Triple Crown Information

They'll run the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) on Saturday, with High Fly and Noble Causeway likely going off as the favorites in this major prep race for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

The starting gate can't open quickly enough for Scott Savin, the beleaguered president and general manager of Gulfstream Park. Savin doesn't have a rooting interest, but the track he runs sure has a lot on the line.

"Maybe, whoever wins will go on to win the Kentucky Derby, and next year everyone will say, 'This is the place to be to get ready for the Triple Crown,"' Savin said Friday morning after a visit with Nick Zito, who trains High Fly and Noble Causeway.

It's been a tough racing meet for Savin, not to mention South Florida racing fans.

The track, owned by Frank Stronach's Magna Entertainment Corp., has been reduced to a bunch of big white tents while construction of a new grandstand and clubhouse continues. Savin has been criticized for moving the date of the Florida Derby from it's usual mid-March slot to five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, perhaps too close to the May 7 Derby for trainers to get another prep race into their horses.

The path to the Kentucky Derby took a few unexpected twists and turns during the weekend: High Limit soared into contention by winning the Louisiana Derby, and top prospect Declan's Moon dropped out with a slight knee fracture.

"It's still early to get excited," trainer Bobby Frankel said the day before High Limit won Saturday's Louisiana Derby in his first race in more than four months. "Strawberries today, jam tomorrow."

But Frankel was pretty pumped up after he got his first look at High Limit in action. Now 3-for-3, the three-year-old colt won his first two races for trainer Tony Dutrow last October before owners Gary and Mary West sent High Limit to Frankel's barn.

High Limit moves into this week's Run to the Roses Top 10 at No. 4. Meanwhile, undefeated Declan's Moon will be sidelined about five months, trainer Ron Ellis said. The two-year-old champion, No. 2 last week, was injured after winning the Santa Catalina Stakes on March 5.

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Also moving onto the Derby trail is Bellamy Road, yet another colt from Nick Zito's barn, this one owned by Yankees boss George Steinbrenner. Bellamy Road won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park by a whopping 153/4 lengths Saturday, and his next start is likely the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 9. Zito's other Derby hopefuls include No. 3 High Fly, No. 7 Sun King, Noble Causeway and Andromeda's Hero.

Sweet Catomine continued her domination of fillies Sunday by winning the Santa Anita Oaks, and now is likely to challenge the boys in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9. A strong showing in that race, and the two-year-old champion filly might have a chance to become just the fourth filly to win the Kentucky Derby.

Coming up this weekend is a full slate of Derby preps, topped by the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita and the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion Wilko takes on the likes of Roman Ruler, Consolidator, Don't Get Mad, Giacomo and Golden Shine in the 1 1-16th-mile San Felipe, while unbeaten Rockport Harbor is set to take on top-ranked Afleet Alex in the 1 1-16th-mile Rebel.

Rockport Harbor was flavouring his right rear leg Saturday — the same leg that was gashed during the Remsen Stakes in November and needed six weeks to heal. Trainer John Servis said "instead of being 75 to 80 per cent for the Rebel, Rocky will be maybe 65 to 70 percent."

Also, Galloping Grocer is scheduled to run in the one-mile Gotham at Aqueduct, and Sun King should be the favourite for the 1 1-16th-mile Tampa Bay Derby.

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This week's top 10, with updated Derby future wager odds through Sunday:

1. Afleet Alex (Tim Ritchey, trainer; John Velazquez, jockey): Velazquez ready for first trip aboard son of Northern Afleet ... Winner in five of seven starts, with two seconds, for earnings of $710,800 ... Next start: Rebel ... Odds: 8-1.

2. Rockport Harbor (John Servis, Stewart Elliott): Hopefully set for three-year-old debut after winning all four starts last year ... Worked five furlongs in 1:02.80 at Oaklawn on Friday, but right rear leg problem could be factor ... Next start: Rebel ... Odds: 14-1.

3. High Fly (Nick Zito, Jerry Bailey): Fountain of Youth winner has four victories in five starts ... Training solidly for final prep ... Next start: Florida Derby (April 2) ... Odds: 21-1.

4. High Limit (Bobby Frankel, Ramon Dominguez): Won 1 1-16th-mile Louisiana Derby by four lengths in near stakes record time ... Won despite 138 days between races ... Next start: Wood Memorial (April 9) or Blue Grass (April 16) ... Odds: 9-1.

5. Sweet Catomine (Julio Canani, Corey Nakatani): Cruised to victory in Sunday's Santa Anita Oaks ... Next test may be against boys ... Only three fillies have won Kentucky Derby; Winning Colors in 1988 was the last ... Next start: Santa Anita Derby (April 9) ... Odds: 16-1.

6. Roman Ruler (Bob Baffert, Bailey): Passed on Gotham in favour of staying at Santa Anita for 3-year-old debut ... Last race was BC Juvenile on Oct. 30 — he was fifth ... Worked a mile in 1:38.60 last week ... Next start: San Felipe ... Odds: 18-1.

7. Sun King (Zito, Edgar Prado): Won allowance by 53/4 lengths at Gulfstream on Feb. 26 ... Tuned up for next race with five-furlong work in 59.49 at Palm Meadows ... Next start: Tampa Bay Derby ... Odds: 10-1.

8. Wilko (Craig Dollase, Nakatani): BC Juvenile winner worked seven furlongs in 1:28 at Hollywood Park on Saturday ... A solid third in Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 18 in last race ... Next start: San Felipe ... Odds: 21-1.

9. Lost in the Fog (Greg Gilchrist, Russell Baze): Swale Stakes winner just 50-50 for Derby ... Undefeated colt shipped from Florida back to Northern California last week ... Next start: Undecided ... Odds: 13-1.

10. Bandini (Todd Pletcher, Velazquez): Fountain of Youth runner-up may be trainer's best Derby prospect ... Next start: Florida Derby ... Odds: 14-1.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Bellamy Road, Consolidator, Don't Get Mad, Galloping Grocer, Noble Causeway.

Undefeated Declan's Moon is off the Kentucky Derby trail because of a minor knee injury and won't return to the races for at least five months.

Trainer Ron Ellis said Friday that the injury ---- a hairline fracture to a bone that runs from the shoulder to the knee ---- was discovered several days after Declan's Moon won the Santa Catalina at Santa Anita on March 5 in his 3-year-old debut.

The injury is not career-threatening, Ellis said in a phone interview from California, but "it looks like he's probably going to be out of training about 60 days, and we don't have 60 days to spare."


The Kentucky Derby is May 7.

Ellis said once Declan's Moon returns to training, it could be another three months before the gelding races again.

"Realistically, we're looking at September," he said.

Declan's Moon, unbeaten in five races and considered one of the top Derby contenders, becomes the latest 2-year-old champion who couldn't win the race. The most recent Eclipse Award winner as best 2-year-old male to take the Derby was Spectacular Bid in 1979.

Ellis said Declan's Moon came out of the Santa Catalina in great shape, but there was "a little heat in his left knee, which is unusual for him.

"I just kind of chalked it up to running a race and not a real big deal," Ellis said.

A few days later, X-rays were taken.

"He's a hundred percent sound," Ellis said. "He's bouncing around the barn and he came out of the race great physically and mentally, other than what we discovered to be a displaced chip."

Surgery remains uncertain pending more X-rays next week.

Ellis still has a Derby contender in Don't Get Mad.

Meanwhile, the Derby trail will swing through the Fair Grounds today. High Limit drew the No. 3 post position in the nine-horse field for the $600,000 Louisiana Derby. The recently purchased 3-year-old of Bobby Frankel, a four-time Eclipse Award winner, was an early 5-2 favorite.

Scipion, winner of the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds last month and a 4-1 second choice, will start from post position 7 with Gary Stevens in the saddle.

Defer gets the chance to declare whether or not he's a Kentucky Derby contender Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

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The well-bred colt trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey could take a major step on the road to the Derby with a solid effort in the 1 1/8-mile Fountain of Youth Stakes, one of five Grade 2 stakes on the program.

McGaughey is looking for significant improvement after Defer ran a dismal fourth -- nearly seven lengths behind winner Proud Accolade -- in the Hutcheson Stakes on Feb. 5.

"He's got to run a better race," said McGaughey, looking for his first Derby starter since Saarland ran 10th in 2002. "He's got to prove he can handle a mile-and-an-eighth, and he's got to prove he can run with the ones he's up against. Otherwise, we'll back up."

A winner in two of four career starts, Defer is a son of Danzig and is owned by Ogden Mills Phipps. The 3-year-old colt will be ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, and faces a tough field that includes 5-2 early favorite High Fly and 4-1 second choice Bandini.

In another Derby prep, unbeaten Lost in the Fog is the 4-5 favorite over 10 rivals in the seven-furlong Swale Stakes. In stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Maddalena is the 6-5 choice for the Forward Gal and In The Gold is the 5-2 pick for the Bonnie Miss. Also, Eddington is the 9-5 favorite for the Gulfstream Park Handicap.

McGaughey simply wants to see if Defer -- winner of the 1 1-16th-mile Laurel Futurity at Pimlico in December -- can step up in a longer race. If so, then the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby on May 7 could be in the cards.

"We want to get him around two turns," McGaughey said. "It should suit him. He's been training very well and he's going in there ready to go."

The field was reduced to 10 on Friday with trainer Kenny McPeek's decision to scratch Kansas City Boy and send him instead to the Louisiana Derby next Saturday. McPeek pulled the horse out because of an unfavorable inside post position, but still has Wild Desert for the race.

High Fly is the most recent Derby hopeful to enter trainer Nick Zito's barn. The colt won his first three starts convincingly, then finished third in the Holy Bull on Feb. 5 after leaving from an outside post and running wide the entire race.

Zito replaced Bill White after the Holy Bull, and High Fly also has a new rider in Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey, who moves in for Eddie Castro Jr.

Bandini, a son of 2000 Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, won both of his races at Gulfstream, including a nine-length romp in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race Feb. 5. The colt is trained by Todd Pletcher, and will be ridden by John Velazquez.

Park Avenue Ball could be a factor, too. The colt won three of five starts last year, including the Belmont Futurity, and opened his 3-year-old campaign with a runner-up effort in the Hutcheson.

The field, from the rail out, is B.B. Best, General John B, Park Avenue Ball, Papi Chullo, Defer, High Fly, Bandini, Wild Desert, Dearest Mon and Natural Phenomenon.

Dearest Mon, trained by Rick Violette, may also be scratched due to a poor post.

The road to the Derby also makes stops at Santa Anita and Turfway Park.

Declan's Moon, the unbeaten 2-year-old champion, makes his seasonal debut in Saturday's Santa Catalina Stakes. Among the gelding's top challengers are Sham Stakes winner Going Wild and San Rafael Stakes winner Spanish Chestnut. At Turfway, Zito sends out Ultimate in the John Battaglia Stakes.

Also, Derby hopeful Afleet Alex is a possible starter in the Mountain Valley Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

FINISH LINES:@ Declan's Moon and Rockport Harbor are among several Derby hopefuls scheduled for just two 3-year-old preps before the May 7 Derby. Since 1947, only Sunny's Halo in 1983 has won the Derby off two 3-year-old preps. ... Read the Footnotes won last year's Fountain of Youth for trainer Rick Violette.

The franchise for the New York Racing Association should be put out to bid and awarded to an entity that will turn the troubled racing group into a for-profit enterprise, the New York state Legislature's top Republican said Tuesday.
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, once NYRA's chief ally at the state Capitol, said the franchise award process could help provide the state with needed cash. "Everyone agrees that NYRA ought to go for-profit," Bruno said after a budget negotiation session with Gov. George Pataki and other legislative leaders.

The non-profit NYRA has the franchise to run Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga racetracks through the end of 2007. But Pataki, in his recent state budget proposal, urged that the bidding process be sped up and that a panel be appointed to run the process. His budget office has estimated that the state could charge a future franchise holder an advance payment of $250 million – an amount that would cut out the cash-poor NYRA from holding on to the franchise in its current corporate form.

Bruno did not elaborate on his NYRA for-profit idea. "I think there's revenue there," he said, referring to money that could come the state's way from a future franchise holder.

The Senate majority leader also said the Senate is ready to push through a measure that would encourage the start of video lottery terminal gambling at Aqueduct and Yonkers Raceway. For different reasons, the VLT parlors at the two big downstate tracks have not yet begun – a delay that Bruno said is costing the state $1 billion in revenue a year.

The comments by Bruno came as officials with Friends of New York Racing have been making the rounds at the Capitol during the past week. Sources said they have been pressing for a new VLT bill to help encourage the tracks to get their casinos open.

Tracks have complained that the split they get from VLT proceeds is not enough. NYRA has said its VLT partner, MGM Mirage, needs assurances that it will continue to run the Aqueduct VLT parlor even if NYRA is no longer the franchise holder after 2007.

The moment of truth for Yougottawanna came just before the field of seven thoroughbreds turned into the stretch of the $100,000 Seabiscuit Breeders' Cup Handicap on Saturday at Bay Meadows in San Mateo.

Jockey Jason Lumpkins, who put Yougottawanna on the lead before the quarter mile pole and led from there on, cracked Yougottawanna with his whip to keep Jake Skate from flying to join the leader.

Yougottawanna responded with a spirited stretch run to hold off Jake Skate and win the stakes by a length and a quarter in a time of 1 minute, 41.42 seconds for the 1 1/16th mile event.

"Jason is a real nice jockey to have on the front end," said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who conditioned the winner. "I wanted this horse on the lead or close to the front."

Jake Skate, who finished 11/2 lengths in front of third place Adreamisborn, the favorite, broke best but conceded the lead to Yougottawanna shortly after the start.

"I was concerned a little in the backstretch," Lumpkins said. "But when that horse (Jake Skate) came to me, I hit with a left-handed stick and he responded."

Yougottawanna paid $12.60 to win as the fourth choice in the field.

The Kentucky Equine Education Project's position on racetrack gaming will hinge on whether its board of directors believes such a pursuit is in the best interest of Kentucky residents, a KEEP official said Feb. 5 during a meeting with members of the media at Turfway Park.
KEEP chairman Brereton Jones, who operates Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky., said it's imperative the horse industry has a level playing field with other states. Though KEEP hasn't taken a formal position on expanded gaming, it supports tax breaks and breed development incentives included in Gov. Ernie Fletcher's tax modernization plan.

"The governor's plan includes transferring existing taxes on stud fees into a new, breeder's incentive program for all breeds of horses--not just Thoroughbreds," KEEP executive director Claria Horn Shadwick said. "It is sound public policy to allow the industry to reinvest these dollars back into the horse economy to create additional jobs for Kentuckians. In addition, the governor's plan removes the requirement that non-residents must move horses out of Kentucky to avoid taxation. If we keep these horses here, it provides more jobs and benefits the economy through additional sales of support services like feed and grain, tack, and boarding fees."

Gene Clabes, KEEP equine director, said a breed development program for breeds of horses other than Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds would create opportunities for more horse farmers in the state.

As for gaming, Jones said the "ideal situation" would be a vote of the people and a constitutional amendment that specifies exactly how Kentucky residents would benefit from casino-style gambling. Among the pressing needs are funds for education, he said.

"Is KEEP strong enough to do that now?" Jones said in reference to a lobbying effort. "No. But that's the direction we're going in. In order to succeed, we have to put together coalitions that are extremely important. We have to be specific about what's best for Kentucky."

KEEP and others in the horse industry, including racetracks, haven't issued a position on gaming bills filed during the current General Assembly session. When asked if KEEP planned to devise a horse industry-specific gaming bill for the 2006 legislative session, Jones said it's too soon to make a definitive statement.

"Just connect the dots," Jones said. "We're being observant and getting ourselves ready."

Turfway president Bob Elliston, a member of the KEEP board, said the industry must be prepared "should an opportunity present itself. As much as we'd like to, we don't set the agenda for the General Assembly."

KEEP, launched last May, has more than 4,700 members. Its mission is to educate the public and legislators of the importance of all breeds of horses to the state's economy.

KEEP has proven effective in garnering support from non-racing factions. For instance, organization officials said 80 of 88 team leaders in Kentucky counties come from non-racing horse backgrounds. According to statistics, about 85% of the horses in the state aren't Thoroughbreds.

KEEP operations director Jim Navolio said the fact the organization has numerous 4-H members is proof of "the impact and momentum we have in the state."

Actor and horse racing fan Jerry O'Connell will host the 34th annual Eclipse Awards on Jan. 24, when the sport gives out its highest honors to last year's top horses, trainer, jockey and owners.

"I'm so excited," O'Connell said. "It's the Oscars for horse racing, except horses are a lot faster and less temperamental than people in show business."

For the first time the awards will air live on television, carried by TVG from the Regent Beverly Wilshire hotel in Beverly Hills. The telecast will include a 90-minute red carpet show and a 30-minute wrapup segment.

O'Connell co-stars on NBC's "Crossing Jordan." His other credits include the movies "Jerry Mcguire," "Scream 2," and "Kangaroo Jack."

Kentucky Derby purse doubled to $2 million

Churchill Downs doubled the size of the Kentucky Derby's purse on Tuesday, increasing the total prize for the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown to $2 million