THE DAY AT THE RACES

The works are done, now El

Padrino and Union Rags are ready to rumble in Saturday’s Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

After Fountain of Youth winner Union Rags put in his final workout on Saturday, El Padrino turned in his final work for the $1 million race with a four-furlong breeze in :49.11 on Sunday morning over the Palm Meadows Training Center. “He went well,” trainer Todd

Pletcher said. “He went in :49, which is what we set out to do. He seemed happy and is coming up to the race in good order.”

Union Rags has won four of five starts, while El Padrino has won three of five, taking both this year, including last month’s Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds.

“Physically, he’s a big strong colt but has good acceleration and can be pretty tactical in his races,” said Pletcher, who saddled Super

Saver to victory in the 2010 Kentucky Derby. “He's becoming more and more professional.”

The field for the Florida Derby will be drawn on Wednesday afternoon.

Pletcher will also have a starter in Aqueduct's $1 million Wood Memorial on April 7 in Gemologist.

The colt, who is 4-for-4 lifetime, is scheduled to ship from Pletcher’s Florida barn on April 4.

Besides Gemologist, the Wood Memorial field is expected to include Alpha, winner of the Count Fleet and Withers Stakes this year, and My Adonis, who was the runnerup in the Gotham Stakes.

The Wood field will also include former New York Racing Association chairman Barry Schwartz’s undefeated homebred, The Lum

ber Guy, who covered five furlongs Sunday morning in 1:01.64 over Belmont’s training track.

“He worked well this morning,” trainer Mike Hushion said of the New York-bred, who has won both of his career starts. “We’re still looking at the Wood. He’s probably going to run.”

The Lumber Guy has been battling a quarter-crack on his left front hoof but is back on schedule, according to Hushion.

n Daddy Nose Best ($9.40) likely earned himself a start in the May 5 Kentucky Derby with a victory over Isn’t He Clever in Sunday’s $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park in New Mexico. It was the first career dirt win for the

Steve Asmussen- trained colt, who won last month’s El Camino Real Derby over the synthetic surface at Golden Gate Fields. PAIR OF AQUEDUCT ACES:

Jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr. and Junior Alvarado each brought home a pair of winners on Sunday at Aqueduct, while leading rider

David Cohen had one, giving him 10 through the first five days of racing over the main track.