LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 2 (UPI) -- The trainers and riders preparing for Saturday's Kentucky Derby divided into three camps Friday -- the supremely confident favorite, the hopefully confident contenders and the wishing-and-hoping remainder.
Trainer Bobby Frankel remained sold on his 6-5 morning-line favorite, Empire Maker, despite yet another incident during the colt's morning gallop.
As he came around the track, near the entrance to the barns, Empire Maker took a sudden right turn and skittered virtually all the way across the track. An outrider collared him and brought him back under control. Frankel said Empire Maker's dam, Toussaud, had a history of similar "stunts," and so have all her offspring.
"He pulled one of his acts," Frankel said. "But it's not a big deal. Believe me. The whole family does it. Bet against him at your own risk. He's going to run a big race."
Frankel also continued to downplay a bruised foot that caused concern about the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial winner earlier in the week.
"His foot is fine," Frankel said Friday. "It is healed."
The field for the 129th Run for the Roses dwindled to 16 Friday when Arkansas Derby winner Sir Cherokee was scratched with a minor fracture in his right rear ankle. Trainer Michael Tomlinson said Sir Cherokee is expected to recover and return to racing later in the year.
As a result of the scratch, Supah Blitz and Brancusi will move out from gates No. 1 and 2 to gates No. 2 and 3, respectively, leaving an empty gate on the rail.
No other trainers or jockeys even approached Frankel's optimism as Derby Day drew near. But a few of them sounded positive notes about their Derby starters.
"It's all falling into place," said Wally Dollase, trainer of Illinois Derby winner Ten Most Wanted, the second-favorite in the morning line at 6-1. "Everything since we've come here has been good. We just need to keep it going."
Pat Day, who has been suffering with a strained back, is scheduled to ride Ten Most Wanted and Dollase said Day seems to be fine.
Rosemary Homeiseter Jr. will become only the fifth woman to ride in the Derby when she starts aboard Supah Blitz. Although no female jockey has ever finished better than 11th in the Run for the Roses, Homeister has her trip all planned out.
"I need to get him settled and be very patient and get him in good position by the time I hit the quarter pole," she said. "Hopefully we will be within 4 or 5 lengths at that point and hopefully have some running room coming down the stretch."
About her lack of Derby experience, Homeister said, "I know how to ride and I've been around the oval 14,000 times. I have ridden mile-and-a-quarter races and won from the No. 1 hole."
Others -- more experienced and/or more wary -- were being more cautious in their assessment Friday on the Churchill Downs backstretch.
Asked what Santa Anita Derby winner Buddy Gil needs to win Saturday, trainer Jeff Mullins said, "A lot of luck."
Barclay Tagg, trainer of Wood Memorial runner-up Funny Cide, said: "It seems like in this business every day something goes wrong. So I try not to let myself get too low or too high."
Lone Star Sky's trainer, Tom Amoss, said he thinks his colt will run well.
"The most important question is, does his best race fit with these (competitors). Truthfully, we don't know. I guess the majority of the public would say not."
And T.V. Smith, trainer of Blue Grass Stakes third-place finisher Offlee Wild, said: "You want the horse to perform at his best. Everything else is secondary. If his best isn't good enough, you can live with that. There will be another race."
The weather forecast for Derby Day is good -- partly cloudy skies, with temperatures in the mid-60s. Post time will be 6:04 p.m. EDT.
