Updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 12 days away.

Hopeful winner sizzles: Wayne Lukas trainee Dublin, winner of the Hopeful on closing day last summer at Saratoga, blitzed through a five furlong work in :59.13, best of 44 at the distance (others working included leading sprinter Ventana in :59.80 and stakes winner Kensei in 1:00.40). The son of Afleet Alex, who is winless since the Hopeful but with a series of strong efforts this spring, broke off eagerly behind a workmate and reeled off splits of :11.76, :23.23, :35.07 and :47.04. He finished well clear of his workmate and galloped out in 1:13 and change. Terry Thompson, who will ride the colt in the Derby, was aboard for the work.

Still hopeful: Another Saratoga stakes winner, Backtalk, breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:04 Monday morning at Churchill Downs. The son of Smarty Jones won the Bashford Manor last spring, making him one of the few hopefuls with a win over the track, and took the Sanford on during the opening week at Saratoga. Most recently, the colt was third in the Illinois Derby. Backtalk is currently 22nd on the graded earnings list and would need two defections to make the field.

Other works: Arkansas Derby also-ran Noble's Promise galloped on Monday and will turn in a crucial work Tuesday morning. The colt has been battling a long infection, making his Derby status in doubt; trainer Ken McPeek said he'll wait to see how Noble's Promise comes out of the work before giving a status update. Also galloping Monday and scheduled to work on Tuesday was Gotham winner Awesome Act - whose trainer, Jeremy Noseda, is still stuck in Britain. Other workers Tuesday are expected to include Arkansas Derby winner Line of David and Bay Shore winner Eightyfiveinafifty, who goes in Saturday's Derby trial. Turning in a gallop on Monday morning was Blue Grass runner-up Paddy O'Prado.

Familiar face: NYRA leading rider Ramon Dominguez, who took the jockey title last summer at Saratoga, has picked up the mount on WinStar Farm’s Rule for the Derby. The son of Roman Ruler, winner of the Delta Jackpot and Sam F. Davis, had Johnny Velazquez aboard in his most recent start, when he was third in the Florida Derby. But Velazquez will ride another Todd Pletcher trainee, expected favorite Eskendereya, in the Derby. Dominguez was second in the 2006 Derby aboard another WinStar colt trained by Pletcher, Bluegrass Cat.

New rider: Edgar Prado has ridden Champagne winner Homeboykris in most of his recent starts. But trainer Rick Dutrow, who won the 2008 Derby with Big Brown, said Monday that Joel Rosario will instead ride the son of Roman Ruler in the Derby. Prado won’t have a Derby mount, as he plans to stay in New York and ride at Belmont that weekend. After his Champagne win, Homeboykris turned in lackluster efforts in the Remsen and Holy Bull, then finished second in an allowance to stablemate Radiohead last time out. He comes into the Derby off a layoff of more than two months. Homeboykris is expected to arrive in Kentucky on Tuesday on a flight from Florida that will also carry Pletcher's group of Eskendereya, Rule, Mission Impazible and Discreetly Mine.

Oaks watch: Pletcher added another Oaks filly to his arsenal, declaring that Ailalea will run. The daughter of Pulpit earned a spot in the field - limited to 14 based on graded earnings - with the defection of champion She Be Wild due to injury. The filly won the Tempted at Aqueduct last fall but is unplaced in two stakes tries since then.