KENTUCKY DERBY DAILY REPORT : Nakatani Decision Leaves In Character in Lurch

Bob Meldahl, Corey Nakatani’s agent, said his rider will be aboard Serena’s Song in the Kentucky Derby.

But In Character trainer Bruce Jackson said he had a “firm call (commitment)” from Nakatani to ride his horse, and he hasn’t released the jockey from that assignment. Meldahl said that when Nakatani agreed to ride In Character, it was contingent on Serena’s Song not running in the Derby.

“I’ll talk it over with the other (two) owners of In Character,” Jackson said. “There’s a possibility that I might ask the stewards to intervene.” Jackson said that because he thought he had Nakatani for In Character, he turned down Chris McCarron and Craig Perret when they asked to ride the horse.

Right now, In Character doesn’t have a jockey, because McCarron has been hired to ride Knockadoon and Perret has taken the assignment on Jambalaya Jazz.

In another jockey assignment for the Derby, Shane Sellers will ride Lake George.

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Serena’s Song worked six furlongs Sunday in 1:12, with a nifty :23 2/5 for the last quarter of a mile, while Talkin Man worked in 1:12 4/5. On Saturday, Afternoon Deelites worked a mile in 1:42. “We weren’t looking for anything fancy, just a nice, solid mile,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

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Here’s the complete early morning line: The entry of Timber Country and Serena’s Song, 5-2; Talkin Man, 7-2; Afternoon Deelites, 4-1; Jumron, Tejano Run and Wild Syn, all at 10-1; Thunder Gulch, Suave Prospect and Eltish, 12-1; the entry of Jambalaya Jazz and Pyramid Peak, 20-1; Dazzling Falls, 20-1; and the field horses--Citadeed, In Character, Knockadoon, Lake George, Mecke and Ski Captain--at 15-1.