Pyro

Pyro finally emerged from the shadow of War Pass, who defeated him three times in their two-year-old campaigns.

While War Pass continued to work forwardly for his 2008 debut, Pyro made his own three-year-old debut in the February 9 Risen Star Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds and turned in a scintillating last-to-first performance that ranks as one of the most impressive Triple Crown prep races this year by any of the contenders.

Pyro did not sneak up on anyone in the Risen Star, he had tipped his hand as to how he was developing as a sophomore with a pair of workouts in which he stayed on even terms with 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin.

"Guess his workmate did the job, huh?" quipped trainer Steve Asmussen.

Pyro's two-length margin of victory over stablemate Z Fortune was, according to jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, even easier than it looked.

"I was very patient," Bridgmohan said. "I was just looking for some daylight. When I got it, he gave it to me. I never hit him; I just tapped him on his shoulder."

Asmussen now has at least two legitimate contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1)—Pyro and Z Fortune—but Pyro has emerged as the star of the group and the most serious contender. He also won his only previous start at Churchill Downs in his career debut.

"He's a tremendous horse," Asmussen said after the Risen Star. "How good is he? He's good enough to do what we just watched."

On March 8 Pyro again emphasized just how good he is with a sterling victory in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. Closer to the pace than he had been in the Risen Star, Pyro was full of run but had to wait for an opening. When one finally presented itself, the colt split horses at the eighth pole and surged clear for a three-length victory.

"I was not panicking with my position at all," jockey Shaun Bridgmohan said. "I knew what I had, and he gave it to me. A spot opened for him on the straightaway for home, and he went about his business."

Asmussen said that Pyro had defeated "some very good horses" in the Louisiana Derby, which included the 2008 debuts of Tale of Ekati and Majestic Warrior.

"We prepared well," Asmussen said. "It looks like he's right on target."

On April 12 Pyro missed the target badly when he finished tenth of 12 at even money in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Race Course.

Both trainer Steve Asmussen and assistant Scott Blasi are convinced that the poor showing was simply a function of Pyro not liking the Polytrack surface at Keeneland, although he subsequently worked well over it.

Current plans are to breeze the colt at Churchill Downs on April 28.

April 28 - Four furlongs breezing in :49.80 at Churchill Downs, track fast. 29th best of 44 workouts at the distance.

"If anything, he was a bit too sharp today," trainer Sreve Asmussen said after Pyro's April 28 workout. "He needs to relax. The Derby isn't for showing off in the middle of the race. It's for showing off after it."

April 21 - Pyro worked six furlongs in company with Grade 3 winner Noonmark at Keeneland Race Course but the fog was so dense that no official time was taken.

"He worked well, but there was no way of knowing how fast he went," said Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. "[Clockers] wanted to make up times, this or that, but there was no way anybody clocked him. He worked outstanding."

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, after finishing second to eventual champion two-year-old male War Pass in the 2007 Champagne Stakes (G1) on October 6 at Belmont Park:

"We always thought, all along, that this was a quality colt. That's why I came here today to ride him. His future is ahead of him."