy on him that now he may not have enough earnings to get into the field. Should have run in the Gotham and not an Aqueduct allowance race.

Essence of Dubai
Worked seven furlongs in a poky 1:28.40, which shouldn't inspire much confidence. Worse yet, Dettori's decision to ride the same day in the English 2000 Guineas sure doesn't show much confidence in this horse. If Godolphin's major goal is to win the Kentucky Derby shouldn't their ace rider have bothered to be there for the race?

Michael Kinane
English stewards told him to take a hike when appealed a careless riding suspension. So he won't be aboard Johannesburg for the Kentucky Derby. Apparently suspensions have some teeth to them in Europe, unlike here, where a jockey easily could have found a way to circumvent a ruling in order to ride in a big race.