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© Rae Parodi 2004 Wynn Dot Comma After the Swale Stakes

Wynn Dot Comma Gives Prado His 5,000 Win in Swale

In a weekend of surprises in the three year old division, Wynn Dot Comma defeated favored Eurosilver in the Swale Stakes (gr. 3) at Gulfstream Park on the Florida Derby undercard. The flashy chestnut colt, a son of the Texas-based sire Struggler, out of the Two Punch mare I Like Punch, scored his second victory of the year in this race, following a win in Gulfstream's Spectacular Bid Stakes in January.

The race was supposed to be another step towards the Derby for Eurosilver, who closed fast to only lose by a head. The Nick Zito trained colt won an allowance race in his first start of the year and will now head to Keeneland for the Bluegrass Stakes. Dashboard Drummer was third, and the brilliant sprinter Chapel Royal, who was returning from a third place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year, finished fourth.

Wynn Dot Comma is not nominated to the Triple Crown, but his win was special for another reason: it was jockey Edgar Prado's 5,000 lifetime victory. He became the 19th rider to achieve that milestone. Prado is 36/

Wynn Dot Comma is trained by Martin Wolfson and owned by Martin L. Cherry.

Saratoga County Wins the Gotham Stakes

Saratoga County Before the Gotham Stakes © 2004 Alysse Jacobs

It was supposed to be the "matchup of the year" between the lightly raced Eddington and the powerful Redskin Warrior, but they both fell to the talented Saratoga County, who surprised the Gotham Stakes field with his first win since August 2003, which was a nine length win in a Saratoga maiden race.

Pomeroy, a Patrick Biancone Triple Crown contender, finished second, while the two favorites, Eddington and Redskin Warrior, finished third and fifth, respectively.

Saratoga County is trained by George Weaver and owned by Evelyn M. Pollard. He was ridden in the race by Javier Castellano. Weaver has mentioned the April 17th Lexington Stakes at Keeneland as the next target for Saratoga County, a bay son of Valid Expectations.

Friends Lake Shocks In Florida Derby

Friends Lake After Winning the Grade 1 Florida Derby © 2004 Rae Parodi
Friends Lake, a New York bred son of A.P. Indy, shocked the Florida Derby (gr. 1) field by winning and paying $76.80. The final time was a slow 1:51 and change, but in winning, Friends Lake defeated most of the best three year olds in Florida, including speedy second place finisher Value Plus, third place finisher The Cliff's Edge, the highly touted Tapit (who was sixth), and Read the Footnotes, the brilliant Fountain of Youth Stakes winner who faded to finish fourth, a nose in front of Farnum Alley.
Friends Lake's success can be attributed to the hard work that trainer John Kimmel did with him, taking the sometimes nervous colt over to the paddock several times for schooling. Friends Lake's nerves cost him the Holy Bull Stakes in January, where he finished third to Second of June.
Friends Lake was ridden by Richard Migliore and is owned by Mary and Chester Browman. The Florida Derby is worth $1 million, and Friends Lake earned $600,000 for his victory, pushing his earnings to $695,600. Trainer Kimmel has stated that Friends Lake is unlikely to start again before the Kentucky Derby (gr. 1).

Preachinatthebar Surprises With San Felipe Win

The race started poorly when the #1 horse, Laditude, stumbled at the start and pitched jockey Mike Smith over his head. Smith landed on his feet and was able to walk away from the scene. Laditude bothered Preachinatthebar, St. Averil, and injured Action This Day, who came back with a gash on his right foreleg. Trainer Richard Mandella said that Action This Day wasn't severely injured and would probably be able to return in the Santa Anita Derby.

Preachinatthebar, ridden by jockey Javier Santiago, shook loose in the stretch, but St. Averil and Tyler Baze took aim on them and began to run them down. They only barely missed on the wire, which left many to wonder if the loose horse had caused St. Averil to lose the race.

Preachinatthebar is trained by Bob Baffert and owned by Mike Pegram. Baffert and Santiago teamed up last weekend to win the Louisiana Derby with Wimbledon.

Feature Story: It Wasn't a Fluke The First Time; Imperialism Wins The San Rafael

Action This Day, Odds On Clash In San Felipe Stakes

Another horse expected is Preachinatthebar, another son of Silver Charm, who, like Odds On, is trainer by Bob Baffert. A third major contender in this field is St. Averil, a son of Saint Ballado who won the Santa Catalina Stakes in January. He ran 2nd last December in the Hollywood Futurity (gr 1) against Lion Heart,who since has come back to run second to Imperialism in the San Rafael Stakes (gr 3) on March 6.

Castledale Before the Santa Anita Derby © 2004 Dave Shields

Castledale Wins the Santa Anita Derby by Emily Hufford Longshot Castledale continued the trend of surprises on the Kentucky Derby trail with an upset victory in the Santa Anita Derby. The three-year-old son of Peintre Celebre won the Generous Stakes on the grass last year, but had never shown any brilliant dirt form, until the race on Saturday. Lost among a field of standouts such as the imposing Rock Hard Ten and flashy Wimbeldon, as well as the fan-favorite Imperialism, Castledale was sent off at 30 - 1. The race was roughly run down the stretch, as Castledale and Rock Hard Ten appeared to lean in towards the rail and shut off the oncoming Imperialism. Rock Hard Ten, who finished second, was disqualified and placed third, while Imperialism was moved up. St. Averil was never in the race and finished 6th, an uncharacteristic showing for the son of Saint Ballado, and Wimbledon finished 5th. Castledale was ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr, and is trained by Jeff Mullins. Castledale, Imperialism, Rock Hard Ten, Wimbledon, and St. Averil all appear to be headed to Kentucky for the Derby, however, Rock Hard Ten may not have enough graded stakes earnings to make the field.

Smarty Jones Six For Six; Likely Derby Favorite

Undefeated John Servis-trained Smarty Jones took a commanding lead in the stretch and held on to win by a comfortable length and a half to win the mile and an eighth Arkansas Derby (G2). The handsome son of world-record holder Elusive Quality is now six for six with $878,355 in earnings and despite this being his graded stakes debut, will likely be the favorite for the May 1st Kentucky Derby.

Breaking from the 11 spot on a muddy track, Smarty Jones broke quickly and used his early speed to settle just behind the pacesetter Purge. Midway through the final turn, Smarty Jones looked not at all bothered by the deep footing and overtook Purge to take the lead, opening up daylight in the stretch. Borrego came up late to place second with Pro Prado finishing another length and a half behind him in third. Completing the order of finish was Harvard Avenue, Purge, Mambo Train, Shadowland, Every Advantage, Mr. Jester, Tricky Taboo, and Hasslefree.

"When I got to the lead, he had plenty left and finished strong and galloped out good," Stewart Elliot said, who has been the horse's jockey in all six of his races.

Out of the Smile mare I'll Get Along, Smarty Jones was bred on Roy and Pat Chapman's Someday Farm in Pennsylvania, and debuted at age two at Philadelphia Park. He has also won the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes,
Count Fleet Stakes, Southwest Stakes, and Rebel Stakes...and is shooting for the $5 million bonus awarded to the one horse to sweep the Rebel Stakes, the Arkansas Derby, and Kentucky Derby in one year.

Pegiree Information: By Elusive Quality (world record holder for one-mile on the turf. Oldest offspring are four years of age, sire of Grade 3 winners Omega Code and Chimichurri) out of I'll Get Along (two-time nongraded stakes winner), by Smile (1986 Eclipse Champion Sprinter, damsire of multiple stakes winner Maysville Slew). Linebred
6x6x6 to Bold Ruler, sire line can be traced directly to the Darly Arabian through Bend Or and Waxy, and the female line can be traced directly to the Darly Arabian Mare, whose sire is the Darly Arabian and damsire is the Byerly Turk.

Quintons Gold Rush Earns Derby Place With Win by Emily Hufford Quintons Gold Rush, a newcomer in the Steve Asmussen barn, made himself at home with a 2 3/4 length victory over a very good Lexington Stakes (G2) field. The field of fourteen evenly matched three year olds featured Bay Shore Stakes winner Saratoga County and also stakes winners Fire Slam, Dashboard Drummer, and Pomeroy. Ridden by Jerry Bailey, Quintons Gold Rush stalked a good pace before making a four wide move around the turn and drawing clear. Recently transferred to Steve Asmussen's barn from Mike Mitchell's Santa Anita barn, Quintons Gold Rush was last fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). He is a son of Wild Rush and is owned by Padua Stables. With the win, Quintons Gold Rush moved up to #17 on the earnings list and will now be pointed for the Kentucky Derby. However, jockey Jerry Bailey commited to riding Bob Baffert's colt Wimbledon in the Derby, so Asmussen is forced to find a new rider. He has mentioned Pat Valenzuela as a possible replacement. Fire Slam finished second in the Lexington Stakes, with Song of the Sword third and Pomeroy fourth.

Quintons Gold Rush in the paddock before the Lexington Stakes © 2004 Emily Hufford

"I thought the performance was great, not only because he won, but by the way he did it. He definitely had a little left in the tank. If this horse improves off this performance, there's no telling how good he can be," stated Maryland-based jockey Ramon Dominguez who pilotted Tapit to his third win in four starts.

Out of the Unbridled mare Tap Your Heels, Tapit seems to have the Kentucky Derby etched in his pedigree. His sire, Pulpit, ran fourth in the 1997 Derby behind Silver Charm, Captain Bodget, and Free House. Pulpit's sire A.P. Indy would have been one of the favorites for the 1992 Derby had he not had to scratch, and A.P. Indy was sired by the immortal Seattle Slew, winner of the 1977 Triple Crown and sire of 1984 Derby winner Swale. Tapit's damsire, Unbridled, won the 1990 Derby and then sired the 1996 Derby winner Gridstone, who flew from far off the pace in a style identical to Tapit's. Other notable Derby-related sires found in Tapit's immediate pedigree are Nijinksy (sired 1986 winner Ferdinand), Northern Dancer (won in 1964), Mr. Prospector (sired 2000 winner Fusaichi Pegasus), Secretariat (Triple Crown winner of 1973), and Honest Pleasure (finished second in the 1976 Derby, but who's sire, What A Pleasure, also sired the 1975 winner Foolish Pleasure).

Tapit will likely be the bettor's second-choice on May 1st behind the undefeated Smarty Jones.

Pedigree Information: Tapit is linebred 4x5 to Mr. Prospector, 4x6 to Nijinksy, and 5x6 to In Reality. Like most American horses, his sire
line can be traced to the Darly Arabian through Bend Or, and his female line can be traced to Byerly Turk.

The Cliff's Edge Wins the Blue Grass by Emily Hufford Nick Zito finally got a big one with The Cliff's Edge, the last of his three major Derby contenders aimed at the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1). First, Eurosilver was injured, then Birdstone became sick. The Cliff's Edge, originally slated to run in New York's Wood Memorial, was kept at Keeneland for the race, and it paid off, as the bay colt rushed to a victory over California invader Lion Heart. The speedy Limehouse was third. The race seemed to be a matchup of California contenders Lion Heart and Preachinatthebar, but Preachinatthebar faded to seventh and Lion Heart couldn't hold off the winner after dueling with Limehouse. Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day never fired and finished sixth. The Cliff's Edge is by Gulch and out of the Danzig mare Zigember. He was ridden in the Blue Grass by Shane Sellers.

The Cliff's Edge In the Paddock for the Blue Grass (G1) © 2004 Emily Hufford

Rock Hard Ten Works Towards Preakness, Limehouse Out
by Emily Hufford

Rock Hard Ten and Trainer Jason Orman at Churchill Downs

Preakness Stakes (G1) contender Rock Hard Ten had a workout at Churchill Downs on Tuesday, stopping the clock in 1:26.0 after seven furlongs. The massive, nearly black colt had not worked since being excluded from the Kentucky Derby last weekend due to a lack of graded stakes earnings. He is now hoping to make the Preakness field, which will include Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones and runner up Lion Heart. Preachinatthebar, another possible Preakness entrant, worked four furlongs today at Churchill around the same time as Rock Hard Ten, finishing up in :47.60.

One horse who will not contest the Preakness Stakes is Dogwood Stables' Limehouse, who ran fourth in the Derby. President Cot Campbell has opted to keep the chestnut son of Grand Slam out of the race unless a few major contenders drop out.

Imperialism at Churchill Downs © Emily Hufford

Imperialism "90%" to Go to Preakness, Little Matth Man In by Emily Hufford Owner Steve Taub announced today that his colt Imperialism, the third place finisher in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), would probably go in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Taub said that he is "90% convinced" that Imperialism would make the trip. The colt is trained by Kristin Mulhall. Little Matth Man, a Marty Ciresa trainee, is also likely to contest the Preakness. The son of Matty G last ran in the Wood Memorial (gr. I). The Preakness now looks to have nine likely starters: Smarty Jones, Rock Hard Ten, Eddington, Lion Heart, The Cliff's Edge, Borrego, Imperialism, Little Matth Man, and Water Cannon. Still under consideration are Preachinatthebar and Sir Shackelton.

Several Major Preakness Contenders Work
by Emily Hufford

Several of the contenders for Saturday's Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico Racecourse put in their final preparations across the country. Leading these was Preachinatthebar, not yet confirmed for the race. The Silver Charm colt worked five furlongs at Churchill Downs in a spectacular :57.80, easily the best time of the day. Borrego, a confirmed Preakness starter, worked four furlongs in :46.0, also the bullet of the day. Earlier in the morning, Rock Hard Ten worked five furlongs in 1:00.0. Both horses are expected to arrive at Pimlico on Wednesday afternoon.

At Hollywood Park, Kristin Mulhall's Imperialism worked three furlongs in :35.80. Across the country at Belmont, Kentucky Derby (gr. I) starter and Belmont Stakes (gr. I) contender Friends Lake worked the bullet for six furlongs, 1:12.12.