Ten Most Wanted, who figures to be the bet-down horse in this year’s Kentucky Derby after winning the Illinois Derby by four lengths with a powerful late run, solidified his credentials yesterday morning at Churchill Downs with a swift seven-furlong workout.

With Derby rider Pat Day aboard, the Deputy Commander colt zipped through splits of :12.1, :25, :37, :49, 1:00.1 and 1:11.4, completing the seven-eighths in 1:25.3.

“I got him galloping out [a mile] in 1:38 and change,” trainer Wally Dollase said. “It was a nice work, but the main thing is Pat Day was very happy.”

Later yesterday afternoon, Day suffered contusions when he fell from his mount in the third race at Keeneland, but the injuries didn’t appear serious.

Dollase thinks the Derby’s grueling mile-and-a-quarter is right up Ten Most Wanted’s alley.

“The main thing is I am pretty sure he will get that last eighth of a mile. He has plenty of energy.”

Also working yesterday, going six furlongs in company at Churchill, were Bob Baffert’s pair of Kafwain and Indian Express, who’ll run as an uncoupled entry looking to give “Bullet Bob” his fourth Derby victory in seven years.

Kafwain, winner of the San Vicente and third last out in the Santa Anita Derby, went in 1:13.1 under jockey Sal Gonzalez. Indian Express, second in the Santa Anita Derby by a nose to Buddy Gil, went a tick slower with exercise rider Dana Barnes up.

“They’re not very good work horses so I worked them together,” Baffert said. “[The track] was soft so they got a lot out of it.

“Kafwain [who got sick after the Santa Anita Derby and missed nine days of training] needed a nice, stiff work, and I think we accomplished that. He blew a little, but that’s what we wanted. We’re tightening the screws.”

Baffert expects Indian Express to set the early Derby pace.

“I have a young rider on him [Tyler Baze], and he’s going to be very nervous, so I’m going to tell him to ride like he did in the Santa Anita Derby. Just get him out there and go, and take him as far as you can.”