©2005 Amelia Baldree

Afleet Alex (left) jogging at Oaklawn Park on 3/18/05.

Afleet Alex: b .c.3
Northern Afleet x Maggy Hawk (Hawkster)
Foaled 5/09/2002

Trainer: Tim F. Ritchey
Owner: Cash Is King Stable LLC
Jockey: Jeremy Rose
7: 5-2-0 $710,800

As a 2-year-old Afleet Alex broke his maiden at Delaware Park, winning by 11 1/4 lengths, then winning an allowance by 12. He went on to win the G2 Sanford and the G1 Hopeful. In his next start, the G1 Champagne, he finished second to Proud Accolade by 1/2 length. In the Breeder's Cup Juvenile he finished second, beaten 3/4 lengths by Wilko.

As a 3-year-old...
Afleet Alex made a surprise 3-year-old debut in the ungraded Mountain Valley Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 5, winning the six furlongs in 1:09 2/5. Two weeks later he ran in the Rebel Stakes where he finished a disappointing last. Post-race analysis showed a lung infection.  His next start will come in the G1 Arkansas Derby.

Bandini winning at Gulfstream Park

Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
Jockey: John Velazquez
3: 2-0-0 $39,180

Bandini finished 6th in his only start as a 2-year-old in a MSW at Churchill Downs on November 20, 2004.

As a 3-year-old...
Made his 3-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park where he won by 4 1/2 lengths en route to winning a 1 1/8 mile allowance at Gulfstream Park on February 5 by 9 lengths.  He most recently finished second to High Fly in the G2 Fountain of Youth on March 5.  Next start: Bluegrass Stakes on April 16 at Keeneland.

Bellamy Road winning the Cradle Stakes at River Downs as a 2-year-old

Trainer: Nick Zito
Owner: Kinsman Stable (George Steinbrenner)
Jockey: Javier Castellano
5: 4-0-0 $611,400

As a 2-year-old, Bellamy Road won the G3 Cradle Stakes at River Downs near Cincinnati, OH while trained by Michael Dickinson. 

As a 3-year-old...
Made a trainer switch to Nick Zito.  Winner of allowance at Gulfstream Park by 15 3/4 lengths, winner of G1 Wood Memorial by 17 1/2 lengths in track record equaling time.

©2005 Gennia Cui

Buzzard's Bay Wins the Santa Anita Derby

Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Owner: Fog City Stable
Jockey:
8: 3-1-2 $559,440

As a 3-year-old...
Finished third in the G3 El Camino Real Derby where he bled severely after a victory in the Golden Gate Derby. Most recently was upset winner of the G1 Santa Anita Derby over champion Sweet Catomine and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko.

 ©2005 Amelia Baldree

Consolidator in the Lane's End Breeder's Futurity at Keeneland

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Owner: Bob & Beverly Lewis
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
9: 3-1-1 $639,260

In his 2-year-old season, Consolidator ran 5th in his debut in April at Churchill Downs. He then finished second by a neck to Lunarpal in the G3 Kentucky Breeder's Cup. He broke his maiden in a MSW at Churchill Downs in July. Next out he finished third in the G2 Sanford and fourth in the G1 Hopeful. He won the G1 Breeder's Futurity at Keeneland by 2 lengths. He finished 4th in the G1 Breeder's Cup Juvenile.

As a 3-year-old...
Finished fourth in the G2 San Vicente on February 13. Impressively won the March 19 G2 San Felipe. Next start: Bluegrass Stakes on April 16 at Keeneland.

Don't Get Mad Before the Santa Anita Derby

Trainer: Ron Ellis
Owner: B. Wayne Hughes
Jockey:
3: 2-0-0 $$90,290

As a 2-year-old, Don't Get Mad posted two wins in two starts.

As a 3-year-old...
Finished second in the G2 San Vicente and third in the G2 San Felipe, then ran off the board in the G1 Santa Anita Derby.

Flower Alley Before the Lane's End Stakes

Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Eugene & Laura Melnyk
Jockey:
3: 2-0-1 $321,660

As a 3-year-old...
Won a MSW at Gulfstream en route to winning his stakes debut at Turfway Park in the G2 Lane's End Stakes.  Next start: Arkansas Derby.

Giacomo Before the Santa Anita Derby

Trainer: John Shirreffs
Owner: Mr. & Mrs. J S Moss
Jockey:
5:1-1-2 $131,716

Giacomo finished fifth in his 2-year-old debut in July before coming back to win by 10 at Santa Anita in October. In November he finished third in an allowance at Hollywood Park to Texcess and Chips Are Down. In December he finished second in the G1 Hollywood Futurity to Declan's Moon.

As a 3-year-old...
Finished third in the Sham Stakes to Going Wild and Papi Chullo, second in the San Felipe Stakes to Consolidator, and then fourth in the Santa Anita Derby.

©2005 Gennia Cui

Going Wild at Sanita Anita

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Owner: Bob & Beverly Lewis
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
7: 3-3-1 $212,420

Going Wild broke his maiden on his fourth try at Santa Anita in December. He had previous finished third and second at Belmont and second at Hollywood Park.

As a 3-year-old...
Won the San Miguel by a nose in January and the Sham Stakes by a length on February 5. Finished second in the March 5 Santa Catalina.  Most recently 7th in the April 9 Wood Memorial.

©2005 Amelia Baldree

Greater Good winning the Rebel Stakes

Trainer: Bob Holthus
Owner: Lewis G. Lakin
Jockey: John McKee
7: 5-0-1 $436,275

As a 2-year-old Greater Good ran fifth in his debut at Ellis Park before winning by 1 1/2 lengths in August. He then won the G3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile in September. Next out he finished third in the G3 Iroquois in November before winning the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club by 1 3/4 lengths.

As a 3-year-old...
Won the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on February 19, also won March 19 Rebel Stakes (over Rockport Harbor).  Next start: April 16 G2 Arkansas Derby

Trainer: Glen Stute
Owner: B. Wayne Hughes
Jockey:
4: 3-0-0 $358,480

As a 3-year-old...
Won the G2 Illinois Derby on April 9.  $200,000 supplemetal fee paid for Derby.

 

High Fly winning the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park

Trainer: Nick Zito
Owner: Live Oak Plantation
Jockey: Jerry Bailey
6: 5-0-1 $897,300

As a 2-year-old, High Fly won a MSW and allowance at Calder Racecourse.

As a 3-year-old...
Began his 3-year-old season with a win in the January 8 Aventura Stakes at Gulfstream.  Finished third in G3 Holy Bull on February 5.  Won the March 5 Fountain of Youth and the April 2 Florida Derby.

High Limit Wins the Louisiana Derby

Trainer: Bobby Frankel
Owner: Mary & Gary West
Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
3: 3-0-0 $402,000

Winner of a MSW and allowance at Delaware as a 2-year-old.

As a 3-year-old...
Winner of March 12 Louisiana Derby.

Noble Causeway

Trainer: Nick Zito
Owner: My Meadowview Farms
Jockey: Edgar Prado
6: 2-3-0 $245,780

As a 3-year-old...
Began 3-year-old season with a win in a MSW and allowance at Gulfstream Park.  Finished 2nd in the G1 Florida Derby on April 2.  Next race: Kentucky Derby.

Rockport Harbor at Oaklawn Park on 3/18/05

Trainer: John Servis
Owner: Fox Hill Farm
Jockey: Stewart Elliott
5: 4-1-0 $260,300

Rockport Harbor won a maiden and allowance at Philadelphia Park as a 2-year-old.  He went on to Aqueduct where he won the G3 Nashua and G2 Remsen.

As a 3-year-old...
Plagued by problems since the Remsen, he made his 3-year-old debut with an impressive second place finish to Greater Good in Oaklawn Park's G3 Rebel Stakes.  Next race: G2 Arkansas Derby on April 16.

Trainer: Nick Zito
Owner: Tracy Farmer
Jockey: Edgar Prado
6: 3-0-2 $414,650

As a 2-year-old Sun King ran 4th in a late August debut at Saratoga before breaking his maiden at Belmont Park in a one mile MSW by 1/2 lenght over Patriot Act. He then finished third in the G1 Champagne to Proud Accolade and Afleet Alex before the Breeder's Cup Juvenile where he completed a trifecta of Wilko and, again, Afleet Alex.

As a 3-year-old...
Won an allowance at Gulfstream Park on February 26.  Won the March 19 Tampa Bay Derby.  Next start: Bluegrass Stakes on April 16 at Keeneland.

Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Owner: Ogden Mills Phipps, et al
Jockey:
6: 2-3-0 $281,820

As a 3-year-old...
Won the G3 Gotham and finished second in the G1 Wood Memorial.

Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Dogwood Stable
Jockey:
8: 2-1-1 $210,770

As a 3-year-old...
Ran third in the G2 Hutcheson and second in the G2 Louisiana Derby.

Trainer: Ken McPeek
Owner: Sarah Lyn Stables, LLC (Carl Gessler, Jr. and Danny Wiginton)
Jockey:
10: 2-3-1 $198,636

As a 2-year-old, Wild Desert finished third in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and second in the Dover Stakes.

As a 3-year-old...
Finsihed second in the G2 Lane's End at Turfway Park on March 26.

Wilko Before the Santa Anita Derby

Trainer: Craig Dollase
Owner: J. Paul Reddam & Susan Roy
Jockey:
14: 3-2-6 $1,039,074

Prior to his victory in the G1 Breeder's Cup Juvenile, this experienced colt finished second in the G2 Vintage Stakes, Washington Singer Stakes, third in the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes, Superlative Stakes, Chesham Stakes and G1 Hollywood Futurity.

As a 3-year-old...
Finished third in the G1 Santa Anita Derby.