Friday, April 09, 2004
KRT Wire | 04/09/2004 | Prep races may finally reveal Derby favorite - maybe
BY DAVE JOSEPH
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - (KRT) - By default, a 3-year-old colt or gelding will emerge this afternoon from one of three prep races around the country as the favorite for the May 1 Kentucky Derby. Maybe.
In a year that has produced false favorites, uninspired performances and stunning upsets, 30 colts and geldings go to post today hoping to earn a ticket to the 130th Derby and perhaps clear a fuzzy picture. And once again, the favorites all appear to be vulnerable.
In the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, the front-running favorite Lion Heart, who appears to have distance limitations, will be tested over 1[th mile while champion juvenile Action This Day, who has finished off the board in two previous races this year, will try to restore his standing.
Distance limitations surround Smarty Jones, unbeaten in five starts and the prohibitive favorite in the $1 million Arkansas Derby. Meanwhile, in the $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, Sham Stakes winner Master David appears vulnerable having not raced in two months after missing the Florida Derby with a fever.
"It's definitely a wide-open year," said trainer Beau Greely, who will saddle Louisiana Derby runner-up Borrego in the Arkansas Derby. "I think at this point any horse that's going to like (the Kentucky Derby's) mile and a quarter could come up and win the race."
A victory by Lion Heart in the Blue Grass likely would stamp the colt as the Derby favorite. The son of Tale of the Cat proved game March 6 when finishing second to Imperialism in the San Rafael after setting the pace. But the colt hasn't shown a fondness to being rated.
"I'm going to be honest with you," said Patrick Biancone, Lion Heart's trainer, "I don't know if he's going to stay a mile and a quarter. My target is to stay a mile and an eighth this weekend."
Since winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at odds of 26-1 in October, Action This Day finished fourth Feb. 8 in the Sham Stakes and seventh in the San Felipe. "The San Felipe was disappointing for us because of two things," trainer Richard Mandella said. "First of all, he was cut near his tendon. It required three stitches. Then he got to doing too good. He jumped out of the game and wanted to go to the lead. We'll take him back a little (in the Blue Grass)."
Trainer Nick Zito scratched Champagne Stakes winner Birdstone from the Blue Grass because of a high white blood cell count, but he has The Cliff's Edge, who finished third in the Florida Derby. Others are Tampa Bay Derby and Hutcheson Stakes winner Lime House and San Felipe winner Preachinatthebar.
If Master David doesn't fire in the 1[th mile Wood Memorial, Willmott Stables' Eddington could prove the colt to beat. An impressive winner at Gulfstream Park this winter, Eddington finished second March 20 in the Grade III Gotham after a bumpy start. Distance shouldn't be a question with the son of Unbridled, and the Mark Hennig-trained colt has Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey in the saddle.
"I feel like we've got the horse that has all the credentials he needs other than some money and the day he throws it all together," Hennig said.
Trainer Michael Dickinson is hoping Tapit throws it together like he did in November when winning the Laurel Futurity. The colt was flat when finishing sixth in the Florida Derby. Others in the Wood field include Lanes End winner Sinister G., Florida Derby runner-up Value Plus, and Swingforthefences, third in the Tampa Bay Derby.
It's all about Smarty Jones in Arkansas. A victory in the 1[th Derby brings him to Kentucky undefeated in six starts and the sentimental favorite.
Race canceled
The $60,000 Hallandale Handicap, scheduled for today at Gulfstream over six furlongs, was canceled due to lack of interest. Only two 3-year-olds entered the race, whose purse was cut last month from $75,000.
BY DAVE JOSEPH
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - (KRT) - By default, a 3-year-old colt or gelding will emerge this afternoon from one of three prep races around the country as the favorite for the May 1 Kentucky Derby. Maybe.
In a year that has produced false favorites, uninspired performances and stunning upsets, 30 colts and geldings go to post today hoping to earn a ticket to the 130th Derby and perhaps clear a fuzzy picture. And once again, the favorites all appear to be vulnerable.
In the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, the front-running favorite Lion Heart, who appears to have distance limitations, will be tested over 1[th mile while champion juvenile Action This Day, who has finished off the board in two previous races this year, will try to restore his standing.
Distance limitations surround Smarty Jones, unbeaten in five starts and the prohibitive favorite in the $1 million Arkansas Derby. Meanwhile, in the $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, Sham Stakes winner Master David appears vulnerable having not raced in two months after missing the Florida Derby with a fever.
"It's definitely a wide-open year," said trainer Beau Greely, who will saddle Louisiana Derby runner-up Borrego in the Arkansas Derby. "I think at this point any horse that's going to like (the Kentucky Derby's) mile and a quarter could come up and win the race."
A victory by Lion Heart in the Blue Grass likely would stamp the colt as the Derby favorite. The son of Tale of the Cat proved game March 6 when finishing second to Imperialism in the San Rafael after setting the pace. But the colt hasn't shown a fondness to being rated.
"I'm going to be honest with you," said Patrick Biancone, Lion Heart's trainer, "I don't know if he's going to stay a mile and a quarter. My target is to stay a mile and an eighth this weekend."
Since winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at odds of 26-1 in October, Action This Day finished fourth Feb. 8 in the Sham Stakes and seventh in the San Felipe. "The San Felipe was disappointing for us because of two things," trainer Richard Mandella said. "First of all, he was cut near his tendon. It required three stitches. Then he got to doing too good. He jumped out of the game and wanted to go to the lead. We'll take him back a little (in the Blue Grass)."
Trainer Nick Zito scratched Champagne Stakes winner Birdstone from the Blue Grass because of a high white blood cell count, but he has The Cliff's Edge, who finished third in the Florida Derby. Others are Tampa Bay Derby and Hutcheson Stakes winner Lime House and San Felipe winner Preachinatthebar.
If Master David doesn't fire in the 1[th mile Wood Memorial, Willmott Stables' Eddington could prove the colt to beat. An impressive winner at Gulfstream Park this winter, Eddington finished second March 20 in the Grade III Gotham after a bumpy start. Distance shouldn't be a question with the son of Unbridled, and the Mark Hennig-trained colt has Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey in the saddle.
"I feel like we've got the horse that has all the credentials he needs other than some money and the day he throws it all together," Hennig said.
Trainer Michael Dickinson is hoping Tapit throws it together like he did in November when winning the Laurel Futurity. The colt was flat when finishing sixth in the Florida Derby. Others in the Wood field include Lanes End winner Sinister G., Florida Derby runner-up Value Plus, and Swingforthefences, third in the Tampa Bay Derby.
It's all about Smarty Jones in Arkansas. A victory in the 1[th Derby brings him to Kentucky undefeated in six starts and the sentimental favorite.
Race canceled
The $60,000 Hallandale Handicap, scheduled for today at Gulfstream over six furlongs, was canceled due to lack of interest. Only two 3-year-olds entered the race, whose purse was cut last month from $75,000.
