NOTEBOOK From Churchill Downs

Mount caps comeback: Shane Sellers can't keep the smile off his face. The 36-year-old will ride Lone Star Sky Saturday, but that's only part of the reason he's happy. A knee injury in December 2000 nearly ended his career, and a comeback try failed in 2001. He tried again last fall, and made it. Sellers ranks 15th in earnings ($2.614 million) and 17th in victories (84) among jockeys this year. Now, he's back in the Derby for the first time since 2000. "It makes all the hard work I put in to getting back worth it," said Sellers, who will make his 12th Derby start. Lone Star Sky was a last-minute entry by trainer Tom Amoss. Calvin Borel had ridden the son of Conquistador Cielo in his last four starts, but already was tabbed to ride Ten Cents a Shine in the Derby. Amoss then turned to Sellers. "There were times when I didn't think I'd ever ride again," Sellers said. "Doctors told me they'd done all they could do. I sat down, did some soul-searching for about six months. I had to go through a lot of pain to get to where I am. But I'm on that high again. It feels like the old days."
Coaches corner: College coaches with Kentucky connections have been popping up this week. Former Louisville and current Michigan State coach John L. Smith renewed old acquaintances behind the backstretch Thursday morning. Smith left Louisville after five seasons last December to coach the Spartans. "The Derby gets in your blood," he said. "I had to come back." Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks, hired in December, also wandered the barn area Thursday. On Wednesday, former Louisville basketball coach Denny Crum munched on a doughnut as he mingled with friends at the track.
Aching Day: Doing his own chores has Pat Day in jeopardy of missing his 21st consecutive Derby. The Hall of Fame jockey injured his lower back in a spill Sunday at Churchill Downs and further aggravated it Monday by hoisting a bag of yard debris into a dumpster. Day had shooting pain in his back and didn't ride Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. "Immediately, stupid was written on my forehead," he said. "You'd think after 49 years you'd get a little smarter. I should have been more careful." Churchill Downs spokesman Lane Gold said Day planned to ride a full card today.
Birthday kid: Steve Cauthen, who rode Affirmed to the 1978 Triple Crown, turned 43 Thursday.
-- Associated Press