Editor's Note: Since January 1, ESPN.com has been tracking the progress of Triple Crown hopeful Saarland in a weekly diary of the horse's season-long progress. Over the course of Saarland's nine days in Louisville, his final Kentucky Derby tune-ups will be updated daily.

Saarland ready to roll
Maybe its coincidence; maybe just fun food for thought. But Saarland is literally busting the doors down this morning, one day after his final major Kentucky Derby workout.

Under the darkness of a cool Kentucky morning, Saarland is feeling full of himself as exercise rider Juice Krajewski walked into his stall at 6 a.m. With a 30-minute walk by hand the exercise slated for the day, Saarland comes barreling out of his stall and almost sends Krajewski to the deck. Theres no incident whatsoever, just a subtle hint that the big colt is feeling fine.

After 20 strong minutes of walking, Saarland settles down the final 10 and completes an easy morning of activity. He walks the entire time just in front of Wood Memorial runner-up Medaglia dOro, whose trainer Bobby Frankel shares Barn 43 at Churchill Downs.

A cold water bath and rub down from groom Gilberto Torres completes the morning.

For McGaughey, the visit to the barn is a quick one. He oversees Saarlands walk and spends some time in his office talking Derbies past and present.

"I dont know how Ill react Derby Day," he says candidly. "Im relaxed now, but thats not to say I will be Saturday. I used to get so wound up before a race that it was a relief win or lose just to get it over with."

McGaughey has not trained a Kentucky Derby starter since Easy Goer finished second in 1989. He first visited the Derby 22 years earlier, when he watched Proud Clarion win the 1967 edition. A teenage McGaughey went to the races with his neighbors and friends, the McKinley family of Lexington.

"I was rooting for Bill Shoemaker (aboard third-place finisher Damascus)," McGaughey recalls. "For a Kentucky boy, the Shoe was a big deal. He was the name everyone knew."

No doubt his rooting interest will change in four days. The sure-fire Hall of Fame trainer, who becomes eligible for enshrinement in 2003, says "the Derby is the most important race there is to win. Not taking anything away from the other great ones, this is the one."

McGaugheys afternoon includes a trip to Claiborne Farm in Lexington. There, hell check out the barns future stars of yearlings and weanlings.