ESPN Horse Racing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. never spent much time in the stable area before any of his 17 Kentucky Derbys.

Now 62, Cordero is enjoying the view as an exercise rider for trainer Todd Pletcher.

"I wanted to be part of the action, part of the festivities," Cordero said. "It's the first time I've ever been here a whole week before the Kentucky Derby. I usually just came in, ran the race and left."

Cordero won the Derby three times: in 1974 aboard Cannonade, in 1976 with Bold Forbes and in 1985 aboard Spend a Buck. He lacerated his liver in a spill in 1987 and had his spleen removed in 1990. Cordero retired in 1991 with more than 7,000 victories.

His weakened immune system often made him ill and doctors finally suggested that returning to the saddle might be the most effective therapy.

"They just told me I should ride horses," Cordero said. "They said that was the only way I could stay fit."

Cordero, has taken a month off from his job as jockey agent representing John Velazquez, who will ride Bandini for Pletcher in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. While cultivating their partnership, Cordero asked Pletcher if he could work some horses.

At first, he wasn't much help.

"I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't get them to work the way he wanted them to," Cordero said. "So he said, 'Let me train you like my horses.' It took a long time, but now I can."

This week, Cordero has worked primarily with Coin Silver, one of Pletcher's three Derby entries. He's also eased the nerves around Pletcher's barn with quick jokes and an infectious smile.

"He keeps things light around here," Pletcher said. "That helps tense situations when you're worrying when you're preparing for a race like this. I don't like everyone standing around on pins and needles."

Cordero is happy to do it.

"I always want to be around horses. This is what I've done all my life," he said. "It keeps me healthy, it keeps me young and it keeps me out of trouble. I haven't gotten into any trouble all week."

Holthus back again
Trainer Bob Holthus has run only three horses in the Derby and they were widely spaced: Our Trade Wins (13th in 1972), Proper Reality (fourth in 1988) and Pro Prado (13th last year).

Breaking the pattern, Holthus will have consecutive Derby runners for the first time when he sends out Greater Good.

The winner of the Southwest and Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Greater Good ran fifth in the Arkansas Derby in his last start.

Greater Good could have an edge on most of his rivals in that he has already won a stakes at Churchill Downs. He captured the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in November.

A likely longshot in the race, Greater Good has been a consistent winner throughout with five victories in eight starts.

"Other than the Arkansas Derby, he hasn't made any mistakes," said Holthus, who blamed that loss on "washing out," excessive sweating before the race.

John McKee, who made his Derby debut last year on Pro Prado, will ride Greater Good. He has been aboard for all eight starts.

Off Lasix
The performance of many horses improves with the addition of Lasix, an approved medication that alleviates respiratory bleeding.

Don't Get Mad was an exception to the rule. The colt bounced back from a weak sixth in the Santa Anita Derby to win the Derby Trial last Saturday without Lasix.

"I think the Lasix dulled him in California," trainer Ron Ellis. "He warmed up with a lot more energy before the Trial."

Most importantly, there was no post-race indication of respiratory distress.

"We scoped him after the Trial and there was no bleeding," Ellis said.

Don't Get Mad, who will again race without Lasix in the Derby, joins supplemental entrant Greeley's Galaxy for owner B. Wayne Hughes in the race.

When Consolidator pulled out of the Derby with an injury Monday, it opened a spot in the field for Greeley's Galaxy.

"It already is a good week. Just being here is a big deal," said Hughes, the billionaire founder and president of Public Storage.

As a supplement for a $200,000 penalty, Greeley's Galaxy ranked below all original nominees. Greeley's Galaxy was 21st on the list for a race that accommodates only 20 runners. Had Consolidator not scratched, Hughes could have gotten Greeley's Galaxy into the Derby only by withdrawing Don't Get Mad.

Now both can run.

"I don't know which is the best horse. I don't have any idea," Hughes said. "If they're good enough to win, that would make me happier yet."

Smarty headed to Hollywood
The Wolper Organization, a production company affiliated with Warner Brothers, has acquired the television and feature film rights to the Smarty Jones story. Producer/director Billy Rappaport is developing a script to capture the colorful story of the horse who overcame a near-fatal injury to win last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

No word yet on who will play the lead.

Watch the Kentucky Derby on NBC this Saturday at 5 p.m. ET

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press