Migliore's visit short, but sweet

He got there late, and he wasn’t around long, but there was a familiar face on the Churchill Downs backstretch Monday morning.

Jockey Rich Migliore, a popular former regular on the New York circuit, flew in from California to breeze Kentucky Derby contender Bob Black Jack for trainer Jim Kasparoff.

Named winner of the George Woolf Memorial Award in a

nationwide vote by his fellow riders, Migliore left Los Angeles at 11:30 Sunday night. After a stopover in Cincinnati, he landed at 8:40 a.m. Monday in Louisville, where Kasparoff picked him up at the airport.

Wearing a black jacket with the dartboard logo for Saratoga Springs-based Parting Glass Racing,

Migliore arrived at Churchill shortly after 9, and was on the racetrack by 9:25. Bob Black Jack, who set a six-furlong world record at Santa Anita in January, was clocked in :483⁄5 for a half-mile, galloping out five-eighths in 1:02.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get here a little bit earlier, because the track’s pretty dug up by horses training on it,” Migliore said. “His gallop-out was really good and steady, and he just stayed in the bridle. We weren’t looking for a spectacular move, just something to keep him where he’s at.”

By 10:15, Migliore had hitched a ride with a local television crew back to the airport for an 11:30 flight home.

David Flores had ridden Bob Black Jack in each of his first six starts before Migliore got on in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby April 5, where they ran second by a half-length to top Derby contender Colonel John.

“I’m thrilled to be back on him. He’s just a real nice colt,” Migliore said. “He’s got a great unassuming attitude about everything. He does things pretty easily.

“I feel better for having sat on him over the surface. I know James wanted that, and we feel comfortable with that. It’s not a time to leave any stone unturned. I’m happy I came. It was worth the trip.”

The Long Island-born Migliore has enjoyed his time in California.

“It’s been a great experience,” he said. “Being on the East Coast for so long, it’s nice to see a fresh face and a new way of doing things. I do miss Saratoga, though. I got back one day last year; maybe I can do it again.”

BUSY DAY

Seven Derby hopefuls put in their final works, including Risen Star and Louisiana Derby winner Pyro, who went four furlongs in :494⁄5 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Coming off a career-worst performance in the Blue Grass over Keeneland’s Polytrack, Pyro was caught in splits of :131⁄5, :252⁄5 and :38 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:032⁄5.

“If anything, I thought he was a bit sharp today,” Asmussen said. “I would have liked to see him a little more relaxed. I think the cooler weather just had him feeling good. Coming off the synthetics, one concern you do have is you often find horses want to do more, and our goal was to be careful not to do too much with him. He’s going to have to relax. The Derby is not for showing off in the middle; it’s for showing off after.”

Asmussen also sent out Z Fortune for a half-mile work in :51.

Visionaire, trained by Michael Matz, went the same distance in :482⁄5, while trainer Barclay Tagg’s Big Truck was timed in :592⁄5 for five furlongs.

STRETCHING HIS LEGS

Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin was on the track for Asmussen, who does not have a spot picked out for his next start.

Last time out, Curlin was a commanding winner of the $6 million Dubai World Cup March 28.

“We just wanted him back into a rhythm and see where he’s at, see how much the Dubai trip took out of him, and how he’ll respond,” Asmussen said. “We’ll slowly pick up his training regimen. We’re three weeks or a month away from knowing exactly where he’s at.”

FEELING GOOD

Trainer Eoin Harty reported that Colonel John came out of Sunday morning’s spectacular work in good shape.

Colonel John went five furlongs in :57.80, the fastest of 62 horses on the day.

“I’ve never worked a horse,

period, in 57 and change. It’s a pretty sensational work,” Harty said. “He seems fine this morning. I didn’t look too hard, but he’s walking sound, and he ate up

everything. No one expects 57 and change, but I wasn’t surprised with the way he did it. That’s what he’s been working like since Day 1 at Keeneland.”

SITTING OUT

Behindatthebar, winner of the Grade II Lexington April 19, was taken out of Derby consideration, and will point instead to the May 17 Preakness.

The Derby would have been the third race in 30 days for the Forest Wildcat colt, who also won an entry-level allowance April 3. The decision leaves trainer Todd Pletcher with two contenders, including Monba, co-owned by Schenectady native Don Lucarelli.

“We all thought 16 days between races was a lot of pressure to put on the horse,” Pletcher said. “In all fairness to the horse, who I believe has incredible potential, we will continue to the Preakness.”

FROM THE SHEDROW

u Florida Derby winner and likely Derby favorite Big Brown arrived from Florida. He is scheduled to blow out three furlongs for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. Thursday morning.

u Monba and Pletcher stablemate Cowboy Cal will ship from Keeneland to Churchill on Wednesday. Lucarelli is expected to arrive here tonight.

u Wood Memorial winner Tale of Ekati is scheduled to breeze this morning for Tagg, while Halo Najib is possible for trainer Dale Romans. Twenty-first on the graded earnings list, Halo Najib will run in the Grade III Crown Royal American Turf on Friday if he doesn’t draw into the Derby.