Kentucky Derby update | Pitino gets in on Oaks horse

A year after Rick Pitino's Goldencents ran in the Kentucky Derby, the University of Louisville's basketball coach appears to have interest in an Oaks contender.

On Friday morning, trainer Todd Pletcher's In Tune was withdrawn from the Oaks because of a sore shin, sending the filly to six weeks of rest. That opens a spot for Doug O'Neill's Empress of Midway in the 14-horse field, with O'Neill now the traditional trainer for Pitino's racing ventures.

The Daily Racing Form's Marty McGee first reported Friday morning that Pitino may have bought part of the horse. Later, the coach showed up to the track to watch the filly work out and confirmed the news, saying it's through the same partnership with which he owned Goldencents.

Empress of Midway, a filly by Empire Maker, did not race as a 2-year-old and hasn't yet run in a stakes race. But she won in her second start, maiden special weight competition in February at Santa Anita Park, before gaining Road to the Oaks points by virtue of a runner-up finish in the March 23 Sunland Oaks.

Bob Baffert's Awesome Baby, since removed from Oaks consideration, won the Sunland Oaks.

Empress of Midway breezed four furlongs Friday in 49.80 seconds and galloped out five in 1:02.80.

—Also Friday, a number of Kentucky Derby workouts are scheduled — none of them at Churchill Downs. Ring Weekend worked at Fair Hill, Samraat at Aqueduct, Uncle Sigh at Belmont's training track and Wicked Strong over Belmon's main track.

Ring Weekend trainer Graham Motion will make a Derby decision on whether to ship his horse after the workout. The other three are confirmed Derby entries.

Ring Weekend went six furlongs in 1:12.60, part-owner Rob Masiello told Churchill Downs.

—Trainer D. Wayne Lukas won't have a horse in the Derby, but he's stationed at Churchill Downs this week nonetheless and offering up his opinions on the field.

Lukas is a big fan of California Chrome but said the backside has "lacked pizazz" because the favorite isn't yet here. California Chrome arrives Monday.

—At Churchill, Oaks contender Fiftyshadesofgold worked before the Derby- and Oaks-exclusive training window, going four furlongs in 48.80 seconds before galloping out five in 1:02.20. The Bret Calhoun-trained filly is 12th on the Road to the Oaks board, firmly in the field.

Other Derby contenders have galloped, including Steve Asmussen's Tapiture, who mostly works early in the morning. The track surface remains fast despite some overnight rains.

—A sign near Derby contender Ride On Curlin's stall in barn 47 on the Churchill backside warns anyone who comes close: this horse bites. His jockey, Calvin Borel, found that out first hand.

The good news for the jockey? Borel tweeted he's been bitten so hard it broke skin just one other time, by 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.

Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199; follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.