West -- Although the upstart Buddy Gil had beaten Atswhatimtalknbout in his breakthrough victory in last month's San Felipe, most racing fans were skeptical of his sudden emergence and made the latter the favorite in Saturday's Santa Anita Derby (Grade I).

Many of the skeptics are believers now after Buddy Gil ($14.60) rose to the occasion once more and rallied under jockey Gary Stevens to defeat longshot Indian Express by a head in the premier West Coast prep for the 129th Kentucky Derby (GI).

The victory earned a trip to Churchill Downs for the gelded son of Eastern Echo; his three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey; and Mullins, who participated in his first Derby a year ago when he saddled Lusty Latin to a 15th-place finish.

"It's just an unbelievable feeling winning this race," said Mullins. "He is so honest and gives all his heart every single time. He's just a pleasure to train and does everything right. I am so proud of him."

Buddy Gil completed the nine furlong distance in 1:49.36 as Stevens won the Santa Anita Derby for a record ninth time, one more than the legendary Bill Shoemaker.

Kafwain finished third and the favored Atswhatimtalknbout was fourth. The latter launched a big move on the far turn, but the lightly-raced son of A.P. Indy flattened out in upper stretch under jockey David Flores.

"I want to stick with him," said Flores. "He should know what he's doing a lot better after this race."

Trainer Ron Ellis said after the race that he still hoped to run Atswhatimtalknbout in the Kentucky Derby.

"I think this race just wasn't his day today," said Ellis. "David said he didn't have a lot of run in him today. Maybe he worked a little too quick the other day, who knows?" Also looking for answers was three-time Ken

tucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert, who started a trio of horses in the race and saw his longest shot, the Panamanian import Indian Express perform the best. He also saddled third-place Kafwain and Domestic Dispute, who finished fifth.

"They all ran well," he said. "We'll see in a few days. They didn't run very fast, so I don't know. We got to regroup."

The trainer with no doubts was Mullins, who has yet to decide on when Buddy Gil will ship to Churchill Downs.

"Four weeks is a good time between this race and then, so we'll just have to take it one day at a time," said Mullins. "He definitely earned his chance to be there."

Buddy Gil was a late nominee to the Kentucky Derby and Visa Triple Crown as his owners paid the $6,000 late nomination fee last week. A victory in the 129th Kentucky Derby would make Buddy Gil the first gelding to win the race since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.

Trainer Neil Drysdale scratched Ministers Wild Cat from the Santa Anita Derby because of bruised right hind foot. Drysdale said the colt was "much better" on Sunday, but did not have another race in mind.

Central -- An eventful journey ended in a four-length romp for Ten Most Wanted in Saturday's $500,000 Illinois Derby (GII) at Hawthorne Race Course and the next stop on the improving colt's agenda has already been established.

"He's off for Kentucky," said trainer Wally Dollase. "I know the owners will want to head to the Kentucky Derby and this horse is bred to go a mile and a quarter."

The favored Ten Most Wanted ($6.60) overcame traffic problems on the far turn to cruise past Fund of Funds and earn a trip to Kentucky Derby 129. Dollase said the Deputy Commander colt -- the first stakes winner for his sire -- would ship first to Keeneland and then would head to Churchill Downs around April 20 to continue his preparation for the "Run for the Roses."

The victory under Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day was gratifying to Dollase, who also trained Ten Most Wanted's sire and has been working to make the colt more willing to ration his early speed.

"We've been trying to teach him to come from behind by putting other horses in front of him," Dollase said. "Maybe it's paying off."

Ten Most Wanted was coming off a third-place finish under Day in the El Camino Real Derby (GIII).

"Last time I rode him he was a little aggressive early," said Day. "When I called on him he responded. He was really punching hard at the finish."

Foufa's Warrior edged Lone Star Sky for third. Morning line favorite Alysweep finished seventh.

War Emblem won last year's Illinois Derby and won the Kentucky Derby one month later.

Southeast -- The highly-regarded Dynever lived up to his pre-race hype as he turned back a challenge from the experienced Supah Blitz and rolled to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $250,000 Aventura Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by breeder Catherine Willis and Peter Karches, the son of Dynaformer rallied from just off the pace to score his first stakes victory in only his third career start. Dynever had scored his first career win in a maiden race in his previous start on March 8, but was so impressive that day that he went off as the 4-5 favorite over much more experienced foes in the Aventura.

The Christophe Clement-trained Dynever completed the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43.07 over a "fast" track under jockey Edgar Prado. Massive finished third, nearly 10 lengths behind the winner.

"This was great," Clement told the Daily Racing Form. "At the three-sixteenths pole it looked like he was beat and he came back to win. Every race he gets a little better and that's what you want."

Clement, who also trains Kentucky Derby contender Region of Merit, said he was not sure where Dynever would run next. He mentioned the Lone Star Derby (GIII) on May 10 as one possibility.

Central -- Heiligbrodt Racing's Posse stormed from just off the pace to win Sunday's $100,000 Lafayette (GIII) at Keeneland by 2 1/2-lengths over Roll Hennessy Roll.

The Steve Asmussen-trained winner covered seven furlongs under jockey Corey Lanerie in 1:23.14.

Dubai -- Dubai-based Godolphin will put its quest to win the Kentucky Derby on hold for a year as it has announced that Inamorato, its lone Derby hope, would skip the race.

The third-place finisher in the UAE Derby shipped to New York's Belmont Park on Saturday with several stablemates and trainer Saeed bin Suroor said he would be pointed to major U.S. races later in the year.

"We have never hurried our horses to suit the big races as we have always thought about the future," said bin Suroor. "We need to allow the horses to get some confidence before they take on these races."

Godolphin has competed in the last four Kentucky Derbys, with a sixth-place effort by China Visit in 2000 being its best finish to date.

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