Buddha In Good Shape After Wood; Churchill Downs On Horizon
April 14, 2002
By, Jenny Kellner

OZONE PARK, N.Y. (April 14, 2002) - Buddha was back in his stall on Apr. 14, munching carrots after cleaning out his feed tub following his narrow victory over Medaglia d’Oro in the Apr. 13 $750,000 Wood Memorial (GI).

The striking gray son of 1996 Kentucky Derby (GI) favorite Unbridled’s Song, unbeaten in three starts this year, is expected to make his next start in the May 4 Derby.

Joining him on the trip to Churchill Downs will be Medaglia d’Oro, Sunday Break, and Saarland, the next three finishers in the 1 1/8th-mile Wood. Blue Burner, who was fifth, may yet make the trip despite his lackluster performance, said trainer Bill Mott.

Medaglia d’Oro will leave Monday (April 15) for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby.

"That was a great race," trainer Bobby Frankel said. "Of course I would have liked to win it, but he needed a tough race and that's what he got. Hopefully he can take another step forward."

According to trainer Neil Drysdale, who won the 2000 Kentucky Derby with Fusaichi Pegasus, Sunday Break will ship to Kentucky Tuesday (April 16).

"I thought he got a little tired the last part because he didn't get much out of the previous allowance race," Drysdale said, referring to the Mar. 27 victory at Aqueduct. “Gary (Stevens) didn't beat him up yesterday. He put the stick away at the sixteenth pole."

With $82,500 in graded stakes earnings, Drysdale is worried whether Sunday Break will have earned enough to get into the Derby if there is a full field.

"It's a question of earnings, but I don't know if it will be a full field," the trainer commented.

Saarland came back from the Wood in good shape and will make his next start in the Kentucky Derby, said trainer Shug McGaughey.

"I've been saying he's a project in progress," McGaughey said. "I was hoping there would be more pace in there, but I think he did enough running to get us in the Derby. He finished up all right. The opening quarter was a little soft. There should be more pace in the Derby."

Kinsman's Stable Blue Burner, co-third choice in yesterday's Wood, also came out of the race in good ordder. Wide around both turns, Blue Burner didn’t respond under Jerry Bailey in the lane.

"I don't have an answer,” said Mott. “He came out of the race fine and looks good. I guess the Derby could be possible. Right now, I don't know."

Jenny Kellner is one of the most respected, multi-faceted journalists in New York. She served as the New York Islanders beat writer for the New York Times and has covered Thoroughbred horse racing and professional football for several major publications in the Big Apple and beyond. She is a frequent contributor to a myriad of Thoroughbred racing trade publications and has covered numerous Kentucky Derbys and Breeders' Cups.

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