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The Preakness Stakes on Saturday might be drawing the most interest this week at Pimlico, but it could be argued that the best race of the week will be run the day before, when an outstanding field of older horses, headed by Funny Cide, competes in the Grade 1, $500,000 Pimlico Special. Funny Cide won the Preakness here in 2003, two weeks after winning the Kentucky Derby. The Special, run at the Preakness distance of 1 3/16 miles, was supposed to be part of Funny Cide's campaign in 2004, but unseasonably hot weather that week caused trainer Barclay Tagg to keep Funny Cide out of the race. This year, Funny Cide will be making his seasonal debut in the Special. The weather is mild. And Funny Cide is raring to go, having completed his serious preparation with a seven-furlong drill in 1:25.40 on Sunday morning at Belmont Park. "He's doing great," Tagg said Monday from Belmont. "I sure am eager to see him run. He likes it there. And the timing is right for me." Funny Cide got a late start this year. He needed extra time in Florida to recover from a minor injury in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic, then had to work off a few extra pounds he picked up. He was scheduled to run in a New York-bred stakes race last month, but Tagg balked at his hefty weight assignment. As it turns out, the late start works for Tagg, who thinks Funny Cide might have been over the top at the end of his 2003 and 2004 campaigns. "Both times he ran in the Breeders' Cup he had to ship into hot climates," Tagg said. "He ran in the Triple Crown in 2003, and last year he had run nine times before the Breeders' Cup. It's not like he was sleeping. This year, he'll have six races. Other than Friday, he'll run in New York. This year the Breeders' Cup is at Belmont. The weather should be cool. And it'll be in our own back yard. I want to have him a bit fresh for it." Funny Cide drew post 2 in the field of nine for the Special. His rivals include the first three finishers from the Oaklawn Handicap - Grand Reward, Second of June, and Eddington - as well as Pollard's Vision and Badge of Silver, the one-two finishers in the National Jockey Club Handicap at Hawthorne, and Offlee Wild, who comes off a powerful win in the Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap at Aqueduct. "It looks like a very competitive spot to me," said Richard Dutrow Jr., who trains Offlee Wild. The Special is the 11th race on a 12-race card. Also Friday, trainer Todd Pletcher will run either Ashado or Colony Band in the Grade 3, $150,000 Pimlico Distaff at 1 1/16 miles for older fillies and mares. The other will run in the Shuvee Handicap at Belmont Park on Saturday. Runway Model, who was sixth in the Kentucky Oaks, will look to rebound in the Grade 2, $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, which drew a moderate field of six 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles. The wickedly fast Maddalena is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Grade 3, $100,000 Miss Preakness Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs. Nicole's Dream, who won the Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs, meets Elusive Diva in the $75,000 The Very One Stakes at five furlongs on turf for older fillies and mares.

GIACOMO – Although it remains to be seen how the betting public will regard Giacomo’s chances of capturing Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, the Kentucky Derby winner who shocked the racing world at 50-1 odds has definitely gained stature in trainer John Shirreffs’ stable. “Just looking at him, it looks like he’s grown three hands taller,” said Shirreffs from his Hollywood Park barn Sunday. Jerry and Ann Moss’ colt galloped a mile under exercise rider Frankie Herrarte Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. “It looks like he came out of the Kentucky Derby pretty good,” Shirreffs said. “He was tired for a couple of days, but he got his energy level up after that.” Shirreffs, who said he felt honored to have saddled a Kentucky Derby champion, received a hero’s welcome when he returned to California. “A lot of people are happy Giacomo won on two different levels. First, everybody is so happy that a California horse won the Derby because of all the negative press about the West Coast horses,” Shirreffs said. “Then, all my friends and associates are really happy that we won the Derby.” Shirreffs was most touched by the congratulations extended by a hot walker at Hollywood Park. “She came up to me and told me that someone had stolen her money and she only had a little left, so she bet it on Giacomo,” he said. “When he won the Derby, it was a blessing to her.” Giacomo, who provided Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith with his first success in the Derby, will be shipped from Churchill Downs to Pimlico on Wednesday. AFLEET ALEX – The Kentucky Derby third-place finisher had a far more leisurely Sunday than his trainer Tim Ritchey.Before driving to Delaware Park to saddle five runners on Sunday afternoon, Ritchey sent his Kentucky Derby third-place finisher to the track only once for a mile jog and a two-mile gallop under exercise rider Salamon Diego.Afleet Alex, who is scheduled to go to the track twice on Monday morning, spent the rest of the day in the restful surroundings of the Pimlico backstretch. The Arkansas Derby winner is the only contender for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown stabled in the Preakness Stakes Barn. “It certainly can’t hurt him. It’s more laid back and relaxed, but it would have been like that at Churchill too. After the Derby, they sit back and relax a bit,” Ritchey said. “The most important thing is that he’s training over the track where he’s going to run.” The Cash Is King LLC’s stable star will be ridden again by Jeremy Rose. CLOSING ARGUMENT – The son of 2004 leading freshman sire Successful Appeal shocked the Kentucky Derby field with a runner-up finish at odds of 71-1. That effort spoke well for his ability at classic distances. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin gave the thumbs up from Belmont Park Sunday morning. “He galloped a mile and a quarter this morning,” McLaughlin said. “We’re all set. If the Belmont main track is fast tomorrow, we’ll give him an easy work. If not, he’ll just gallop up to the Preakness.” While McLaughlin is already an accomplished trainer the former Wayne Lukas assistant would love to add a classic victory to his list of accomplishments. “It’s been my lifelong dream to win a Triple Crown race,” McLaughlin said. “Not just for me – but for my owners. If Closing Argument wins this race, there are significant rewards beyond the racetrack, as a stallion prospect. Great races like the Derby, Preakness and Belmont attract equally great attention. Most owners put a lot of credence into a trainer’s ability to develop horses who contend in Triple Crown or Breeders’ Cup races.” Regular rider Cornelio Velasquez has the mount again Saturday.GALLOPING GROCER – The son of A P Jet galloped a mile and a half at Belmont Sunday morning as he prepares for his big test in Saturday’s Preakness. “He’ll train here at Belmont until he vans out Friday morning,” said trainer Dominick Schettino. “So far he’s looking good.” Galloping Grocer, owned by Rosenthal & Waldbaum, had his final Preakness breeze Friday at Belmont when he went five furlongs in a quick :59.46, third best of 24 horses working the distance that day. The bullet work of :58.96 went to Eddington, who is shipping in for Friday’s $500,000 Pimlico Special. Schettino said Galloping Grocer will step on the van at about 10 a.m. Friday morning, after finishing his work for the day. The New York-bred gelding will be Schettino’s first Preakness starter. Joe Bravo, who will be riding in his third Preakness, has the call on Galloping Grocer for the first time.GOING WILD – The Wayne Lukas trainee contended with top 3-year-olds over the winter, but has since been off the board in the Wood Memorial, Lexington Stakes and Kentucky Derby. Lukas, who is seeking his sixth Preakness victory, has yet to name a rider.GOLDEN MAN – Trainer Richard Dutrow claimed this Suave Prospect gelding for the owners that lay claim to the impressive filly, Sis City. As a supplement, they had to offer up $100,000 to gain entry into the Preakness. The sophomore, who is seeking his initial stakes victory, worked a bullet 5 furlongs on Wednesday at Aqueduct in :59-3/5 seconds. Raphael Bejarano has been named to ride.GREELEY’S GALAXY – The colt by Mr. Greeley, a $200,000 supplemental entry to the Triple Crown, just walked under the shedrow at Churchill Downs Sunday morning, the day after he turned in a bullet breeze in Louisville. “He’s doing fine,” said trainer Warren Stute. “I thought his work yesterday was very good, very sharp.” Greeley’s Galaxy, who got off slowly and ran an even race in the Kentucky Derby to finish 11th, some eight lengths behind Giacomo, had his final Preakness prep Saturday morning when he drilled five furlongs over a sloppy track in 1:00.20, best time on the work tab for the distance at Churchill Downs. “That’s just what I wanted,” Stute said. “It was a week since the Derby and he needed the exercise.” The colt, owned by B. Wayne Hughes, was supplemented to the Triple Crown after winning the Illinois Derby by nine and a half lengths. David Flores will be in from California to ride Greeley’s Galaxy.HAL’S IMAGE – Trainer Barry Rose reported Sunday morning that Hal’s Image came out of his bullet five-furlong workout at Calder Race Course on Saturday (:59.80) in good order. “He’ll return to galloping on Monday and he’ll jog a little on Tuesday before he gets on a van for Pimlico,” Rose said. Hal’s Image, who captured the Unbridled Stakes at Calder in his most recent start, should benefit from the trip north to Pimlico. “He’s going to like the cooler weather. It’ll make him invigorated,” said Rose, whose late father Harold saddled Hal’s Image’s half-brother Hal’s Hope for an eighth-place finish in the 2000 Preakness Stakes. “When he headed up to New York a couple starts back, he enjoyed it up there.” The Rose Family Stable’s colt finished second in a money allowance race at Aqueduct in April. Jose Santos, who was aboard for that Big A race, will return to the saddle for the Preakness.HIGH FLY/NOBLE CAUSEWAY/SUN KING – Trainer Nick Zito remained noncommittal Sunday morning about which of his three Preakness Stakes hopefuls would go to post for Saturday’s middle jewel of the Triple Crown. “They’re okay. I’m just monitoring them. It’s a different story every day,” said Zito from Churchill Downs. Zito said My Meadowview Farm’s Noble Causeway and Tracy Farmer’s Sun King would both work five furlongs on Monday morning, while Live Oak Plantation’s High Fly is scheduled to work a half-mile on Tuesday morning.HIGH LIMIT – High Limit breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 at Churchill Downs Sunday morning, showing no ill effects from the foot injuries he suffered during a last-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Bobby Frankel, who expressed satisfaction with the workout, will ship the Louisiana Derby winner to Pimlico on Wednesday with a prediction for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes. “He’s going to make the lead,” Frankel said from Churchill Downs, where his colt turned in the fastest of 27 workouts at the five-furlong distance. “I’m going to put blinkers on him.” Gary and Mary West’s High Limit, who will be ridden for the first time by Edgar Prado Saturday, has raced erratically in his three starts this year. “He seems like he needs something to make him focus,” Frankel said. “He does things like jump tracks.” The son of Maria’s Mon, who hadn’t finished worse than second in his four starts prior to his Derby disappointment, has impressed his Hall of Fame trainer with his recovery from injuries suffered in the quarters of both front legs. “Somebody grabbed him early in the race, but it’s not a problem,” Frankel said. “I thought if might be, but a couple days after the race it looked good.” Although Frankel is known for giving his horses plenty of time between races, he has no concerns about High Limit running back in two weeks. “He didn’t run very hard in the race. If he had to run hard, I wouldn’t do it,” Frankel said. “I discounted the race and used it as a workout.”MALIBU MOONSHINE – The local hero, who has been training at Laurel Park, had an easy morning Sunday after he breezed Saturday under “Cowboy” Steve Hamilton. Trainer King Leatherbury expressed surprise at the attention his horse has been receiving. “My lord,” he said. “With all the calls I’m getting, you’d think I had the favorite! I can’t believe the attention this horse gets.” The chestnut son of Malibu Moon displayed ample speed in Saturday’s breeze. Leatherbury’s team caught him in :35.20, while the official clocking was :36.40. “He’s much more relaxed than he used to be,” Leatherbury said. “He was charged up like a bull after his last workout but was much more willing to work with Steve than against him. I think we’ll run our race on Saturday.” Through Saturday, Leatherbury’s career win total had reached 6,078 victories. That impressive tally lands him third on the all-time list, by wins. SCRAPPY T – This son of Fit to Fight has shown much speed and grit throughout his career. The gelding won his first graded stakes in Aqueduct’s Withers (Gr. III) on April 30th and has bounced back with authority. On May 21st, he will gain the services of Maryland’s Ramon Dominguez. Scrappy T is scheduled to arrive at Old Hilltop on Monday. According to trainer, Robbie Bailes, he’ll likely stretch his legs over the Preakness main track on Wednesday. WILKO – 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner continues to progress in fine fettle for trainer Craig Dollase. “He’s doing fine,” Dollase said. “He galloped a mile and a quarter this morning. We may give him a blow-out on Tuesday before we ship to Pimlico on Wednesday.” Through his 15 starts, the son of Awesome Again has shown adaptability, unleashing strong runs over several different race tracks. Dollase offered his take on the horse’s strengths and weaknesses. “He’s a durable, honest horse with a ton of foundation. We only gave him two prep races this year because he raced 12 times as a 2-year-old. His only nemesis is a wet track.” Luckily for Wilko the extended Preakness forecast calls for sunny skies with temperatures in the 70s. Corey Nakatani, who rode the colt to a sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, has the mount again.

A week out from the start of the 130th Preakness Stakes, the cast of players remains scattered from coast to coast. The $1 million Grade I event is the headline race of a terrific weekend of racing. Fourteen added money races are spread out over a two-day period, including 10 graded races. Afleet Alex, the only contender at Pimlico, went out onto the main track twice this morning. The son of Northern Afleet jogged two miles just before 6 a.m. and after cooling out and eating breakfast, went back out just after 8 a.m. He jogged a mile, turned around, galloped a mile and a half and jogged back another half-mile with exercise rider Salamon Diego. Trainer Tim Ritchey plans to send “Alex” out once on Sunday and Tuesday, twice on Monday and Wednesday and will also have him visit the starting gate prior to the Preakness. “He will not breeze before the Preakness. I want to keep him just a little sharper,” said Ritchey. “You have to remain focused in the mornings, whether you are at the Breeders’ Cup, the Derby or here at the Preakness. In the afternoons you can step back and consider where you are and what you’ve achieved and enjoy the whole experience. He’s the star of our show and we’re all supporting actors and have to do our part in order to have him shine.” Much of the focus on Team Ritchey prior to the Kentucky Derby was on the lack of big race experience by jockey Jeremy Rose, the 2001 Eclipse Award winning apprentice. The 26-year old answered the critics with a flawless ride in the “Run for the Roses”. Rose has already felt the pressure of Preakness Day, having ridden on Maryland’s signature day three times. “I think his ride in the Derby answers all questions,” added Ritchey. “There wasn’t a jock living today that could have ridden a better race.” The only other Preakness contender prepping in Maryland is new shooter Malibu Moonshine. The Malibu Moon gelding worked three furlongs at Laurel Park this morning in 36 2/5 and galloped out a half-mile. The King Leatherbury trainee won the Miracle Wood, Private Terms and Tesio Stakes this spring. “He was nice and relaxed. It was a fluent work,” said Steve Hamilton, who worked Malibu Moonshine and who will be back aboard on Saturday. “I’m excited. The Preakness is like the Super Bowl. It is every rider’s dream to have a Triple Crown mount. I don’t think he’ll have any problem getting the distance and he’s won over the course. I think he has a shot.” Greeley’s Galaxy remains in Kentucky and worked in the slop at Churchill this morning. His time was the fastest on the work tab, a bullet 5 furlongs in 1:00.20. “That’s good. Just what I wanted. It’s been a week since the Derby and he needed the exercise,” said trainer Warren Stute. Stute spoke about training horses and his outlook on life. “I’ll never retire. Charlie Whittingham was the same way. At the racetrack, something new happens every day. You never get bored. In my case, I’m lucky to have such good owners. Owners make the difference. “One owner approached me and said he was looking for a trainer with experience. I told him ‘You want a guy with experience, I’m your man.’” Stute is 83 years old. “Every morning I wake up at 4 a.m. I try to turn the alarm clock off quickly so I don’t wake up my wife. For the last 40 years, I’ve had breakfast with my friend (fellow trainer) Henry Moreno. I drink a lot of coffee.” Trainer Barry Rose reported from Florida on the status of Unbridled Stakes winner Hal’s Image. Rose said, “Hal’s Image is doing very well. He just worked a bullet 5 furlongs in :59.80 and came back great.” Regular rider, Carlos Olivero, was aboard for the work. “He’s scheduled to arrive via van early Wednesday morning.” Derby runner-up Closing Argument is training in New York. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said, “He continues to do very well. Today we galloped him a mile and jogged him 1-3/8 miles. He might have an easy work on Monday, depending on the weather situation. “Despite his speed-oriented blood lines, he’s not built like a sprinter. He’s medium sized and quite well balanced. From day one he’s been a straightforward, classy horse.” Nick Zito reports High Fly (10th) , Noble Causeway (14th) and Sun King (15th) will work at Churchill Downs Monday before a decision will be made on who will get on the Tex Sutton charter next Wednesday for a date in the middle jewel. Zito’s lone Preakness victory came in 1996 when Louis Quatorze bounced back from a 16th place in the Derby for a victory the Preakness, in record time. “I think High Fly is a hard trying horse,” said Jerry Bailey, who will ride High Fly if he runs. “The way the Preakness usually plays out-including the distance-it fits better for him than the Derby. I don’t know if he’s a true mile and a quarter horse.” Rafael Bejarano, who was aboard Sir Shackleton in last year’s Preakness, will ride Golden Man, provided that horse gets into the race.

After losing his mount on High Limit early this week, jockey Ramon Dominguez didn't have to wait long to pick up another ride for the 130th Preakness Stakes on May 21.Delaware Park-based trainer Robert Bailes said Dominguez will ride Scrappy T, who did not run in the Kentucky Derby last Saturday, in the second leg of the Triple Crown at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.Scrappy T, owned by Marshall Dowell of Virginia, won the Withers Stakes in New York, then skipped the Derby to prepare for the Preakness. He ran a distant third to Bellamy Road in the Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct (N.Y.) on April 9.Dominguez learned from his agent, Steve Rushing, that trainer Bobby Frankel would change jockeys on High Limit. High Limit ran last among 20 horses in the Derby. After the race, Frankel said High Limit apparently was clipped from behind and his hind quarters cut. On Wednesday, Pimlico listed High Limit as a possible Preakness starter.Dominguez was aboard Scrappy T for an early morning workout Wednesday at DelPark. The horse has never finished out of the money in nine career starts: three wins, four second-place finishes and two thirds."The horse went great [Wednesday] and I'm glad to get another mount like this," said Dominguez, the leading rider at DelPark the past two years. "Mr. Bailes told me that in the beginning of his career, the horse had a lot of speed. He told me now he rates nicely off the pace."Bailes said a factor in choosing Dominguez was his familiarity with Pimlico."I sat down with the owner, and Ramon was high on our list," Bailes said. "The fact Ramon knows the Pimlico track so well played into it."Dominguez rode High Limit in his first five career starts through the Derby, including two wins at DelPark. Frankel kept Dominguez after he took over training of the horse from Anthony Dutrow this year, and Dominguez won the Louisiana Derby in March."I was disappointed to lose the mount on High Limit. I like the horse a lot," Dominguez said. "I don't know what happened in regard to me [losing the mount]. After the horse ran so bad, I don't really blame them for making a change. That's how the business goes sometimes."I talked to Mr. Frankel the day after the Derby to see how the horse was doing. He didn't say anything about the mount then."Bailes said he believes Scrappy T is capable of winning the Preakness."He had some problems and his saddle slipped in the Wood," Bailes said. "Unless he had a huge race in the Wood, we weren't thinking of the Derby. He came back and ran a big race in the Withers."We decided to let the other big boys sort of tire each other out a little and take our shot in the Preakness. It's worked out pretty good so far."Bellamy Road in Belmont?Bellamy Road has not been ruled out of the Belmont Stakes on June 11, although it is unlikely that the beaten Kentucky Derby favorite owned by Yankees boss George Steinbrenner will be healthy enough to run in the final leg of the Triple Crown.Edward Sexton, who runs Steinbrenner's Kinsman Farm in Ocala, Fla., said Wednesday that the popped splint in Bellamy Road's left front leg was "a very minute injury" and the 3-year-old colt would resume light training in two weeks."He'll be back in full training in three to four weeks," Sexton said. "The Belmont is looking doubtful, but we'll just have to see what happens."Lemonade salesAlex's Lemonade Stand raised nearly $11,000 at the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks last weekend, the children's cancer charity reported. The owners of Delaware Park-based Afleet Alex also donated a portion of the horse's third-place Derby winnings.Alex's Lemonade Stand also has been invited to the Preakness, as it pursues its goal of raising $5 million in 2005.

Kentucky Derby contender Consolidator was retired Monday because of a fractured bone in his right front ankle.The San Felipe Stakes winner galloped Sunday and took some bad steps coming off the Churchill Downs track, where the Derby will be run this Saturday."These type of things always seem to happen," trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. "You just hope it doesn't happen to you."Lukas said he grew concerned when the colt was tentative during his Sunday afternoon walk around the barn. The Hall of Fame trainer had an X-ray taken Monday that showed Consolidator had fractured his sesamoid.Lukas said the colt would not require surgery; he will be treated with stall rest."I think he'll stay with me for a while," Lukas said. "He will not run again. I think he'll have a stud career. With sesamoid injuries, you can bring back a $25,000 claimer on Wednesday, but not this level of horse."Consolidator is owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, who won the Derby in 1997 with Silver Charm and in 1999 with Charismatic. The couple will still have a horse in the race with Going Wild, who also is trained by Lukas."We've been blessed -- Bob and Beverly and especially myself -- in this race," Lukas said. "It would be selfish of me to say, 'Oh, my gosh' and feel sorry for our situation."The Lewises paid $1.25 million for the son of Storm Cat in 2003. Consolidator had three wins in 10 career stars and earnings of $661,760. He won the Grade 1 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity as a 2-year-old and the Grade 2 San Felipe on March 19.The withdrawal of Consolidator opens a spot in the anticipated 20-horse field for Illinois Derby winner Greeley's Galaxy. His owner, B. Wayne Hughes, will have to pay a $200,000 supplemental fee because the colt wasn't nominated to the Triple Crown series.Hughes also owns Don't Get Mad, who is expected to run in the Derby.

Jeremy Martin (ArriveNet Editorials - Apr 12, 2005) -- Three major races involving Kentucky Derby contenders took place last Saturday. The three races where held in different regions of the country and had enough interest that NBC televised all three of the races live. Two out of the three races went as expected with the chalk coming in, but that was not the case in California. Any winning ticket from the Santa Anita Derby would have netted one a substantial profit. The following will recap the stakes races from Santa Anita, Aqueduct, and Hawthorne and give you the current state of some of the Kentucky Derby contenders. The first of the three took place in New York with the Wood Memorial. The field of eight featured little excitement as the favorite Bellamy Road went wire-to-wire. The only surprise was the performance of Going Wild. Victor Espinoza traveled up from California to ride this horse that finished last due to a tiring stretch run. Nick Zito trained the winning horse and he appears to be well on his way with yet another Kentucky Derby contender. With this dominating performance, Bellamy Road will likely come in at single digits once post time arrives on May 7. He set the track record at 1 minute and 47 seconds and appears to be the fourth horse out of Zito's powerful barn. Rounding out the trifecta were Survivalist and Scrappy T. Scrappy T's ability to hit the board along with Going Wild's last place finish gave a little boost to the trifecta as it paid $254.00. Jerry Bailey and Victor Espinoza will certainly be looking for different horses to ride once May approaches. Moving west, we stop in Chicago for the Illinois Derby. On paper this appeared to be a weak field with the possibility to produce zero Kentucky Derby contenders. But that changed with a dominating performance by the favorite, Greeley's Galaxy. Galaxy went off at under 2-1 and pulled away for an easy victory. Owner B. Wayne Hughes has been quoted as saying that he will pony up the $200,000 to enter the horse in the Derby. This horse will enter the Derby at around 17-1, but I feel that is to low as this horse cannot compete with the strength of the Derby class. There was very little value on the board as the race pretty much ran as expected. The $2 trifecta paid just under $100 and this race was completely dominated by the inside horses. Numbers 1-2-3-4 finished in exactly that order. Monarch Lane held on for second place and Magna Graduate took the show money. Neither one of these two horses will be in Churchill Downs. Finishing out the day, we travel to the Pacific to Santa Anita Park for its annual Derby. The favorite in this race was a Philly named Sweet Catomine, who left the starting gate at even money. She ran into all kinds of trouble, was bumped, and could not rally back into contention. The winner was a Jeff Mullins trained horse, Buzzards Bay. The Buzz went off at over 30-1 and that was just the start of a humungous paying board. Coming in second was a 60-1 shot name General John B. The next four finishers were all favorites, but the damage had already been done and any winning ticket on this race meant a smile to one's face. The exacta paid $751 and the trifecta paid and amazing $6,635. Buzzards Bay should qualify for the Derby with this surprising win and I expect him to enter the race at around 15-1. As for Sweet Catomine, this was a devastating loss and I have to question if she will be able to recover from such a disappointment. Buzzards Bay will try and carry this momentum into the Kentucky Derby betting, but I question his style of racing. He had everything go right for him at Santa Anita, with trouble behind him and the hardness of the track. The Kentucky Derby appears to be full of early speedsters like the Buzz and that compition will likely wear them all down and allow the closers to blow past them. Nick Zito appears to be the hot trainer as the race is now less the one month away. He could have as many as five Kentucky Derby contenders in the field and at this moment three of them appear to be serious contenders for the crown. For Zito, it starts with Sun King, who is far and away the best of his crop. Sun King is scheduled to race this Saturday in the Bluegrass Stakes and a win here would propel him into the morning line favorite for the Derby. Zito's other two powers are High Fly and Noble Causeway. These two horses finished first and second in a very competitive Florida Derby. The only thing that troubles me about these two is their long layoff between races. If either of them would happen to win the Derby, that would mark the first time in nearly 50 years that the winner of the roses had a layoff of five weeks or more. That is about the only black mark on High Fly, who continues to dominate the three-year old field. Next up are two more stakes races held in the South. The Bluegrass Stakes will go from Keeland and the Arkansas Derby will draw from Oaklawn. These are two important races that will play a major role in determining the field for the Kentucky Derby. Be sure to check back for a recap of the stakes races each week. Doc's is your place for finding the winner of the Kentucky Derby. We have grabbed the money five out of the last ten Derby's including the 30-1 shot Charismatic in 1999. Doc's Sports will be writing several weekly articles regarding the Kentucky Derby up to the day of the race and we will be following the Kentucky Derby contenders until the race lineup is set.

Rockport Harbor will not participate in Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby, one of the final preparatory races for next month's Kentucky Derby.The 3-year-old Rockport Harbor, who has been hampered by a series of ailments, including foot problems and a blood clot in his neck, completed a 7/8-mile run in 1:25.6 at Oaklawn Park on Sunday before the decision was made by trainer John Servis. Horse bettingRockport Harbor instead will start the $325,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Race Track on April 23.