Frankel Confident As Empire Maker Invades Empire State
By: Jenny Kellner

OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Apr. 10, 2003) - The relaxed and happy expression on Bobby Frankel's face slipped only once Thursday morning. The Hall of Fame trainer had been cheerfully discussing leading Kentucky Derby (GI) contender Empire Maker when someone asked him about another Derby prospect, Peace Rules.

Frankel, who was at Aqueduct to supervise Empire Maker's final Derby tune-up in Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial (GI), suddenly looked chagrined.

"You know, I think I forgot to enter him," said Frankel, pulling out his cell phone and asking for the number of the racing office at Keeneland. Fortunately, another connection had already taken care of the matter of entering Peace Rules in Toyota Blue Grass (GI).

"That's what happens when you get caught up in this stuff," he said.

Understandable. On Saturday at 4:15 p.m. EDT, Empire Maker will go off as the 3-5 favorite in the 1 1/8th mile Wood, a race which has produced two Derby winners in the past three years - Monarchos in 2001, Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000. The regally-bred son of 1990 Derby winner Unbridled out of the El Gran Senor mare Toussaud will face seven rivals in the Wood, including second favorite Indy Dancer, a colt who finished third, beaten 10 ¼ lengths, in the Florida Derby.

"This race should put him right where he needs to be," said Frankel, 61, looking for his first Derby win after four attempts.

Lining up inside Empire Maker, who drew post No. 8 under Jerry Bailey, will be, from the rail out: Lane's End (GII) winner New York Hero (Norberto Arroyo Jr.), 8-1; Spite the Devil (Mike Luzzi), 30-1; Kissin Saint (Richard Migliore), 20-1; Funny Cide (Jose Santos), 6-1; Senor Swinger (Gary Stevens), 10-1; Indy Dancer (John Velazquez), 5-1, and Sky Solider (Rodrigo Madrigal Jr.), 15-1.

Empire Maker could be the best of Frankel's previous Derby starters, among them Aptitude, who was second in 2000, and Medaglia d'Oro, who was fourth last year. It wasn't much later that Frankel began touting Empire Maker, who didn't make his first start until Oct. 20 at Belmont, winning by 3 ½ lengths under Bailey. A month later he finished third to Toccet in the Remsen (GIII) at Aqueduct, and then was second in his 3-year-old debut to Man Among Men in the restricted Sham at Santa Anita.

Equipped with blinkers for the first time, Empire Maker then ran off to a very impressive 9 ¾ length victory in the Florida Derby.

"I've thought all along that he had the most potential of any 3-year-old I've ever been on," said Bailey. "Ever since I got on this horse I've thought he could not only win the Derby - at least had the potential to - but he's the kind of horse who, if luck goes your way, you think about all three of them."

First, though, there is the matter of the Wood. Although Empire Maker has soundly defeated some of his rivals, at least two will be sporting a new look Saturday - Indy Dancer, for example, will try blinkers while Senor Swinger will try a new trainer in three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert.

"Hopefully, he'll run much better than he did in his last race," said Baffert, referring to the horse's 20-length defeat in the Florida Derby. "We'll get a good chance to see where he's at Saturday."

Indy Dancer, trained by Todd Pletcher, sports only one victory this year - in allowance company - as the colt finished seventh to Badge of Silver in the Risen Star (GIII) and third in the Florida Derby (GI). Blinkers, said Pletcher, could be the answer for the late closing son of A.P. Indy.

"He finished well in the Florida Derby but he was left with too much to do," said Pletcher. "In trying blinkers, there's a fine line between getting him closer to the pace and taking him out of his game. We don't want to diminish his late run."

Funny Cide, a New York-bred who finished third to Peace Rules in the Louisiana Derby (GII), could be ready to surprise. In the Holy Bull, two races back, he broke from post 13, stayed wide throughout and never quit, finishing fifth. "He might not be a distance horse," said trainer Barclay Tagg. "He's bred for it on his dam's side and he's built efficiently. We'll know more Saturday."

That will be the case as well with New York Hero, named by owner Ernie Paragallo (of Unbridled's Song fame) in honor of the heroes of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

The colt, who surprised in the Lane's End Stakes (GII), had two victories over the inner track at Aqueduct this year prior to shipping to Kentucky. He did not race as a 2-year-old because of surgery to remove ankle chips.

"I stayed with the Wood because it's home base," said trainer Jen Pedersen. "We know he can rate and sit just off the pace comfortably. For these races it really helps to have tactical speed and stamina and he's got both. If indeed Empire Maker is going to the Derby, why don't we see what we have. This is a good park to try him."

Frankel did not seem concerned about the opposition, however.

"I think I have the best horse," he said simply.

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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