Amoss Debates Right "Derby" For Lone Star Sky
By: Kiana Parker

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Apr. 27, 2003) - Anyone who knows anything about the Kentucky Derby will tell you that it is a race of favorites and longshots, where uncertainty is the norm, and past performances mean little.

For Tom Amoss, trainer of Lone Star Sky, the few days that remain before the Derby begins leave him with a crucial decision to make, the result of which will test the skill of jockey Calvin Borel.

Amoss must decide whether to race Lone Star Sky in Derby 129 or save him for the May 10 Lone Star Derby, where Amoss believes his horse's chances of winning are much greater.

"It all comes down to horse management," said Amoss. "[The horse] has yet to step up and run a Kentucky Derby-like race, but his breakthrough ability is there."

Lone Star Sky gained notice after beating heavily-favored Posse by 3 ½ lengths in the Bashford Manor (GII) on closing day of Churchill Downs' 2002 Spring Meet.

"When [Lone Star Sky] runs his race, he's a great horse," said assistant trainer Maurice Sanchez. "He doesn't like to break too fast and he likes to come around the corners on the outside."

If Amoss does decide to pull the horse out of Derby contention, Borel would most likely ride Wayne Lukas' Ten Cents a Shine on Saturday in the jockey quest for his first Kentucky Derby victory after falling short in 1993, 2000 and 2001.

Borel said changing horses with the Derby less than a week away does make winning more challenging, but he does have experience to guide him. A 22-year veteran of the sport, Borel won the Super Derby (GI) at Louisiana Downs in 1991 atop Free Spirits Joy.

"It's hard," he said. "The first of the year I had four prospects. Now I might ride a horse I've only been with for three weeks."

Despite the short time the two have spent together and longshot odds, Borel believes Ten Cents a Shine is capable of upsetting the field, surprising those whose attention seems fixated on Bobby Frankel's Empire Maker, this year's runaway favorite to win the "Run for the Roses".

"This race is all about the luck of the draw," said Borel. "You never know what's going to happen; I think he can win. He can run the distance. It's a long race for most horses but he's bred to run three miles."

The decision on what horse Borel will ride is largely out of his hands, but if it is Ten Cents a Shine, Borel is encouraged not only by the horse's stamina but also the gelding's progress as of late.

"From last week to this week, it's unbelievable how great he's doing," said Borel. "I've been working on setting him back early in the race so that he can come on strong to finish it out."

Kiana Parker is a student at the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash. and is a member of Churchill Downs' Annual Collegiate Sports Journalism Seminar. Ms. Parker received an award of merit for this piece due to her ingenuity in finding a unique story.

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