NOTEBOOK From Churchill Downs

Pieces fall into place: The bad news trainers Bob Baffert and Bobby Frankel received was good news for Lone Star Sky's Tom Amoss. Amoss was hesitant about entering the colt the Derby, even after a sharp, five-furlong workout Tuesday morning. He didn't plan to announce his decision until today. Then came news that Baffert's Kafwain was scratched and Frankel's Empire Maker bruised a foot. Amoss and owner Buddy New didn't need to wait any longer. The 41-year-old Amoss, who shared the 2002 spring training title at Churchill Downs with Dale Romans, has never had a Derby starter.
Outta time: Bill Currin, the co-owner and trainer of Outta Here, likes where he and his colt are -- literally -- heading into Saturday. The son of Dehere is using the stall in Barn 42 which housed 1973 Derby runner-up Sham. It's also the stall where Purdue King prepared for the 1988 Derby. Kent Desormeaux, who will ride Outta Here on Saturday, also rode Purdue King. Currin likes where he's staying even better. He's booked at the luxurious Seelbach Hotel, and was told he's in a room used by Al Capone. Currin's horse has taken an unusual route to the Derby. The colt started his career in Southern California, where he competed in 2-year-old stakes races against many of the divisional leaders. He veered off the conventional path by closing out his first season with a victory in the $500,000 Delta Jackpot in December at Delta Downs, a track not known for developing Derby prospects. Outta Here's lone Derby prep this season was the $2 million United Arab Emirates Derby in Dubai, where he finished fourth.
One fine day: Laffit Pincay's retirement Tuesday left Pat Day as racing's most winning active jockey. Day, who will turn 50 in October, will ride Ten Most Wanted Saturday. Day has 8,455 career victories, and is in third place behind Pincay's 9,530 and Bill Shoemaker's 8,833.
A busy day: Seven Derby prospects posted five-furlong workouts Tuesday morning. In addition to Lone Star Sky, who was timed in 1:003/5, others working out included Eye Of The Tiger. He also went in 1:003/5, a drill that could earn the Lexington Stakes runner-up a Derby berth. Baffert's duo of Indian Express and Kafwain worked in company and stopped the clock in :593/5 for their joint drill. Kafwain's injury was discovered later. Baffert also announced that Senor Swinger, a Derby candidate, will skip the race to run on the grass Friday in the Crown Royal American Turf on the Kentucky Oaks under-card. Offlee Wild, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January, breezed in :591/5. The colt, sidelined for two months with a bacterial infection, has been battling to make up for lost time. Arkansas Derby winner Sir Cherokee stopped the clock in 1:003/5. Funny Cide, second to Empire Maker in the Wood Memorial, worked in :582/5 at Belmont Park. He was to fly to Churchill Downs today.
-- Associated Press