7.25.2001	Photo by: Adam Coglianese/NYRA
		Michael Tabor's Mayakovsky, shown above breaking his maiden at Saratoga last summer, is scheduled to make his 2002 debut in the Gotham Stakes (GIII) on March 17 at Aqueduct Race Course. The son of Matty G. drilled six furlongs in 1:10 4/5 on Feb. 28th at Santa Anita for trainer Patrick Biancone, followed by a seven furlong move on March 6 in 1:24 1/5 in preparation for the Gotham.

Sophomore Colts Populate National Work Tabs
By, Jill Byrne

With some of the most important Kentucky Derby (GI) preps to date coming in the next 10 days, three-year-olds were very active in workouts from coast-to-coast.

Repent On Muscle In Florida, Ships To Louisiana March 6

The Louisiana Derby (GII) will be run at Fair Grounds on March 10 With Select Stable's Repent the standout favorite in the field. The strapping son of Louis Quatorze put in another strong 5/8ths workout in 1:00 3/5 at Gulfstream Park on March 5 prior to shipping to New Orleans. His competition will have to step up their recent performances to challenge him in the Louisiana Derby, and Bob's Image, runner-up to Repent in the Risen Star Stakes (GIII) seems to be ready for the challenge. Dallas Stewart sent the Halo's Image gelding out for a bullet five-furlong move on March 3 in :59 3/5, suggesting he is at his best for the rematch. Pat Day will be in the irons for the West Point Stable color- bearer.

Northern California invader Publication will look to improve upon his fourth place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI), in his first start of the year. The Notebook colt has been working very well for trainer Terry Knight at Bay Meadows, posting a six furlong move work in 1:12 2/5 on March 3.

Siphonic Back On Track For San Felipe

On the West Coast, Amerman Racing Stable's Siphonic continues to train forwardly for the March 17th San Felipe Stakes (GII). After a seven furlong work on March 1 at Hollywood Park in 1:28, trainer David Hofmans brought the colt back for another seven furlong move in 1:24 2/5 at Hollywood on March 6. Former jockey Chris McCarron was in the irons for the drill. "I'm very happy, he got a little tired, he needed it," Hofman's told Daily Racing Form after the move. The colt will ship to Santa Anita this weekend and have a work there before March 17.

In other San Felipe works, Sunday Break, an impressive last out allowance winner for trainer Neil Drysdale, went six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 at Hollywood Park on March 6. This was an excellent work for the Japanese-bred son of Forty Niner, as Drysdale is never known for working his horses fast or asking them for anything strong.

Bob Baffert's two Derby 128 hopefuls were out for six-furlong moves at Santa Anita, with Mountain Rage going in 1:11.4/5 and Puerto Banus clocking in at 1:12. Puerto Banus, a half-brother to Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) heroine Spain, appears to be going the better of the two off his runner up in the nine furlong, restricted Sham Stakes; he may improve with age.

Mayakovsky To Make 2002 Debut In Gotham

Mayakovsky continues training sharply at Santa Anita for the March 17th Gotham Stakes (GIII) in New York. He has been away from the races since last summer, where he finished two lengths behind Came Home in the Sept. 1 Hopeful Stakes (GI) at Saratoga. The very talented son of Matty G. drilled six furlongs in 1:10 4/5 on Feb. 28th, followed by a seven furlong move on March 6 in 1:24 1/5. Trainer Patrick Biancone realizes the colt has to prove he can go a distance, yet knows the talent, grand looks, and attitude Mayakovsky possesses will carry the colt a long way.

Another Gotham contender, Saratoga Blues, winner of the Whirlaway Stakes and undefeated in three starts, sparkled a half mile mile in :46 3/5 at Laurel Park for trainer Tony Dutrow on March 6. One of his competitors could be My Man Ryan, owned by West Point Stables, who recently won a two-turn allowance race at Aqueduct. He drilled a half-mile in :49 2/5 on March 2 at Aqueduct.

Florida Derby Contenders Active In A.M.

With the Grade I Florida Derby just around the corner at Gulfstream Park, contenders for the $1 million race were out en masse for workouts in Hallandale Beach. On March 1, Booklet, hero of the Holy Bull Stakes (GIII) and Fountain Of Youth Stakes (GI), worked a bullet five furlongs in :59 4/5. "It was a very good work and Allen (exercise rider Allen Rennie) had him under wraps," trainer John Ward, Jr. told The Thoroughbred Times after the move, "I'm happy with the way he's training for the Florida Derby."

Two Fountain of Youth disappointments were out on the track to prove they deserve another. Stephentown went five furlongs on March 4 in 1:02 4/5, getting his final furlong in :12 flat. "He had a strong workout and more importantly he finished up strong," the colt's trainer, Tony Reinstedler, said after the move.

Grey Beard worked on March 5 for trainer Graham Motion, going six furlongs in 1:13 4/5. The Unbridled Song colt may prefer a dry track to show his best ability.

Personal Reward drilled five furlongs in a "bullet" 1:00 workout for trainer Mark Hennig on March 3. The son of Personal First, owned by Debby and Lee Lewis, is coming off a gritty two-turn allowance win. He will make his stakes debut in the Florida Derby.

On March 4, trainer Nick Zito sent out the very promising High Star for a solid Five furlong drill in 1:00 4/5 in preparation for the March 16 Florida Derby. The son of Private Terms was impressive in an allowance win early in the meet, followed by a nose defeat on an off track in a subsequent allowance race. He seems to be picking up the tempo in his workouts and looks to be coming into the Florida Derby on top of his game for the Buckram Oak Stable.

On March 6 it was Harlan's Holiday and Nokoma's turn to stretch their legs.

Harlan's Holiday went a steady furlongs in 1:00 1/5, suggesting he has not lost a step since his two second-place finishes to Booklet. Trainer Ken McPeek is hoping new jockey Edgar Prado, who will replace Tony D'Amico in the Florida Derby, can make up the short margins of his recent losses.

My work of the week, however, goes to Nokoma, a recent winner of a tough allowance race for trainer Todd Pletcher. The Michael Tabor-owned son of Pulpit went five furlongs in 1:00 4/5, getting the final quarter mile in :23 3/5, with exercise rider Cindy Hutter sitting motionless, not asking the colt for anything.

This time of year, I look for horses that are moving forward in their training quickly and coming out of these tough preps stronger and mentally relaxed. This colt is showing all the signs of a true competitor with a great running style and no distance limitations. I will be surprised if he isn't one to upset the apple cart in the Florida Derby.

Jill Byrne serves as an analyst for TVG's award-winning "The Works" program, which focuses on the morning workout activity of horses preparing for the Kentucky Derby (GI) and Breeders' Cup. Additionally, she is a handicapper for the Churchill Downs Simulcast Network (CDSN) and is a knowledgeable, hands-on horsewoman who assisted her husband, trainer Patrick Byrne, in the development of Eclipse champions Favorite Trick and Countess Diana. She is the daughter of noted show horse rider and Thoroughbred trainer Peter Howe and first started riding show horses in her native Virginia at age three; she got on her first Thoroughbred when she was 11. She went to the University of Virginia where she studied political science and has worked directly with Dosage guru Steven Roman identifying top quality horses through a race analysis system he developed. Jill and Patrick have a daughter, Devon, and reside in Louisville.

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