Tomorrow’s 15^th running of the Grade II Firecracker Breeders Cup has drawn a solid field of good grass horses. We have a field of nine going one mile on the turf course at Churchill. Below are the entries and comments:

1. Royal Spy- Robby Albarado- This one is a solid performer who was 3^rd in his last start at Keeneland. He as off a year since he won the Makers Mark last year. He has had three starts this year, flashing speed in all three races and stopping. Speed is always dangerous and must be considered with his connections.

2. Puget Sound- Daniel Coa- Has a win over this course in early May but that was a non-winners other than. This is a big step up for him. I doubt he will have an impact.

3. Senor Swinger- Pat Day- Trained by Bob Baffert, this four year old colt by El Prado is undefeated here at Churchill. He is definitely the horse to beat.

4. Perfect Soul- Larry Melancon- Winner of the Makers Mark at Keeneland he ran up the track in the Turf Classic on Derby Day, but is the program favorite here. I think he is a bet against as rain is predicted and he seems to not like a soft course. A very good bet against.

5. On The Course- John McKee- Ships in from Arlington with a solid record. A dangerous long shot.

6. Mr. Kinsley- Craig Perret- Has ran some solid races against lesser company but has a shot to hit the board.

7. Quantum Merit- Shane Sellers- Ships in fron New York off of two ins, dangerous.

8. Everything To Gain- Mark Guidry- Has two wins from six starts over Churchill’s turf course. Would be a surprise if he won, but could hit the board.

9. Majestic Thief- Jose Castanon-Another one with a solid record over Churchill’s turf course, with three wins, two seconds and two thirds from eight starts. His numbers are a little light, but could be close.

I like number four, Senor Swinger in here as he has shown a liking for this course and gets Pat Day. I am going to use him with Royal Spy, Perfect Soul, On The Course, Quantum Merit and Everything To Gain. The play looks like this, #3 with 1-4-5-7-8 first and second in the tris and exactas.

Tomorrow’s 23^rd running of the Grade I $750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap is a great race with only six runners, but a quality field throughout. The top handicap horse in the country have showed up for this race and it will be a good one.

Following are the entries and comments:

1. Perfect Drift- Pat Day- Last year’s winner this 5yo gelding has had two starts this year with a second place finish in his latest outing in the Alysheba on Oaks Day. He is training lights out and would not be a huge surprise if he repeated in the winner’s circle.

2. Peace Rules- Jerry Bailey- One of the best handicap horses in the country, he has two wins in Grade II races already this year, taking both the New Orleans Handicap and the Oaklawn Handicap. With several Grade I to his credit he will be a force.

3. Southern Image- Victor Espinioza- A winner of five of his six starts he is on a roll right now and will take a lot of beating. He has the running style to set right off of what is sure to be a fast pace and run down the front runners. He is 6/5 on the morning line and deservedly so.

4. Midway Road- Robby Albarado- Second to Southern Image in the Pimlico Special, he is indeed a threat here. There is a four pound switch in weights from that race and he is on his home track where he has been working lights out. He is my choice to upset this bunch.

5. Best Minister- Brice Blanc- A very talented horse trained by Kenny McPeek, but I think he is in over his head.

6. Colonial Colony- Raphel Bejarano- This one is definitely in over his head. No shot in my mind.

I am going to take a flyer with Midway Road to upset at a mild price as he is the home team. He has been working lights out and will be awfully tough. I will key him in the tris and exactas with the 1-2-3-5. That is #4 with 1-2-3-5 first and second.

Good luck, and as always, wager wisely.

This year’s Triple Crown is over and we are left again with a empty feeling as Smarty Jones gave it a great effort but came up 1/5 of a second short of getting the job done. We can make excuses for him, but the final reason most likely was that he just didn’t have anything left after the 3 races in a row and the 1 ½ mile was just a little too much for him.

Now we shift our focus to the Breeders Cup in the Fall at Lone Star Park and await to see if Smarty is good enough to take on older horses.

Word is from Philadelphia is that he will most likely try the Haskell at Monmouth and then the Pa. Derby at his home track on Labor Day before trying the older horses in the Breeders Cup Classic. He could have one race against older horses before the BC, but n nothing is set in stone yet.

Smarty has done a lot of good for racing and we must all remember that he is a horse and horses get out run sometimes. Don’t blame Jerry Bailey or anyone else for his downfall, it just wasn’t meant to be.

Stay tuned now for the rest of the year we will have Saratoga in the summer to discuss plus all the races leading up to the Breeders Cup.

The last three weeks have been long as we waited for tomorrow’s 136^th running of the Belmont Stakes with Smarty Jones looking for his place in history as the 12^th Triple Crown winner.

We have speculated all along that there might be as few as five entries and it turns out we now have a field of 9 lined up for the longest race these horses will most likely ever see in their life time. Following are the entries and comments:

1. Master David- Jose Santos- He finished 3^rd in the Peter Pan stakes on May 22^nd and Booby Frankel at first said that he wasn’t going to run, but word is that Allen Jerkins mentioned he liked the colt for the race, so Frankel entered him. He doesn’t have near the beyer figures to match up against some of these, but strange things happen going a mile and one half. He will not be in my trifectas though.

2. Purge- John Velasquez- The impressive winner of the Peter pan he also wasn’t going to go in the Belmont, but trainers have a way of changing their minds about things like this, especially off a very good win. He is the true speed in the race, but trainer Todd Pletcher has said he would rather rate off the lead. That leaves just one problem, who will be in front? He is a very solid horse, but the favorite, Smarty Jones has beat him twice at Oaklawn Park and it looks like he will beat him again.

3. Caiman- Ramon Dominguez- Where did this one come from? I could see if he was stabled at Belmont and wanted to run, but ship all the way from Chicago. Give me a break.

4. Birdstone- Edgar Prado- A nice colt last year and his first out this year, but he has disappointed since Florida. I just can’t see him winning in here.

5. Rock Hard Ten- Alex Solis- This one was second in the Preakness and people keep saying what a talented colt he is, but he has to make up the 11 ½ lengths he got beat there and I can’t see him doing that. He could be on the board, but not a win in my opinion.

6. Royal Assault- Pat Day- Won the Sir Barton on the under card of the Preakness, but I don’t think he is good enough to challenge Smarty Jones. His beyers are light too.

7. Tap Dancer- Javier Castellano- Finished 4^th in the Sir Barton and he also is very light in the numbers department. Pass.

8. Eddington- Jerry Bailey-Finished 3^rd beaten 13 ½ lengths in the Preakness, he too could be on the board but won’t threaten the winner.

9. Smarty Jones- Stewart Elliott- Unbeaten and basically unchallenged so far in his career. He has beat 77 rivals a total of 47 ¾ lengths over eight distances and five different tracks. I just can’t find a kink in his armour. He is the real deal and I hope he remains the real deal after tomorrow’s race. I don’t see anyone that is close to him in ability. He seems to be getting better as time goes on. His beyers tower above the rest with 118-107-107-108 in his last four.

In my opinion this is not a betting race. Just watch and root for history to be made. You might single him in the pick-4s and pick-3s if you must wager. Good luck and as always, wager wisely.

Are you ready for a huge Smarty party? I am and so is most of the country as we try to get through three weeks before we move on to Elmont, NY with our new hero. Most of Philadelphia will be there and many others from across the country. We have made this trip 5 times in the past 7 years and came away disappointed, but I think we will be vindicated this time.

Smarty Jones is a smallish colt, only standing 15.2 hands with the looks of a sprinter, but looks are deceiving. He has done everything asked of him in his career, winning eight races at five different tracks over eight different distances, defeating 77 rivals in the process by a total of 47 ¾ lengths. He is a very tractable horse, breaking sharp and doing whatever his rider wants to gain the upper hand on the opposition. He has now ran the past four races in the same fashion, breaking sharp, getting position and putting all rivals away as they turn for home with ease.

The Smarty story line is a feel good one from the owners who are up in age and one in a wheel chair on oxygen, the trainer who is a small time trainer with the weight of the world on his shoulders right now, but seeming to handle it well. The rider’s past was brought up as the media always have to dig for dirt in any story, but Stewart Elliot has shut them up with his truthful responses and forthright answers.

The only sorry thing about this Triple Crown seems to come from California where racing’s bad boy Patrick Valenzuela who just settled his case for failing to live up to his contract with the stewards is now considering filing another appeal so he can ride Rock Hard Ten in the Belmont. Will it never end with this guy? He continues to beat the system and here again is a blatant attempt to circumvent the rules of racing. I for one are tired of Mr. P. Val and all his BS. Stand up and take your medicine.

Enough of that, I don’t want to ruin this great story about them little horse that could. I will be rooting for him on June 5 like no one else. It is time we had a champion we can hang out hats on. Go Smarty go!!!!

May 14,

Tomorrow’s 129^th running of the Preakness hints at being another very good race. Will Smarty Jones become the 6^th horse in the past 8 years to win the Preakness after winning the Derby and leave us holding our breaths for three weeks until he tries the 1 ½ mile Belmont for the elusive Triple Crown, or will someone else step up and dampen all our spirits as we root for our new champion.

Below is the field and comments:

1. Lion Heart- Mike Smith- Second in the Derby and never worse than second in his life he draws the rail and is the speed of the race. Pimlico is know for it’s speed favoring bias and the scene sets well for this son of Tale Of The Cat. He will definitely be in front, it is just a matter of if he can go all the way.

2. Borrego- Victor Espinoza- He disappointed in the Derby after finishing 2^nd to Smarty in the Arkansas Derby. I think we can throw out the Derby run and expect him to be in the thick of things down the stretch.

3. Little Math Man- Richard Migliore- Takes the blinkers off, but I think he will need more than that to be competitive.

4. The Cliff’s Edge- Shane Sellers- Late scratch.

5. Song Of The Sword- Jorge Chavez- Another one that disappointed in the Derby. Before that he had ran big in all of his races and in fact had a rough trip in the Grade II Lexington in his last start before the Derby. I used him in my trifectas in the Derby and he will be in them tomorrow.

6. Sir Shackelton- R. Bejarano- Nick Zito’s 2^nd stringer is a nice horse, but I would be surprised if he won here. He was impressive in the Derby Trial but I just think he may be in a little tough here.

7. `Smarty Jones- Stewart Elliot- Seven for seven and the Derby champion. He has answered all questions thrown at him and he will be a short price top do it again tomorrow. Some people questioned his rider before the Derby, but after a picture perfect ride in the biggest race of his life Stewart Elliot answered his critics. If Smarty gets beat tomorrow it won’t be Elliott’s fault.

8. Imperialism- Kent Desormeaux- His rider was adamant about how much trouble he had in the Derby and was instrumental in getting the connections to change their minds about waiting for the Belmont and running back in two weeks. Personally I don’t think he had enough trouble in the Derby to make him jump up and win tomorrow, but he will be in my tris.

9. Eddington- Jerry Bailey- He had to set out the Derby because he didn’t have enough money to get in the field. He has ran well in all of his races and was a close up 3rd in Wood Memorial. The only problem with that is no one came out of the Wood and ran good in the Derby. Bailey will have him in the pace scenario early, but I doubt if he is good enough.

10. Rock Hard Ten- Gary Stevens- Another who was kept out of the Derby because of earnings when he was disqualified from 2^nd in the Santa Anita Derby. Gary Stevens comes back from France for the mount and must be respected.

11. Water Cannon- Ryan Fogelsonger- The home town horse, he has won five in a row, but they weren’t this tough. He would have to do something special to be in the winner’s circle tomorrow.

I am going to try to make Smarty win it again and use him first and second in the exactas and tris with the 1-2-5-8-10. That is #7 with 1-2-5-8-10.

I hope we are blessed with another chance at the elusive Triple Crown again this year, but it will be a great race to watch and wager on. Good luck and as always, wager wisely.

May 1,

My selections in order are Master David, Smarty Jones and Borrego. That is my final say on the subject. Excactas and tri keys #8 with 1-2-4- 13 -14-15-18 first and second.

ACTION THIS DAY/MINISTER ERIC - Trainer Richard Mandella sent his Kentucky
Derby charge Action This Day to the track Friday morning, but had his other
Derby runner, Minister Eric, simply walk the shedrow under tack.
    The rains fell most of the night and into a gray morning at
Churchill Downs and the racing surface was a sea of slop by the time Action
This Day, last year's 2-year-old champion male, went to the oval for a mile
and one-quarter gallop at 7:30 a.m. Regular exercise rider Paul Nilluang,
dressed out in a yellow rain slicker, was aboard the strong-legged son of
Kris S. for the exercise, overseen by Mandella from the backside.
    "It's sloppy out there, very sloppy," Nilluang reported upon his
return to Barn 41. "But he handled it fine. He seemed to like it."
    Action This Day, who will be ridden by David Flores in the 130th Run
for the Roses, drew Post No. 4 for the mile and one-quarter race. With the
scratch Friday morning of intended Kentucky Derby starters Wimbledon and St
Averil - who had posts 5 and 9, respectively - Action This Day will move
over two spaces into the 6 post Saturday. Churchill Downs' officials dealt
with the withdrawals by leaving the two rail posts empty and moving the
first eight horses over. Horses 10 through 20 were not affected by the
change. 
    Minister Eric, with Hall of Famer Pat Day scheduled to ride, drew
Post No. 7 and will move over to Post No 8.

    BIRDSTONE/THE CLIFF'S EDGE - Trainer Nick Zito sent his two hopefuls
for Saturday's Run for the Roses to the track shortly after 7 o'clock on a
soggy, gray morning at Churchill Downs.
    With exercise rider Maxine Correa up, Birdstone was first out to
gallop a mile and a half.
    In the next set, Correa came out with The Cliff's Edge, who also
galloped a mile and a half.
    Zito said both colts would have some light exercise in the morning.
    Zito was asked what it would take for either of his colts to prevail
on Saturday.
    "For Birdstone, he would probably have to do something like his
sister (Bird Town) did last year in the Oaks, avoiding the bad start
obviously, but get himself in a good spot and show what he was as a
two-year-old," Zito said.
    "Cliff, he always comes with his run and I hope Shane (jockey Shane
Sellers) will ride his good race."

    Edgar Prado has the call on Birdstone.
    Zito's two Kentucky Derby winners, Strike the Gold in 1991 and Go
for Gin in 1994, prevailed in the last two Derbies in which there was
measurable precipitation on Derby Day.
    Forecasts call for more rain in the Louisville area Friday night and
into Saturday.

BORREGO - The chestnut colt Borrego galloped Friday morning at 6:15, touring
the wet Chuchill Downs oval once and then some for exercise rider Andy
Durnin and trainer C. Beau Greely. The son of El Prado likely will return to
the track again Saturday morning for a bit of leg stretching prior to his
run for glory that afternoon in the 130th Kentucky Derby.
Borrego will break from Post No. 12 in the 18-horse Derby field and be
handled by Victor Espinoza.
Breeding pundits have noted that Borrego's sire is known for getting good
off-track runners. With rains falling in the Louisville area Friday - and
projected as possible again Saturday morning - "mud" breeding has become a
much-discussed element among Kentucky Derby aficionados.

CASTLEDALE - Lyons and Knee's Irish-bred Castledale had a lengthy gallop of
approximately two miles this morning under exercise rider Joe Vaca over a
soggy Churchill Downs main track.
Trainer Jeff Mullins schooled the Peintre Celebre colt in the paddock
Thursday afternoon and was especially pleased with the colt's behavior. "He
was perfect; he didn't turn a hair."
On the scene this morning at the barn was jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., who
guided the colt to his $62 upset in the Santa Anita Derby and who will ride
Castledale Saturday.

FRIENDS LAKE - The big chestnut son of A.P. Indy galloped a mile and a half
around the sloppy oval Friday morning with exercise rider Amanda Roxborough
aboard.
    Trainer John Kimmel, who has schooled the colt in the gate the last
three days, skipped that today.
    "He's done enough," Kimmel said. "No use keeping him out in the rain
any longer than he has to be."
    The colt, bred and owned by Chester and Mary Broman, has not started
since winning the Florida Derby on March 13. He has been a handful to deal
with in the paddock and at the starting gate. Kimmel has spent a lot of time
this week schooling Friends Lake in both places.
    "He was really good the last two days at the gate," Kimmel said.
    The colt seems to have a problem walking into an enclosed space,
like the gate stalls or the paddock stalls. On Thursday, while schooling in
the paddock before the fourth race, Friends Lake balked when Kimmel tried to
lead him into a stall.  He refused several times, backing up onto the grass.
The trainer finally backed him into the stall, and Friends Lake went in
easily and stood quietly.
    "That's what I'll do on Saturday," Kimmel said. "I'll just back him
into the stall. That seems to work best."
    The prospect of a wet track doesn't bother Kimmel as far as Friends
Lake liking a wet surface. The colt is bred to handle mud on both sides of
his pedigree, and won the Sleepy Hollow Stakes on a wet track. However, his
come-from-behind running style could prove a problem.
    "With the way he runs," Kimmel said, "he's going to get a lot of
stuff kicked in his face, and he'll have to be brave."
    Regular rider Richard Migliore will have the mount on Friends Lake,
who will try to become the second straight New York-bred to win the Kentucky
Derby following Funny Cide's upset score last year.   

    IMPERIALISM - Steve Taub's Imperialism made his final pre-Derby
appearance on the track, going out at 5:30 with trainer Kristin Mulhall up.
    "He did well this morning," Mulhall said. "He will walk in the
morning and then we will just lead him over and hope for some luck."
    Mulhall, who has been here since April 18, the day before
Imperialism and two other runners shipped in, has 40 other horses stabled in
California. Twenty-six of the runners are owned by Taub.
    "I wish they were all here," said Mulhall, who has been operating
the barn by long distance for almost two weeks. "I have tried to just go
about my job and the people (in the media) have been good about it."
    Visiting the barn to check in on Imperialism was jockey Kent
Desormeaux, who will be riding Imperialism for the first time Saturday when
he gets a leg up in the Derby.

LIMEHOUSE/POLLARD'S VISION - Trainer Todd Pletcher had his Kentucky Derby
duo of Limehouse and Pollard's Vision out on the track Friday morning, each
galloping a mile and one quarter on the day before their dates in the 130th
Run for the Roses.
    Pollard's Vision and exercise rider Michelle Nihei got their
exercise in at approximately 6 a.m. on a sloppy racetrack that had been
pelted by steady rains that began falling in the middle of the night.
Limehouse and exercise rider Patti Krotenko went trackside at 7:30.
    Both horses "went well," according to Pletcher.
    Because of the Friday morning scratches of Wimbledon and St Averil
from the Kentucky Derby because of injury, Limehouse will shift his position
in the gate from Post No. 1 to Post No. 3. Pollard's Vision is in Post No.
17 and was not affected by the withdrawal.
    Pletcher offered sympathies to the connections of the two horses who
had to be withdrawn from the race Friday morning.
    "It could happen to any of us," the trainer said. "And there are
still 36 hours until we run this thing."
    Asked about the possibility of an "off" track for Saturday, Pletcher
was philosophical.
    "I think it helps my one horse (Pollard's Vision), who has good
'mud' breeding, and is a non-factor with my other one (Limehouse)," he said.
"Pollard's Vision broke his maiden in the slop at Saratoga by a bunch (12 ½
lengths), so that ought to tell you something. But an 'off' track at one
place isn't necessarily the same as an 'off' track at another. They can be
different.
    "But in the end, I think it comes out about the same. An 'off' track
is going to help some horses and hurt some others. It might help my horse,
but it is going to help some other horses, too. You've just got to go out
there and do it."

LION HEART - The only Derby horse not "on campus," Lion Heart jogged a mile
and a half at Keeneland this morning for trainer Patrick Biancone.  There
was a light rain shower in Lexington early this morning, which Lion Heart
avoided by taking to the track after 8 a.m.
    Lion Heart is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Saturday
morning.  "He will arrive by 10 a.m., following the rules," said Biancone.
"He'll be the last one there and the first one out."
    Michael Tabor, co-owner of Lion Heart with Derrick Smith, has a
chance to accomplish a 2,000 Guineas / Kentucky Derby "double" as he has
three horses going in the first leg of the English Triple Crown tomorrow,
including the favorite, One Cool Cat.
    "We'll see that race first, so hopefully he brings us some luck,"
said Biancone.
    Local post time for the 2,000 Guineas is 9:55 a.m.

    MASTER DAVID - The Grand Slam colt Master David was out early Friday
morning under exercise rider Jose Cuevas as he put in his final bits of leg
work leading up to his appearance in the 130th Kentucky Derby Saturday
afternoon.
    Cuevas took the Wood Memorial runner-up on a mile and one-half tour
of the Churchill Downs oval at 5:30 a.m., noting afterward that "the track
was plenty wet, but he handled it well."
    Trainer Robert Frankel, a noted handicapper in the horsemen's ranks,
was asked for his feel for the Derby field:
    "I'm starting to be a bit afraid of Lion Heart," the trainer said.
"He's all-alone speed inside and he's going to go clear. The question is -
when will the other speed horses attack him? If they let him go off too far,
he might be gone. But I think, and I hope, they'll go after him early.
Quintons Gold Rush looks like the kind of horse to me who is going to go
early. And I think Smarty Jones will go, too. If he (Lion Heart) takes
enough heat early, it opens the race up for everyone else."
    Master David will be ridden Saturday by Alex Solis. He will break
from Post No. 9 in the 18-horse field following the Friday morning
withdrawals of Wimbledon and St Averil.   

    PRO PRADO - Mrs. James Winn's Pro Prado stayed under cover and out
of the elements Friday morning, walking the shedrow a day after breezing
three furlongs in :36.60.
    "He came out of the work good and tomorrow morning we will jog him
at 5:15 and then put him back to bed," trainer Robert Holthus said. "We'll
wake him up at 4:30 and lead him over there."
    John McKee will have the mount on the stretch-running son of El
Prado, who Holthus believes will move up on an off track.
    "The key for us is getting around the first turn without losing too
much ground," said Holthus, whose charge will break from post position 19 as
a 30-1 proposition on the morning line.

    READ THE FOOTNOTES -The New York-bred son of Smoke Glacken was out
for an easy mile and a half gallop through the slop Friday morning with
exercise rider Morna McDowall in the boot.
    Trainer Richard Violette Jr. said he was concerned Thursday when
jockey Robby Albarado was unseated after Dr. Kashnikow stumbled badly coming
out of the gate in the sixth race, a turf event. Albarado came out of the
incident without injury and rode the remainder of the card.
    Albarado, one of the leading riders on the Kentucky circuit, was a
late replacement for Jerry Bailey, who opted to ride Wimbledon when
Eddington didn't get into the Derby. Now with Wimbledon scratched, Bailey is
without a Derby mount.
    "It's just another example of how everything is working out for us
this week," Violette said. "We got the post we wanted (14) even though we
picked 12th. Now, if Robby had been injured, we could have used Bailey.
Everything's been working out perfectly all the way."
    The expected wet track is another plus factor, the trainer feels.
    "The mud might help us," Violette said. "We're going to be up near
the lead, which is an advantage on a muddy track. The closers are going to
be faced with a tidal wave of mud, and a horse has to be very brave to run
through that."
    Klaravich Stables owns Read the Footnotes, who recorded the highest
Beyer Speed Figure by a 3-year-old this year (113) when he won the Fountain
of Youth Stakes in February. He has not started since running fourth behind
fellow New York-bred Friends Lake in the Florida Derby on March 13.

QUINTONS GOLD RUSH - Padua Stables' Quintons Gold Rush galloped a mile and
one-half this morning in the rain for trainer Steve Asmussen, who reports
all is well with his Kentucky Derby entrant.
After a week of schooling in the Churchill Downs paddock, Asmussen is
satisfied that Quintons Gold Rush will comport himself well Saturday. "He'll
be on his toes, but that's the way he is."
Corey Nakatani rides the speedy son of Wild Rush who figures to be prominent
in the early stages of the Derby. 

ST AVERIL - Stan E. Fulton's St Averil was reshod with new shoes replacing
bar shoes on his front feet this morning prior to going to the track to
gallop.
Buzz Fermin, a noted blacksmith on the West Coast, arrived from
California Thursday night and was on the scene at 5:30 this morning to do
the job for trainer Rafael Becerra.
St Averil, a stakes-winning son of Saint Ballado, has been troubled by
tenderness in his front hooves and Becerra said the colt was traveling
better after the bar shoes were replaced.
(SEE UPDATE ON DERBY WITHDRAWAL OF ST AVERIL)

    SMARTY JONES - The undefeated, four-time stakes winner Smarty Jones
made his final morning foray to the track, going out at 6:45 for a trip to
the starting gate and then a mile and a half gallop with trainer John Servis
alongside on a pony. Regular exercise rider Pete Van Trump was on Smarty
Jones.
    "He went to the gate and was absolutely great," Servis said. "Roger
(starter Roger Nagle) was really happy with him. He galloped good today and
we're ready to dance."
    Servis said Smarty Jones would not go to the track in the morning.
    First-time Derby rider Stewart Elliott has the call on Smarty Jones,
who will break from post position 15, even with the defections of Wimbledon
and St Averil from the field Friday morning.
    Servis said the colt has had a good week here and is ready for his
date with destiny that could result in a $5 million bonus for winning the
Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park followed by the Kentucky
Derby.
    "I'm just looking for him to eat up good, have his temperature good,
get his game face on, strap the helmet on and we're ready to go," Servis
said.

SONG OF THE SWORD - Doug Hatten, assistant trainer to Jennifer Pedersen for
only about two weeks now, reported that Song of the Sword had a productive
schedule Friday morning.
    "He walked through the paddock and stood in his number two stall.
He was very good," he said.  "There was a lot of action going on, although
there was only one other horse there with a pony.  There were a lot of
vendors pushing things around...hectic stuff, you know, that happens four
hours before the beginning of Oaks Day.
    "Afterwards, he jogged two miles and then stood in the starting
gate.  He was super, just perfect.  He didn't turn a hair," said Hatten.

    TAPIT - The gray colt by Pulpit was out on the track early with
exercise rider Jonathan Ferriday aboard. He jogged a mile, and then galloped
a mile over the sloppy main oval.
    Trainer Michael Dickinson has taken every precaution to bring Tapit
up to the race as healthy as possible. The colt developed a lung infection
after the Florida Derby on March 13, and was not fully recovered when he won
the Wood Memorial on April 10.
    "The plan is to have him at his peak on Derby Day," the trainer
said. "He's got to be a healthy horse on Saturday afternoon."
    Tapit shipped in from Dickinson's Tapeta Farm on Wednesday, and the
trainer has even shipped in sod from the farm so the colt could graze on the
homegrown Maryland grasses outside his barn in Kentucky. Tapit also gets
fresh eggs and Guinness Stout, which deliver protein.
    "Guinness is made with the best malt and barley," Dickinson said,
"and it both whets his appetite and provides nutrients."
    Ramon Dominguez, who was aboard in both Tapit's stakes victories,
has the mount Saturday.  Tapit, owned by Ron Winchell, won the Laurel
Futurity as a 2-year-old, and the Wood Memorial this year.
    This will be the first Kentucky Derby appearance for trainer and
rider.

    WIMBLEDON - Louisiana Derby winner Wimbledon, trainer Bob Baffert's
hope for a fourth Kentucky Derby victory, was withdrawn from Saturday's
130th "Run for the Roses" Friday morning when an injury was discovered to
the Wild Rush colt's left front leg.
    "We found it when the bandages were removed this morning around 6,"
said an obviously disappointed Baffert. "There's some filling in a spot on
the outside of the tendon in his left foreleg, and it palpates (a pulse is
present). He must have rapped himself there.
    "He's not lame and the injury doesn't appear career threatening. But
you have to be extremely careful with soft tissue damage and we won't know
the extent of the problem until we get an ultrasound.
    "It's really disappointing for the staff and especially Mac (owner
James McIngvale). There are ups and downs in this game but this is part of
the business that you never get used to.
    "He had been training fantastic and the barn was hitting on all
cylinders," Baffert said in reference to winning three races on Thursday's
Churchill Downs program.  "Unfortunately, we blew a cylinder today. "
    With the defection of Wimbledon, jockey Jerry Bailey is without a
Derby mount. Wimbledon had been scheduled to break from stall number five.
Two years ago, the Baffert-trained Danthebluegrassman was scratched on Derby
morning when he tied up. Baffert, of course, won that year with War Emblem.
The day before, highly regarded Buddha was withdrawn because of a bruised
left forefoot. Other noteworthy late Derby defections have included A.P.
Indy, scratched Saturday in 1992, and, in 1957, pre-race favorite Calumet
Farm's Gen. Duke. Calumet won the race with Iron Liege.

April 30,

A.P. ADVENTURE  - The A.P. Indy offspring named A.P. Adventure stretched her
legs Thursday morning one day prior to her date in the $500,000 Kentucky
Oaks at Churchill Downs. With her regular exercise rider Rhett Fincher in
the boot, the bay lassie covered a mile and one eighth in a gallop following
the track's 8 a.m. renovation break.
    Assistant trainer Aimee Dollase noted that the move went well and
that her filly continues forward toward her date in the Grade I filly
classic.
    "She'll gallop again in the morning," Dollase said. "She'll go about
a mile around 6:30 or 7."
    Aimee's father, Wallace, is the trainer for A.P. Adventure, and he
was on hand for the filly's exercise Thursday, as was her mother, Cincy.
Also on the scene at Barn 39 was another Dollase daughter, Michelle, along
with her three children.
    Michelle Dollase, who previously worked as an assistant with her
father and lately has been running a very successful lay-up farm in the
California community of Bradbury near Santa Anita racetrack, has recently
relocated to Kentucky and will open a lay-up farm here on 70 acres she
purchased in nearby Shelbyville.
Michelle Dollase, who formerly was married to jockey Corey Nakatani, called
her old facility Overview Stables, but will call the new one Overview Farm.
She'll open for business in June.

ASHADO - Exercise rider Michelle Nihei had the Kentucky Oaks filly Ashado
ready to be the first one out of the barn Thursday morning for her exercise
when the track opened at 5:15. Ashado, you see, wouldn't have it any other
way.
    "She has got to be the first one out in the morning," Nihei noted.
"That's her way. If she sees another horse is tacked up and ready to go
before her, she'll kick her stall down. She wants to be first and that's all
there is to it."
    Nihei and trainer Todd Pletcher are only too glad to accommodate the
dark daughter of Saint Ballado. And why not, when the 3-year-old miss has
won five of her eight starts, with two seconds and a third besides, with all
but one of those races coming in graded stakes competition.
    Nihei and Ashado galloped a mile and a quarter in the dark and did
it "strongly," according to the rider.
    Ashado, the 4-1 second choice in the $500,000 Oaks, will only walk
the shedrow on race morning Friday.

CLASS ABOVE/VICTORY U.S.A.  - Padua Stables' Class Above and Thomas Van
Meter II's Victory U.S.A., trainer Bob Baffert's twin threat in Friday's
Kentucky Oaks, each galloped a mile and one-half Thursday morning under
exercise rider Dana Barnes. 
    Corey Nakatani rides Class Above, while Pat Day will be aboard
Victory U.S.A.

HALFBRIDLED - The juvenile filly champion Halfbridled was back at the track
Thursday morning for a one-mile gallop under exercise rider Paul Nilluang.
The dark bay or brown daughter of the late sire Unbridled was coming off her
previous day's effort in which she buzzed three furlongs in a nifty :34.60
as her final major move leading up to Friday's Grade I Kentucky Oaks. 
    Trainer Richard Mandella was on hand for his filly's exercise and
noted that he likely would return his sophomore filly to the racetrack to
gallop on race morning.
    "I normally take my horses to the track the day they race," the
California-based conditioner said. "Now if it is storming and raining, I
don't have to go. But all things being equal, we'll be out there tomorrow."
    Mandella was asked who he fears most in the nine-furlong Oaks.
    "Well, if Frankie's filly (trainer Frank Brothers' Madcap Escapade)
gets loose, I think we're all going to be in trouble. But if she takes some
pressure, I think that mile and an eighth might tell on her. The other one
I'm really concerned about is Ashado. She's a gritty, hard-trying filly and
you know she's going to be right there."
    Alex Solis will be aboard Halfbridled in the $500,000 Oaks.

    HOLLYWOOD STORY - The Wild Rush filly galloped a mile and a half
around the oval Thursday morning with exercise rider Michelle Jensen aboard.
    Trainer John Shirreffs said he was pleased with the filly's progress
and expected her to be at her best in Friday's Oaks.
    Hollywood Story, owned by George Krikorian, broke her maiden in the
Hollywood Starlet, a Grade 1 stakes event, on Dec. 21. So far this year, she
was second to A.P. Adventure in the Las Virgenes and then fourth behind
Silent Sighs in the Santa Anita Oaks. Shirreffs said that if she hadn't been
carried wide around the stretch turn, she would have moved up at least one
spot.
    Victor Espinoza, who took over the riding duties this year (Pat
Valenzuela was the filly's rider last year), will be aboard Friday.

HOUSE OF FORTUNE - With owner Arnold Zetcher on the scene, trainer Ron
McAnally sent multi stakes-winning House of Fortune to the track for a
gallop of a mile and one-half under exercise rider Mike Johnson.
    "We let her gallop out pretty strong the last eighth," said
McAnally, a Hall of Fame conditioner seeking his first success in the
prestigious Kentucky Oaks.
    House of Fortune, a California-bred daughter of Free House, won the
Grade II Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park most recently after a 17-length
score in the California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields.

ISLAND SAND - Trainer Larry Jones jogged Island Sand a quarter mile and
galloped her a mile at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning. 
"Some of that jogging was just trying to get her back to the barn," he said.
"They [horses] have it figured out when it's time to run [race].  She's easy
to figure out, too.  She's far enough away from her breeze that she knows
she's fixin' to do something."
Island Sand will walk the shedrow Friday morning.
   
    LAST SONG - The Buckram Oak Farm runner galloped a mile and a
quarter Thursday morning, her serious work behind her.
    "She's ready," trainer Carl Nafzger said. "She'll run her race."
    Last Song goes back to nine furlongs in Friday's Oaks, and distance
is her strong suit. She won the Bonnie Miss Stakes at Gulfstream in March at
a mile and an eighth. Last out in the mile and a sixteenth Ashland Stakes at
Keeneland, she finished third behind Madcap Escapade and Ashado, two of her
rivals on Friday.
    Edgar Prado, who was aboard in her Florida victory, has the mount
again in the Oaks.

    MADCAP ESCAPADE - The daughter of Hennessy, who puts her unbeaten
streak on the line in Friday's Oaks, galloped once around the oval Thursday
morning.
    "She's fine; all's well," said trainer Frank Brothers.
    Bruce Lunsford's filly will be looking for her fifth straight
victory in the Oaks. She won the Forward Gal Stakes sprinting at Gulfstream,
and last out made a winning debut at two turns when she defeated Ashado a
half-length in the mile and a sixteenth Ashland Stakes.
    Jerry Bailey will be aboard as Madcap Escapade tries nine furlongs
for the first time Friday.

SILENT SIGHS -  Observed by owner-breeder Marty Wygod and trainer Julio
Canani, Santa Anita Oaks winner Silent Sighs galloped a mile and one-half.
Under exercise rider Mikki Fincher, the Benchmark filly was allowed to
gallop out strongly the final quarter mile, Canani said.
    David Flores rides Silent Sighs, a winner of four of five races, her
only loss a half-length defeat by House of Fortune in the California Cup
Juvenile Fillies in early November at Santa Anita.
    Asked how his filly was doing at Churchill Downs, Canani said,
"She's happy."
    Silent Sighs will school in the Churchill Downs paddock today with
horses entered in the second race.

STELLAR JAYNE - A gallop around the Churchill Downs racetrack was the order
of the day for Kentucky Oaks contender Stellar Jayne. 
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has won the filly classic four times, one victory shy
of the record held by the late Woody Stephens.  A four-time winner of the
Kentucky Derby, this is only the second year since 1981 that Lukas does not
have a starter in the race.
Stellar Jayne, 30-to-1 in the morning line, will be ridden by jockey Robby
Albarado, and breaks from the far outside post position 12.  Albarado has
not yet won a Kentucky Oaks or a Kentucky Derby.  He does have a Derby mount
on Saturday with Read the Footnotes.  Six jockeys have accomplished an
Oaks/Derby Double in the same year, with Jerry Bailey being the last in
1993.

April 29,

The equine projectile known as Smarty Jones has been detonated. On May 1, it's target will be Churchill Downs. After watching the colt hurtle around the track this morning, there is no doubt an explosion is imminent. But we'll have to wait until about 6:07 p.m. before we know the extent of the damage.After beginning his gallop aggressively, but controllable, Smarty Jones put it into high gear, and up from the saddle shot 170-pound exercise rider Pete Van Trump, whose broad shoulders make him look like Dick Butkus compared to other exercise riders. But to Smarty Jones, he was a mere rag doll. Van Trump stood straight up in the saddle, pushed his feet against the dashboard and pulled...and pulled. And Smarty kept going. One mile later, Van Trump was still at attention and Smarty, his head down, was still stampeding down the track. Amazingly, he came off the track hardly taking a deep breath

But this is Smarty Jones. When trainer Nick Zito went to Keeneland one morning early last week, he caught a glimpse of the Smarty Jones express, and summed him up very simply: "Whew! I can't believe how that horse attacks the ground."

But Smarty Jones, whose starting gate misadventure as a 2-year-old has been well chronicled, was not on his best behavior while schooling this morning. He's fine once he's in, but getting him in is another matter, and today he wanted no part of the green monster, and at first was reluctant to go in. Starter Roger Nagle most likely will load Smarty first on Saturday.

The other problem child, Friends Lake, however, was on his best behavior and passed his exam with flying colors. This was his second straight day at the gate, and although he wasn't too bad yesterday, this was as good as you could ask for. A great of credit for the colt's improvement goes to New York Racing Association consulting starter Bob Duncan, who has been working with Friends Lake for some time.

The son of A.P. Indy looked great galloping today. He is a long-bodied colt with a big stride that covers a lot of ground. His elegant frame and head, complete with narrow blaze, and golden chestnut coat make him a photographer's delight. Several were gathered around his sand pen (on loan from D. Wayne Lukas) this morning waiting for his daily roll. After walking around for a while, eyeing all the cameras pointed at him, he finally flopped down and just laid there motionless for a few seconds, his head resting on the sand. He then rolled a few times, jumped up and bucked, and quickly settled back down before heading to the grass for a long grazing session. This is just a fun horse to be around.

The Kentucky Derby's first of several Maalox moments is over, and owners and trainers can now start to plan strategy following this morning's draw for post position selection order. Dick Mandella has to be smiling after Minister Eric and Action This Day drew the number one and six selection order, respectively. Ironically, the three fastest horses in the field - Smarty Jones, Lion Heart, and Quintons Gold Rush will pick 11th, 14th, and 20th, respectively, meaning, unless one of them takes the rail (Quintons Gold Rush obviously has no say in the matter), we're going to have all three charging out of there from the middle of the track on out.

Of the likely top choices, Tapit will select 16th, but trainer Michael Dickinson might just prefer his colt near the outside after his sweeping move in the Wood Memorial (gr. I). The Cliff's Edge, who will be the morning line favorite, should be in good shape picking eighth. Also drawing well are the numbers two, three, and four picks - Master David, Friends Lake, and Imperialism.

What also has to be taken into consideration is the ominous forecast and the prospect of a sloppy track. That added to the fact that owners and trainers are more inclined to go well to the outside rather than take posts inside five and six, don't be surprised to see posts seven to 10 snatched up first, and then a jump to posts 14, 15, and 16 to avoid having to load early. The loading procedure has post position numbers 1 and 11 loading first, followed by 2 and 12 and so on. But each group will have their own strategy, based on their horse's likes and dislikes, and running style, and who might be on either side of him.

There were three horses out for blowouts this morning, and I really like the way Imperialism went. He has great extension in his left leg, and that was in evidence today, as trainer/exercise rider Kristin Mulhall just sat on him and let him open his lungs for a quarter mile, clocked in :24 4/5. He negotiated the second turn very well and galloped out another strong eighth in :13 1/5.

Action This Day floated a bit wide turning for home in his three-furlong move in :35 1/5, and also continued out strongly in :48 3/5, which was faster than stablemate Minister Eric worked yesterday. Last year's 2-year-old champ, came off the rail in his last work in company with Halfbridled, and it will be interesting to see if his connections decide to keep him more to the inside when they select their post position this evening.

Finally, Song of the Sword, who arrived at 5 p.m. last evening from Keeneland, blew out his half in :49 2/5. I love this colt's finely chiseled, almost feminine head, and his lop ears, which were jutting out in all directions during his work. His coat is glistening, and he is the picture of good health. Credit to trainer Jennifer Pedersen and the colt's herbalist Cathy McGlory for bringing in such a magnificent-looking horse.

The son of Unbridled's Song also has a great deal of class about him, and was unfazed by the many noises and distractions while grazing after arriving. He went out on the grass by the Longfield Avenue fence and behaved as if he had been stabled at Churchill all his life. He's still a work in progress, and even if he proves not quite ready for such an arduous task as the Derby, he will be a major force in the 3-year-old division this year.

Another horse who has a classy look about him is the newly arrived St Averil, who was feeling good grazing yesterday, and, according to trainer Rafael Becerra, is looking and acting like he did earlier in the year when he was considered one of the top colts in California.

One horse who is ready for action and protesting any restraint is Pollard's Vision, who was throwing head around while being schooled in the paddock yesterday, and again today while jogging with the pony. Trainer Todd Pletcher, aboard the pony, had a good hold of him as he continuously tried to break free, jerking his head in all directions.

He's another who should be pretty close to the pace, and will get a decent post position, having the ninth pick.

The Cliff's Edge and stablemate Birdstone had good solid gallops today, as did Pro Prado, who is like a little machine. You just wind him up and he goes out there and does everything perfectly.

Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Tapit was scheduled to arrive at Churchill at around 3 p.m. this afternoon. He originally was scheduled to go in Barn 45, with Friends Lake and Song of the Sword, but racing manager David Fiske was not happy with the barn, according to stall superintendent Mike Hargrave, who moved him to the stakes barn (Barn 17), where he'll join Santa Anita Derby winner (gr. I) Castledale.

In Friday's column, I'll try to make some sort of sense of all this confusion, looking for potential overlays and a megabomb or two, and some exotics combinations, based on how these horses have been training, looking, and acting.

April 28,

Post positions:

1. Limehouse
2. Song Of The Sword
3. Lion Heart
4. Action This Day
5. Wimbledon
6. Friends Lake
7. Minister Eric
8. Master David
9. St. Averil
10. Imperialism
11. The Cliff's Edge
12. Borrego
13. Birdstone
14. Read The Footnotes
15. Smarty Jones
16. Castledale
17. Pollard's Vision
18. Tapit
19. Pro Prado
20. Quinton's Gold Rush

April 2,

April is upon us and we have only four weeks left before they run for the roses on May 1. Tomorrow's edition of the Santa Anita Derby should bring us some idea if there is a runner from out west that will have an impact on this year's Derby. Following is them field  with riders and post positions.

1. Imperialism- Victor Espinoza- A winner of his last two in the San Rafael and San Vicente.

2. Lucky Pulpit- Jon Court- Was well beaten in the San Rafeal, but gets Jon Court to travel out west to ride. Might make a difference.

3. Wimbledon- Javier Santiago- Bob Baffert trainee won the Grade II Louisiana Derby in his last start. Could be the post time favorite, but will he be good enough.

4. Castledale- Jose Valvida- Has done most of his running on the turf but switches to the dirt for this trip.Was a well beaten 6th in the San Rafeal.

5. Quinton's Gold Rush- Corey Nakatani-Lightly raced colt 4th in the San Rafeal and will have to improve off that to be competitive.

6. Rock Hard Ten- An undefeated colt this one is very dangerous. He is a very large colt and gets over the track well. His lack of experience could be the only thing that stops him.

7. St. Averil- A very nice bred St. Ballado colt that just missed in the San Felipe. He looks like he will appreciate the distance.

After looking the PPs over, I am going to take St. Averil to get the jiob done and use him in exactas and tris with the 1-3-4-6 first ands econd.

At Hawthorn tomorrow we have the Illinois Derby with a field of 11. Heading the field is #1- Kilgowan who won the El Camil Real Derby and #2- Pollard's Vision who was 3rd in the Louisiana Derby. Another threat is Song Of The Sword in from New York and trained by Jennifer Pederson. The only other danger I can see would be Farnum Alley who comes out of the Florida Derby for trainer Anthony Reinstedtler.

I can't find anyone I want to get involved with except maybe Song Of The Sword under Richard Migliore. I certainly don't think any of these will be in the gate on May first.

Good luck and as always, wager wisely.

March 19,

The road to the Derby moves north tomorrow with races in Kentucky, New York and Arkansas bringing out aspiring 3yos. The most anticipated race will be the Lane's End with Nick Zito's Birdstone heading up the field at 9/5 in the field of 11. Following is the fuield and the odds:

1. Birdstone-    J. Bailey       9/5

2. That's An Orange- R. Albarado  5-1

3. Hippocrates-  D. Flores       30-1

4. Stolen Time- C. Velasquez    6-1

5. The Dancing Mark- E. Zuniga  30-1

6. Hasseltree-   J. Court       30-1

7. Silver Minister- R. Bejarano   7/2

8. New Element- M. Guidry    20-1

9. Tricky Taboo- A. D'Amico   30-1

10. Little Math Man-  P. Fragoso    15-1

11.  Sinister G.- P. Tascano      5-1

You can look at this race two ways. You can say that Birdstone is the class of the race and with the inside post he should be able to handle this bunch with ease or you can try to beat him.

Personally I don't want to waste money trying to beat him as the horses running against him are a bunch of horses that either have just broke their maiden or are coming off bad races in stakes and seem to be trying to just get an excuse to go.

In New York we have the Gotham  which is ran at a one turn mile distance. Heading up the field is Eddington, a Mark Hennig trained colt who comes in off two wins in a row. He has been up close in his races in Florida, but it looks like he will be much further back in this race and will have to learn to get dirt  in his face here. He faces the previously impressive Redskin Warrior ridden by Richard Migliore. This is a nice race and anything can jump up and make a race of it.

In Arkansas the  $200,000 Rebel stakes has a nice field of 3yos trying to make a name for theirselfs. Mr. Jester is the leading money winner with a win in the $1 million dollar Delta Jackpot and being placed first in the Grade III Ky Cup Juvenile before that. The favorite is Smarty Jones who ships in from Philadelphia Park He won his first start here in the Southwest Stakes and has trained very well since then.

Tomorrow's races are good betting races if you care to indulge, but I prefer to take a look and see attitude. Birdstone looks to me like the best of a bad bunch and I think Nicky will be a happy camper tomorrow night as he will have all his Derby contenders in good shape for their attack on Kentucky.

Good luck and as always, wager wisely.

March 12,

This weekend's round of 3yo races will give us a little more insight on who is a contender and who is a pretender. 

Headed up by the $1,000,000 Grade I Florida Derby we should see some fireworks in the division. On the west coast we will have last year's 2yo champion make his second start of the year in Sunday's San Felipe at SAnta Anita. His first race was just a prep race and he was ridden that way with David Flores setting still for most of the race and then closing wide into slow fractions to be 4th beaten a little over 2 lengths. I look for a much more aggressive ride in Sunday's race as it is time to get serious if you want to win the Derby.

Back to the Florida Derby, we have a solid field of 10 with the leading contender in Florida in the race. Read The Footnotes trained by Rick Violette ran a huge race in the Fountain Of Youth  and should be tough to handle here if he didn't knock himself out with that performance. Nick Zito sends one of his contenders with The Cliffs Edge who comes in off a 2nd place finish in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs in his last where he lost a lot of ground at the short price of 1/2.Zito comments that he thinks this colt can hold his own with anyone and will be tough in the race. Shane Sellers ships in from the Fair Grounds to ride. The field is as follows:

1. The Cliff's Edge        Shane Sellers            6-1

2. Friends Lake            R. Migliore                20-1

3.  Read The Footnotes J. Bailey                   7/5

4.Tapit                            E. Prado                     7/2

5. Farnum Alley             P. Day                         50-1

6.  Sir Oscar                   J. Garcia                    20-1

7.  Notorious Rouge       J. Bravo                    30-1

8.  Value Plus                  J. Velasquez              9/5

9.  Frisky Spider              E. King                      50-1

10. Smoocher                   J. Santos                   20-1

This race sets up as a rider's race as both Value Plus and Frisky Spider have blazing speed. Frisky Spider was undefeated until he ran in the Fountain Of Youth and adds blinkers which means he will be gunning for the lead. Value Plus was a very impressive winner in an allowance race on the under card Fountain Of Youth day and could be very dangerous if he can set just off Frisky Spider and get the jump on Read The Footnotes.

Another very dangerous horse is Tapit who is trained by the "mad genius" Michael Dickinson who has this undefeated colt ready off a series of works at his own training center in Maryland. Dickinson is well know for his magical training feats and if he thinks Tapit is ready then he must be watched. He did say that this is not a race to win at all costs and that could mean he is merely running him to get him ready for bigger things up the road.

My take on the race is Value Plus is the one to beat if he can get the distance. I am going to key him first and second with The Cliff's Edge, Friends  Lake,Read The Footnotes, Tapit. The numbers are 8 with 1-2-3-4 first and second.

On the under card we have the Swale Stakes with Zito's Eurosilver heading up the race. He is joined by Todd Pletcher's Chapel Royal. Zito is looking forward to Kentucky and the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland with this colt.

It is getting to the interesting time of the year as the 3yos that are going to be ready for May first must start showing there talent. I still think that the Derby winner will come out of either the Wood Memorial or the Blue Grass Stakes that are both ran on the same day in April. Stay tuned right here as we will be watching when the contenders get to Churchill for their final preps for this year's Derby.

I don't like to brag but you made a nice score if you followed my selections the 8 with 1-2-3-4 first and second. The exacta paid $221.50, the tri paid $1,052.10 and the super paid $3,004.00. The numbers came back 2-8-1-3.

February 13,

Tomorrow's Fountain Of Youth is the first serious step for  in the road to the roses. Also on the card is several top 3yos running in allowance races.

Following is the entries for them Fountain Of Youth.

Purse $250,000, 1/16 miles, Grade II

1.  Sir Oscar- J Garcia     122     9/2

2. Frisky Spider- E. King  116    12-1

3. El Prado Rob- E. Prado 120    30-1

4. Broadway View- R. Douglas 116 50-1

5. Hopefortheroses- M Aguilar  116 50-1

6. Silver Wagon- J. Santos- 120  4-1

7. Second Of June- C. Velasquez 120 8/5

8. Read The Footnotes- J Bailey 122  7/5

This race  has several interesting colts in it. Sir Oscar is making his first start since sweeping through 6 races at Calder last year undefeated. He has had a 3 month rest and is training forwardly.

Frisky Spider is also undefeated although he has never been two turns. A big strapping colt who stands 17 hands he is in good hands with trainer Bobby Durso training.

Nick Zito sends out one of his stable of top 3yos in El Prado Rob. He seems tom be 3rd or  4th string in the Zito barn, but he is always dangerous. Broadway View and Hopefortheroses are the two 50-1 shots in the race but should be used underneath in your trifectas as these  3yos jump up and run big sometimes when trying the top colts for the first time.

Silver Wagon, last year's Hopeful winner returns with a new rider and blinkers added. Jose Santos who won the KY Derby last year replaces Jerry Bailey who opted to ride Read The Footnotes.

Second Of June is in fine form and is 8/5 second choice behind Read The Footnotes who is 7/5. Second Of June has done everything right so far and willtake some beating. Read The Footnotes i