Sunday notes/ Tagg likes his chances

Trainer Barclay Tagg, fresh off his second consecutive victory in the Wood Memorial, said Tale of Ekati shipped well to Keeneland and was in outstanding shape after Saturday’s win.

“He came with me last night and everything is right,” said Tagg, who will now concentrate on Elysium Fields and Big Truck for this weekend’s stakes. “He’s going into the Kentucky derby the right way. I’ll probably work Elysium Fields and Big Truck on Tuesday. I’m still not sure if I am going to run both of them here in the Blue Grass or run one here and one in the Arkansas Derby (at Oaklawn Park).

“I will say this: I wouldn’t trade my three for any others going into the Derby.”

Expression of confidence is not typical of Tagg, which may be cause to at least arch an eyebrow.

Tagg said that he was more impressed by Tale of Ekati’s race as he reviewed the Wood Memorial.

“That other horse (Inner Light) maybe softened up War Pass, but he didn’t soften him up for long. War Pass hung in there very tough, and he was the horse I thought we had to beat. But Tale of Ekati was up close to that pace; he was a lot closer than I wanted him to be, that’s for sure.

“But it all worked out. We knew he was a much better horse than he showed in Louisiana and he proved that in the Wood Memorial.”

Nick Zito said that War Pass exited his runner-up finish in good order and is on his way to Kentucky. The Robert LaPenta-owned colt set a pressured pace through fast fractions of :22 2/5 and :46 for the first half-mile.

“It was the only big race that I finished second in that I appreciated it as a win,” Zito said. “He ran as tough as he could and showed what kind of horse he is, especially the way the race shaped up. Obviously this sets him up great for the Derby. He got nothing out of his race in Tampa, so he needed this.

“I really wanted to win another Wood Memorial,” said Zito, who has three victories in the Wood. “It’s a special race because I grew up in New York near Aqueduct. Usually you get a break on big days with the track not being as heavy as it was yesterday, but that’s not an excuse.”

Pyro, the probable favorite for Saturday’s Toyota Blue Grass, is scheduled to work five furlongs Monday morning, according to Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. The work is scheduled for 6:15 a.m.

On Sunday, Pyro took his usual route to the track with a walk through the paddock to the walking ring before a 1 ½-mile gallop under Dominic Terry.

Pyro had a paddock schooling session Saturday afternoon with the horses in the second race. Blasi reported that the pupil’s time in class “went exceptionally well.” (Video of Pyro in the paddock)

There was exceptional value in some corners of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager at the close of betting on Saturday. Favored Big Brown, at 5-2, is a severe underlay considering his inexperience, running style and a history of foot problems. But, in light of the likely hot pace on May 3, established quality closers were the value plays. Pyro may be 5-1 on Derby, probably a square price, but Visionaire at 22-1, Tale of Ekati, 27-1, Cool Coal Man, 21-1 and Big Truck, 32-1, are exactly what you’re looking for when betting a horse a month before the race.