LOUISVILLE – Yesterday’s Kentucky Derby lost one of its longest longshots yesterday when trainer John Toscano Jr. announced that Sinister G is out because of a cough. The Matty G colt was a late nominee to the Triple Crown after posting a gate-to-wire upset in the Lane’s End, but then stopped badly after battling for the lead in the Wood Memorial to finish a distant 10th.

With Sinister G’s defection, Pro Prado – third in three straight at Oaklawn Park – moves into the body of the field, limited to 20 starters based on earnings in graded stakes.

Eddington, a colt many feel might be the best of this crop, is in 21st place, hoping for another defection. Rock Hard Ten, who’s sitting 22nd, scratched out of yesterday’s Derby Trial at Churchill Downs, for which he would have been the odds-on favorite, in case another spot opens.

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Undefeated Philly flash Smarty Jones, who’ll pocket a $5 million bonus from Oaklawn if he wins the Derby after sweeping that track’s three prep races, could go off the favorite in the 130th Run for the Roses, especially after a scintillating workout yesterday morning at Churchill.

In his first drill since arriving in Louisville, the son of Elusive Quality ripped through five furlongs in a bullet :58, galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.1 over a track labeled “good.”

“I’m tickled to death,” trainer John Servis said. “It went very, very good.”

Smarty Jones wasn’t the only Derby contender to leave burn marks on the track yesterday. In a move unusually quick for a Nick Zito-trained horse, Birdstone, looking to rebound off a dismal fifth as the favorite in the Lane’s End five weeks ago, zipped five furlongs in :58.2, out six in 1:12.3.

“It was a great work, and I think it gives him a decent shot next Saturday,” said Zito. “He was high on the polls as a 2-year-old, and it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise if he were to win. He’s back now.”

In southern California, a pair of likely Derby contenders sizzled in their final works.