Hierro stayed calm, to the delight of trainer Steve Asmussen, as a violent storm moved through Churchill Downs. He showed a little moxie, too, in capturing the $200,000-added Grade 3 Derby Trial.
The 3-year-old chestnut colt with jockey Julien Leparoux lurked in fifth early before making his move on the backstretch to beat Paynter and Stealcase in the mile race around the sloppy dirt track on Saturday night.
''This evening with the weather earlier and then the delay in the paddock, I loved how he acted,'' Asmussen said. ''I thought he kept his composure. I thought Julien gave him a dream trip.''
Hierro lurked behind the leaders and took charge on the outside of a four-wide sprint when he angled outside. He took over in the final furlong to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Sent off at 5-1 odds, he returned $12 for a $2 win bet.
Paytner was second and Stealcase third. The favorite, Bourbon Courage, finished fourth.
''We were looking for this race from him. He had shown talent all along,'' said Asmussen, who said Hierro's owners would consider sending him to the Preakness on May 19 next. ''Hopefully there are bigger things to come.''
The race ended up being delayed 39 minutes because of golf ball-sized hail and when another horse, Nonios, had a problem with a shoe and ended up being scratched. It was the opening night of the 39-day spring meet highlighted by next Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
Once the final prep race for the Derby itself, the Derby Trial now usually attracts runners who fell shy of qualifying for the Derby or sprint-inclined horses that are pushing their distance limits.
