No Derby Verdict Expected in This Trial

Despite having beaten expected Kentucky Derby favorite Prairie Bayou, Bert’s Bubbleator will be racing on opening day at Churchill Downs, not on the first Saturday in May.

The colt is one of four Kentucky Derby nominees in the Derby Trial today. None is expected to contest the Derby a week later.

Bert’s Bubbleator beat Prairie Bayou by 1 1/4 lengths in the Pappa Riccio over 1 mile 70 yards on a sloppy track Jan. 13 at Aqueduct.

Bert’s Bubbleator, owned by Alberta Butner and trained by John Tammaro, has not raced since the Pappa Riccio because of a bruised right foreleg and bad weather in New York over the past several weeks.

Since losing to Bert’s Bubbleator, Prairie Bayou has moved into the Derby favorite’s role with four consecutive stakes victories, including the Jim Beam and the Blue Grass, each at 1 1/8 miles.

The victory in the Pappa Riccio gave Bert’s Bubbleator a record of three victories and two seconds in six starts for earnings of $69,330. He will carry 117 pounds today and be ridden by James Bruin.

The other Derby eligibles in the Derby Trial are Cherokee Run, 122; Mr. Scrooge, 119, and Darien Deacon, 114.

Cherokee Run, co-highweighted with Premier Explosion, won the seven-furlong Lafayette on April 3 at Keeneland. He will be ridden by Pat Day, who rode Lil E. Tee to victory in 1992 Derby and who will ride Wallenda in this year’s race.

Premier Explosion won the seven-furlong Swale, in which Cherokee Run was third on March 20 at Gulfstream Park, then finished fourth in the Lafayette. He will be ridden by Randy Romero.