Kentucky Derby Horse Info Thread

[Axle]

On to the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita next weekend....March 1st. :SIB

 

[Axle]

Santa Anita 7th Race Sham Stakes (G3) $200K

#1 El Gato Malo ? Flores/Dollase 1-1
#2 Success Free ? BazeM/O?Neill 20-1
#3 Coast Guard ? Bejarano/Hofmans 5-1
#4 Trevor?s Clever BazeT/West 30-1
#5 Victory Pete ? Talamo/Barba 20-1
#6 Colonel John ? Gomez/Harty 9-5
#7 Reflect Times ? Smith/Shirreffs 6-1


We'll get to see how good some of these really are.

 

[Axle]

March 8th Derby Prep Races:

Louisiana Derby ? Fair Grounds

El Camino Real Derby ? Bay Meadows

Gotham Stakes ? Aqueduct

 

[Axle]

March 8th

Time to start separating the contenders from the pretenders

Fair Grounds
9TH (4:48)
Louisiana Derby (G2)
1 1/16 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $600,000
#1 Stevil Castro/Zito 15-1
#2 My Pal Charlie Leparoudx/Stall 20-1
#3 Pyro Bridgmohan/Assmussen 7-5
#4 J Be K Desormeaus/Assmussen 12-1
#5 Unbridled Vicar lanerie/Geier
#6 Tale of Ekati Prado/Tagg 7-2
#7 Blackberry Road Albarado/Carroll 10-1
#8 Yankee Bravo Solis/Gallaher 4-1
#9 Majestic Warrior Gomez/Mott 9-2


AQUEDECT
9TH (4:50)
Gotham S. (G3)
1 1/16 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $250,000
#1Giant Moon Dominguez/Schosberg 7-2
#2 Laysh Laysh Laysh Pino/Jacobson
#3 Roman Emperor Rose/Klesaris 6-1
#4 Saratoga Russell Coa/Violette 4-1
#5 Saratoga Russell Coa/Violette
#6 Holidaze Luzzi/Pletcher
#7 Texas Wilcatter Arroyo/Pletcher
#8 Larry?s Revenge Bravo/Zito 15-1
#9 Ling Ling Maragh/McPeek 12-1
#10 Visionaire Lezcano/Matz 3-1


BAY MEADOWS
8TH (4:15)
El Camino Real Derby (G3)
1 1/16 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $150,000
#1 Nikki?sgoldensteed Court/Hess 9-2
#2 General Dan Kaenel/Franko 20-1
#3 Autism Awareness Contreras/Vallejo 30-1
#4 Bamaha Breeze Garcia/Greely 10-1
#5 Tres Borrachos Garcia/Greely 10-1
#6 Pleasure Grounds Schvaneveldt/Pederson 6-1
#7 Behinddatthebar Baze M/Pletcher 7-2
#8 Coast Guard Gryder/Hofmans 5-2
#9 Dreamed Day Alvarado/Lobo 30-1

 

[Axle]

Kentucky Derby Future Wager - Pool 2
1 1/4 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $2,000,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 Blackberry Road Carroll David 126 L 30-1
2 Bob Black Jack Kasparoff James M 126 BL 30-1
3 Colonel John Harty Eoin 126 BL 12-1
4 Cool Coal Man Zito Nicholas P 126 L 10-1
5 Court Vision Mott William I 126 L 12-1
6 Denis of Cork Carroll David 126 L 15-1
7 El Gato Malo Dollase Craig 126 BL 15-1
8 Elysium Fields Tagg Barclay 126 L 15-1
9 Fierce Wind Zito Nicholas P 126 L 20-1
10 Gayego Lobo Paulo H 126 BL 20-1
11 Georgie Boy Walsh Kathy 126 BL 20-1
12 Giant Moon Schosberg Richard 126 L 20-1
13 J Be K Asmussen Steven M 126 L 30-1
14 Majestic Warrior Mott William I 126 L 20-1
15 Monba Pletcher Todd A 126 L 30-1
16 Nikki'sgoldensteed Hess R B Jr 126 L 50-1
17 Pyro Asmussen Steven M 126 L 6-1
18 Smooth Air Stutts Bennie F Jr 126 L 50-1
19 Tale of Ekati Tagg Barclay 126 LA 30-1
20 Visionaire Matz Michael R 126 L 30-1
21 War Pass Zito Nicholas P 126 L 5-1
22 Yankee Bravo Gallagher Patrick 126 BL 30-1
23 Z Fortune Asmussen Steven M 126 L 20-1
24 All Other Three Year Olds Baffert Bob 126 10-1


WIN WAGERING ONLY - $2 MINIMUM


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kentucky Oaks Future Wager - Pool 2
1 1/8 Miles | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $500,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 A to the Croft McPeek Kenneth G 121 LA 30-1
2 Absolutely Cindy Kinmon Keith 121 LA 30-1
3 Backseat Rhythm Reynolds Patrick L 121 L 20-1
4 Bsharpsonata Salzman Timothy 121 L 15-1
5 Country Star Frankel Robert 121 BL 6-1
6 Eight Belles Jones J Larry 121 L 15-1
7 Final Fling Mullins Jeff 121 BL 20-1
8 Game Face Pletcher Todd A 121 L 20-1
9 Golden Doc A Abrams Barry 121 BL 10-1
10 Grace and Power Klesaris Steve 121 BL 30-1
11 Highest Class Howard Neil J 121 L 20-1
12 Indian Blessing Baffert Bob 121 L 4-1
13 Kadira Vance David R 121 L 50-1
14 Lovely Isle Frankel Robert 121 BL 15-1
15 My Baby Baby McPeek Kenneth G 121 L 50-1
16 Proud Spell Jones J Larry 121 L 6-1
17 Pure Clan Holthus Robert E 121 L 12-1
18 Rated Fiesty Asmussen Steven M 121 L 15-1
19 Shes All Eltish Wolfson Martin D 121 L 50-1
20 Sky Mom Asmussen Steven M 121 L 30-1
21 Tasha's Miracle Sadler John W 121 BL 30-1
22 Tizaqueena Stidham Michael 121 L 50-1
23 Vaulcluse Albertrani Thomas 121 L 50-1
24 All Other Three Year Old Fillies Baffert Bob 121 15-1


WIN WAGERING ONLY - $2 MINIMUM

 

[Axle]

GOTHAM STAKES (G3)
#10 VISIONAIRE $11.00 ? 5.60 ? 3.80
#7 TEXAS WILDCATTER 5.70 ? 3.50
#8 LARRY?S REVENGE 10.80


LOUISIANA DERBY (G2)
#3 PYRO 3.60 ? 2.80 ? 2.20
#2 MY PAL CHARLIE $26.00 ? 10.80
#8 YANKEE BRAVO 5.20

EL CAMINO REAL DERBY (G3)
#3 AUTISM AWARENESS $126.00 46.80 17.60
#1 NIKI?SGOLDENSTEED 4.50 ? 3.80
#5 TRES BORRACHOS 7.20

 

[skodaa]

#6.....

#6.....

ask why later!

 

[Axle]

Is it later yet? :mj03:

 

[Axle]

This Weekend Prep Races

This Weekend Prep Races

Mar 15th
Santa Anita - San Felipe Stakes

Oaklawn Park - Rebel Stakes

Tampa Bay Downs - Tampa Bay Derby

Mar 16th
Sunland Park - WinStar Derby

 

[Axle]

For Saturday 03/15/08

9TH (4:38)
San Felipe S. (G2)
1 1/16 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $200,000
#1 Gayego Smith/Lobo (9-2)
#2 Southwest Nakatani/Mandella (15-1)
#3 Bob Black Jack Flores/Kasparoff (2-1)
#4 Georgie Boy MBaze/Walsh (9-5)
#5 Indian Sun Solis/Hendricks (6-1)
#6 Go for Cover Pedroza/Kitchingman (20-1)
#7 Chop House George Talamo/Rosales (30-1)
#8 Shediak Leparous/O?Neill (8-1)
#9 High Stakes Silver Garcia/Cerin (30-1)

10TH (5:45)
Rebel S. (G2)
1/16 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $300,000
#1 Isabull Doocy/Hobby (15-1)
#2 Sierra Sunset Emigh/Bonde (4-1)
#3 Stone Bird Johnson/Lukas (10-1)
#4 Sacred Journey Borel/Stewart (6-1)
#5 Golden Yank Sterling/Thomas (6-1)
#6 He?s Eze Auinonez/Oliver (8-1)
#7 King?s Silver Son Bridgmohn/Asmussen (12-1)
#8 Anak Nakal Brvo/Zito (5-1)
#9 Z Fortune Gomez/Asmussen (9-5)

12TH (5:50)
Tampa Bay Derby (G3)
1 1/16 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $300,000
#1 Cigar Man Allen/O?Connell (20-1)
#2 Gentleman James Amiss/Mora (20-1)
#3 War Pass Velasquez/Zito (1-2)
#4 Make Me Zach Rivera/Rose (20-1)
#5 Dynamic Wayne Morales/Bennett (12-1)
#6 Big Truck Coa/Tagg (9-2)
#7 Atoned Velazquez/Pletcher (5-1)

Good Luck Players. :SIB

 

[Axle]

03/15/08 Prep Race Results

03/15/08 Prep Race Results

Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Derby
#6 Big Truck $16.40 - 5.80 - 25.20
#7 Atoned $6.60 - 27.80
#5 Dynamic Wayne 76.40

Oaklawn
Rebel Stakes
#2 Sierra Sunset $10.40 - 4.80 - 3.80
#7 Kings Silver Sun 11.00 - 5.40
#1 Isabull 8.00

Santa Anita
San Felipe Stakes
#4 Georgie Boy $4.80 - 3.20 - 2.60
#1 Gayego 4.60 - 3.40
#3 Bob Black Jack 3.00

 

[sharky17]

No fast lane on Derby road
By JAY PRIVMAN
For a guy who admitted to "having one of the worst nights of my life on Saturday," trainer Nick Zito sounded far better on Monday, two days after War Pass turned in an inexplicably dreadful effort when losing for the first time in the Tampa Bay Derby.

As of Monday, Zito said he could find nothing wrong with War Pass. Barring anything untoward coming to the fore, Zito said he was going to throw the race out and move on, as previously planned, to the Grade 1, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5 as a final prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Zito, speaking Monday from the Palm Meadows training center in Florida, where he and War Pass have been based this winter, said: "We scoped him. Everything was perfect. We took X-rays. No change. We'll keep taking more today. He'll go back to the track on Wednesday.

"I'm baffled right now. We know whatever happened, that wasn't him. That we know."

Zito opined that perhaps War Pass did not care for the surface at Tampa - he had never previously raced there.

"He always likes to hear his feet rattle," Zito said of War Pass, last year's 2-year-old champion.

Zito objected to the widely reported characterization of War Pass running days after having a fever, which is what co-owner Robert LaPenta was reported to have told some media members immediately following the race

"He did not have a fever," Zito said. "Fever means you're sick. On my mother's life, he never missed an oat. His temperature was a little high, just slightly, last Sunday, but he was fine the rest of the week. Just to make sure, we took a blood on him on Thursday, and it was perfect. He did not have a fever. That's not why he got beat. Why did he get beat? That's what we've got to find out."

Overshadowed by War Pass's first loss were the performances of Big Truck and Atoned, who ran one-two in the Tampa Bay Derby.

Big Truck will race next in either the Grade 3, $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on April 12, or simply train up to the Kentucky Derby, according to Robin Smullen, the assistant to Big Truck's trainer, Barclay Tagg.

Atoned is under consideration for several stakes races on either April 5 or April 12, but nothing has yet been decided, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

The Tampa Bay Derby was one of four races for 3-year-olds over the weekend, and the results covered the gamut. As at Tampa, a heavy favorite was soundly defeated in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, where Z Fortune was a desultory fifth behind the victorious Sierra Sunset.

But at Santa Anita, form held as favored Georgie Boy successfully stretched out around two turns in the San Felipe Stakes, beating fellow sprint stakes winners Gayego and Bob Black Jack.

And at Sunland Park, the WinStar Derby went to Liberty Bull, who had chased Denis of Cork and Sierra Sunset in last month's Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, making the form in the Southwest look quite strong.

Sierra Sunset got a Beyer Speed Figure of 99. Liberty Bull got a 95, Big Truck a 93, and Georgie Boy a 92.

Sierra Sunset will remain at Oaklawn for the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 12, a race that also is under consideration for Georgie Boy and Liberty Bull.

"He's probably got enough graded [earnings] that he can make the field now in the Derby, and that's my owners' hopes and dreams," said Jeff Bonde, the trainer of Sierra Sunset.

The Arkansas Derby would be the third start this season at Oaklawn for Sierra Sunset, a California-bred who had previously done all his racing in his home state, which primarily has synthetic surfaces.

"The reason we're here in the first place is that this is a true dirt track, and that's what you run on at Churchill," Bonde said.

Z Fortune had "no visible excuses," his trainer, Steve Asmussen, said Monday.

"A very humbling sport, it can be," Asmussen said. "I've never been so sure a horse would run well in a long time. We'll aim for the Arkansas Derby."

Asmussen said King's Silver Son, who finished second in the Rebel, would also come back in the Arkansas Derby.

Asmussen also trains the now-unquestioned favorite for the Kentucky Derby, Pyro, the winner of the Louisiana Derby. On Monday, Pyro breezed a slow half-mile at Fair Grounds that clockers reported as being timed in 53.20 seconds.

Georgie Boy most likely will remain in California for the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 5, but his trainer, Kathy Walsh, has the Arkansas Derby down as a back-up plan.

"I assume we'll stay here for the Santa Anita Derby," Walsh said Monday. "He came out of the race great. It didn't take too much out of him."

Walsh said she was not sure who would ride Georgie Boy in his next race. Rafael Bejarano was scheduled to ride Georgie Boy on Saturday, but was replaced by Michael Baze after Bejarano suffered two fractured vertebra in an accident on Thursday.

The two who were closest to Georgie Boy in the San Felipe may try to duck him next time.

Gayego, who was second, has "lots of options Kentucky, Illinois, New York, Arkansas, Santa Anita, too," his trainer, Paulo Lobo, said Monday.

"We will play it by ear," Lobo said. "Let's wait and see what's going on with the other horses."

Bob Black Jack, who was third, is headed to the rapidly expanding Arkansas Derby.

"I want to get him off this track," said Jim Kasparoff, who trains Bob Black Jack. "It doesn't suit his style. He'd also have to come back in 21 days to run in the Santa Anita Derby. I think four weeks is better for him. In Arkansas, I think we can utilize our speed a little better."

Liberty Bull had the richest payday of the weekend in the WinStar Derby. But since that race is ungraded, the cash does not count towards participation in the Kentucky Derby, where graded stakes earnings are used as a tie-breaker should more than 20 horses enter the race.

Trainer Tom Amoss said Liberty Bull would run next in either the Arkansas Derby or the Grade 2, $500,000 Illinois Derby on April 5 at Hawthorne.

- additional reporting by Mary Rampellini and Mike Welsch

 

[Axle]

Hey Sharky, great article... :SIB

 

[sharky17]

Hey Axle.....The weeks are counting down to May 3rd.....


It's Post Time
By Jon White

MARCH MADNESS
What is with the radical decline in the Beyer Speed Figure department this month by undefeated 3-year-olds? Is this racing?s version of March Madness?

Giant Moon won his initial three career starts with Beyers of 83, 84 and 82 before a career-high 93 when he took the Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct on Jan. 5.

And then, in the Grade III Gotham Stakes at Aquedcuct on March 8, Giant Moon suffered his first loss while recording a puny Beyer of 17. That?s right, a 17. Look, it?s tough enough to win a race at Penn National or Portland Meadows with a 17, let alone a graded stakes race like the Gotham.

J Be K registered a 99 Beyer Speed Figure when he broke the track record for 5 1/2 furlongs with a 1:03.13 clocking in his career debut at Saratoga last Aug. 29. He then earned a 91 when victorious in his 2008 debut against allowance rivals on a wet track at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 15.

But after a pair of Beyers in the 90s, J Be K dropped way off to a 67 when he finished eighth in the Grade II Louisiana Derby on March 8.

The Beyer madness continued last weekend. War Pass, winner of last year?s Grade I Champagne Stakes and Grade I Breeders? Cup Juvenile on his way to an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male, went into Saturday?s Grade III Tampa Bay Derby undefeated and untested in five lifetime starts. There were comparisons by some, including Andrew Beyer of The Washington Post, to 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.

War Pass earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure when unveiled at Saratoga last July 28, followed by figures last year of 94, 103 and 113. That 113 is the highest in the history of the Breeders? Cup Juvenile, surpassing the Beyers earned by such other winners of that race as Street Sense (108), Vindication (102), Johannesburg (99), Macho Uno (99 while defeating Point Given), Favorite Trick (101 en route to the Horse of the Year title), Unbridled?s Song (103), Timber Country (100) and Arazi (101).

Remember Arazi and his electrifying Breeders? Cup Juvenile victory in 1991? Well, from a Beyer Speed Figure perspective, it did not come close to what War Pass did last fall in the Juvenile.

After posting Beyers of 84, 94, 103 and 113 as a 2-year-old, War Pass earned a 97 when he kicked off his 3-year-old campaign in a 7 1/2-length allowance victory (which was essentially a paid workout) at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 24.

And then, from that 97, War Pass earned a meager 53 Beyer while struggling home last as a 1-20 favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby. A 53 is a pretty good Will Rogers Downs-like number, not one generally associated with a champion.

Considering what has happened to Giant Moon, J Be K and War Pass this month, it?s probably just as well that the connections of undefeated Denis of Cork elected to skip last Saturday?s Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park since that race is in March. Denis of Cork instead is scheduled to make his next start in either the Grade I Wood Memorial or Grade II Illinois Derby. Fortunately those races are in April (April 5, to be exact).

And what about Big Brown? He earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure when he romped to an 11 1/4-length debut win on the turf at Saratoga last year, followed by a 104 Beyer in his monstrous 12 3/4-length victory in his dirt debut at Gulfstream Park on March 5.

Big Brown is to make his next start in the Grade I Florida Derby. The Florida Derby will be renewed on March 29. Oh-oh. Will the March madness continue and Big Brown?s Florida Derby plunge? We?ll have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, what in the heck happened to War Pass at Tampa Bay Downs? Yes, he was pinched back at the start. But that alone does not really explain such a poor performance. In a Daily Racing Form story Sunday by Mike Welsch, trainer Nick Zito said War Pass sustained ?some cuts on his left leg? that the trainer surmises were a result of being jostled around leaving the gate.

On Monday, Zito told Jay Privman of the DRF that he remained ?baffled? by the champ?s race.

Zito said: ?We scoped him. Everything was perfect. We took X-rays. No change. We?ll keep taking more today. He?ll go back to the track on Wednesday. I?m baffled right now. We know that whatever happened, that wasn?t him. That we know.?

There has been quite an outcry over the widely reported characterization that War Pass competed in the Tampa Bay Derby after having a fever earlier in the week. That is what owner Robert LaPenta was reported to have told some members of the media immediately after the race.

I found that extremely hard to believe. Why would a great trainer like Nick Zito run War Pass if he weren?t right? That would be hard enough to believe if it were the Kentucky Derby, let alone the Tampa Bay Derby. With a plethora of Derby preps, there?s absolutely no reason for Zito to run War Pass in the Tampa Bay Derby if something were amiss.

?He did not have a fever,? Zito told Privman. ?Fever means you?re sick. On my mother?s life, he never missed an oat. His temperature was a little high, just slightly, last Sunday [March 9], but he was fine the rest of the week. Just to make sure, we took a blood [test] on him on Thursday, and it was perfect. He did not have a fever. That?s not why he got beat. Why did he get beat? That?s what we?ve got to find out.?

As of now, Zito is inclined to dismiss War Pass? Tampa Bay debacle and stick to the plan to run in the Wood Memorial on April 5. However, the Hall of Famer has reserved the right to pull the plug on that plan should he see something he doesn?t like in the colt?s training between now and the Wood.

Despite what happened in the Tampa Bay Derby, I still respect War Pass. He?s obviously a talented colt. Personally, I can picture him being a very tough customer in a race like the Met Mile. But even before War Pass ran a clunker at Tampa Bay Downs, I just couldn?t picture him winning the roses. As I wrote last week, in my opinion, Pyro looks much more like a horse capable of winning at 1 1/4 miles under 126 pounds on the first Saturday in May than War Pass.

While the focus understandably was on War Pass? stunning loss in the Tampa Bay Derby, Big Truck deserves credit for winning the race, especially since he didn?t have the best of trips. Big Truck was shuffled back going into the far turn, then came on inexorably in the stretch to prevail by a neck at 7-1. Atoned ran second at 9-1.

Big Truck is a New York-bred trained by Barclay Tagg, who saddled New York-bred Funny Cide to win the 2003 Kentucky Derby. A son of Hook and Ladder, Big Truck earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure in the Tampa Bay Derby. So it?s not as if the bar was set high for War Pass by the winner running some sort of huge Beyer. Big Truck is a grandson of Go for Gin, who won the 1994 Kentucky Derby for Zito.

In other graded stakes action for 3-year-olds last Saturday, California-bred Georgie Boy proved a punctual 7-5 favorite in Santa Anita?s Grade II San Felipe Stakes for trainer Kathy Walsh. Another Cal-bred, Sierra Sunset, won Oaklawn Park?s Grade II Rebel Stakes by three emphatic lengths for trainer Jeff Bonde.

Georgie Boy did not have an ideal trip.

?He was blocked in behind horses [turning for home],? Walsh said. [Jockey Michael Baze] had so much horse all the way around. When [Georgie Boy] got to the quarter pole, he was just waiting for a spot. He had no place to go, and he?s a smart enough horse he wasn?t going to run up on horses? heels. Michael did a nice job on him.?

Walsh indicated Monday that Georgie Boy will probably run next in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 5, with the Grade II Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 12 as a back-up plan.

In the San Felipe, Georgie Boy earned only a 92 Beyer, down from his career-best 103 when he won the Grade II San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 10. The gelded son of Tribal Rule also took the Grade I Del Mar Futurity as a 2-year-old when earning an 88 Beyer.

Georgie Boy became only the third horse to win both the Del Mar Futurity and San Felipe. The other two were Your Host and Bertrando.

After Your Host won the 1950 San Felipe, he went on to win the Santa Anita Derby and break the track record for seven furlongs at Keeneland. He finished ninth as the 8-5 favorite in Middleground?s Kentucky Derby.

After Bertrando won the 1992 San Felipe, he finished second to A.P. Indy in the Santa Anita Derby. Bertrando did not start again at 3. He later would be voted an Eclipse Award as champion older male of 1993.

Sierra Sunset, a son of Bertrando, was clearly the Beyer Speed Figure star among sophomores last Saturday. He recorded a 99 Beyer in the Rebel.

Last year?s Rebel winner also earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure. You may have heard of that colt. His name is Curlin.

Curlin, of course, would go on to win the Arkansas Derby (105 Beyer), Preakness Stakes (111), Jockey Club Gold Cup (114) and Breeders? Cup Classic (119) en route to the 2007 Horse of the Year title.

What does the future hold for this year?s Rebel winner? Who knows? But Sierra Sunset is a very good 3-year-old who seems better on the dirt than on synthetic surfaces.

In his last three starts on the dirt, Sierra Sunset streaked to an eight-length win in the Bay Meadows Juvenile last Sept. 15, finished second to Denis of Cork in the Grade III Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 18, then won the Rebel.

In four starts on a synthetic track, Sierra Sunset finished ninth in the Grade III Hollywood Juvenile Championship last July 4, won the California Cup Juvenile at Oak Tree on Nov. 3, ran sixth in the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 22 and finished fourth in the Grade III San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 12.

Sierra Sunset is to remain at Oaklawn Park to go next in the Arkansas Derby, which, despite being a Grade II instead of a Grade I as it should be, has become an increasingly key race in recent years.

Arkansas Derby winners Curlin (Preakness), Afleet Alex (Preakness and Belmont Stakes) and Smarty Jones (Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes) have won five of the last 12 Triple Crown races.

Z Fortune finished fifth as the 7-10 favorite in last Saturday?s Rebel. The Siphon colt, like Sierra Sunset, will likely make his next start in the Arkansas Derby, according to his trainer, Steve Asmussen.

With their losses last Saturday, War Pass and Z Fortune dropped off this week?s Kentucky Derby Top 10 list. They can earn their way back on it down the line. Georgie Boy returns to the list this week, while Sierra Sunset is appearing on it for the first time.

Here is this week?s list:

1. Pyro
2. Denis of Cork
3. Cool Coal Man
4. Elysium Fields
5. Colonel John
6. El Gato Malo
7. Georgie Boy
8. Big Brown
9. Visionaire
10. Sierra Sunset

Equibase Company is the Official Supplier of Thoroughbred Racing Information to XpressBet?. ?2008

 

[Axle]

Saturday 3/22/08

Saturday 3/22/08

Turfway Park
12th Lane?s End (G2)

1 1/8 Miles (all weather track) 3 Year Old Stakes Purse: $500,000

#1 Duke of de Buge Leparoux/Pletcher (12-1)
#2 Macho Again Mena/Stewart (10-1)
#3 Chitoz Douglas/Pletcher (8-1)
#4 Rich Young Ruler Pompell/Daughn (30-1)
#5 Adriano Prado/Motion (6-1)
#6 Racecar Rhapsody Albarado/McPeek (6-1)
#7 Halo?s King Castanon/Hoffmans (50-1)
#8 Halo Najib Desormeaux/Romans (7-2)
#9 Cannonball Solis/Ward (9-2)
#10 El Aleman Mojica/Seglin (99-1)
#11 Turf War Husbands/Casse (5-1

 

[Axle]

12TH RACE
Lane's End S. (G2)
Results

#5 Adriano Winner $11.60 ? 6.40 ? 4.60
#8 Halo Najib $5.40 ? 4.00
#12 Medjoot $4.80

 

[Axle]

Up Next

March 29
Gulfstream Park
Florida Derby

 

[Axle]

Saturday 04/05/08

6TH (2:40)
Santa Anita Derby (G1)

1 1/8 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $750,000

#1 Yankee Bravo Solis/Gallager (4-1)
#2 Signature Move MBaze/Guillot (30-1)
#3 Coast Guard Talamo/Hofmans (20-1)
#4 Bob Black Jack Migliore/Kasparoff (6-1)
#5 Colonel John Nakatani/Harty (2-1)
#6 On The Virg TBaze/Pletcher (15-1)
#7 Shore Do Sutherland/Koriner (20-1)
#8 El Gato Malo Fores/Dollase (5-2)
#9 Polonius Espinoza/Pender (10-1)
#10 Meetingwithdestiny Rosario/O?Neill (30-1)
#11 Rosso Corsa Quinonez/Vienna (50-1)

9TH (5:15)
Wood Memorial S. (G1)

1 1/8 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $750,000

#1 Court Vision Gomez/Mott (6-1)
#1A Inner Light Lopez/Mott (6-1)
#2 Texas Wildcatter Coa/Pletcher (5-1)
#3 Spurrier Elliott/Pletecher (15-1)
#4 First Commandment Luzzi/Martin (30-1)
#5 War Pass Velasquez/Zito (6-5)
#6 Roman Emperor Rose/Klesaris (15-1)
#7 Giant Moon Chavez/Schosberg (12-1)
#8 Tale of Ekati Prado/Tagg (9-2)
#9 Anak Nakal Garcia/Zito (20-1)

7TH (4:30)
Illinois Derby (G2)

1 1/8 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $500,000

#1 Recapturetheglory Baird/Roussel (8-1)
#2 Instill Emigh/Wainwright (15-1)
#3 Z Humor Douglas/Mott (3-1)
#4 Atoned Bravo/Pletcher (4-1)
#5 Denis of Cork Leparoux/Carroll (2-1)
#6 Golden Spikes Thornton/Wolfson (5-1)
#7 Real Appeal Graham/Amoss (8-1)

 

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prep race results

prep race results

AQ 9th
Wood Memorial
#8 Tale of Ekati $19.00 - 6.30 - 3.60
#5 War Pass $3.70 - 3.60
#1 Court Vision 2.40

Hawthorne 7th
Illinois Derby
#1 Recapturetheglory $33.80 - 15.60 - 10.00
#6 Golden Spikes 6.80 - 5.40
#3 Z Humor 4.80

SA 6th
Santa Anita Derby
#5 Colonel John $7.20 - 4.00 - 3.20
#4 Bob Black Jack 7.20 - 5.40
#3 Coast Guard 7.80

 

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This Saturday April 12, 2008 Weekend?s Preps:

Keenland Toyota Blue Grass Stakes

GP Holly Blue Stakes

OP Arkansas Derby