WEST - CALIFORNIA - On a busy weekend of 3-year-old activity at Santa Anita most eyes were focused on Sunday's $75,000 Sham Stakes, which featured the return of two-year-old champion Action This Day. But, as is often the case, the show was stolen Bobby Frankel.

Making just his second start for the Hall of Fame trainer, Master David disposed of pacesetter Gethsemani on the far turn and resisted a stretch-long challenge from the Beau Greely-trained Borrego for a one-length victory.

Master David, who was passed briefly in the lane by Borrego, covered the 1 1/8 miles on the "fast" track in 1:49.20 as the 6-5 favorite under jockey Alex Solis. The win marked his first in three starts since coming to the United States in November and his career record now stands at 2-3-1 in six tries with earnings of $118,756.

"Everything went well," said Frankel. "I told him (Alex Solis) there's not much pace in the race so wherever you're going to be, just be comfortable."

As for Action This Day, he rallied from last place on the far turn and settled for fourth place, finishing just a head behind the Bob Baffert-trained Preachinatthebar.

Frankel indicated after the race that he will ship Master David to Gulfstream Park for the March 13 Florida Derby (GI). It is worth noting that the Sham and Florida Derby was the same path to Churchill Downs taken last year by Empire Maker, the runner-up and post-time favorite in Kentucky Derby 129.

Despite the defeat of juvenile champ Action This Day, trainer Richard Mandella remained upbeat.

"I'm happy with his start," said Mandella. "I mean I'd have liked to won it but he finished strong and as long as he comes out in good shape that's the main thing. Most likely (his next race will be) the Santa Anita Derby (on April 3) but we'll look at everything."

Meanwhile, Mandella's other major Kentucky Derby candidate, Minister Eric, turned in a sharp workout at Santa Anita on Sunday. The colt, which hasn't raced since a runner-up finish to stablemate Action This Day in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI), blazed five furlongs in :58.60. He is set to make his 3-year-old debut in March.

San Vicente - A day earlier, another Derby 130 contender emerged in the $150,000 San Vicente (GII) as Steve Taub's Imperialism turned heads with a sharp last-to-first winning move for new trainer Kristin Mulhall. The son of Langfuhr, who had started his career in the claiming ranks at Calder Race Course under trainer Angel Salinas, trailed by as many as 11 lengths in the early stages before uncorking his winning rally on the far turn. The colt was still last at the top of the stretch but swept by the six horse field by the eighth pole and won by 1 ¼-lengths under Victor Espinoza.

"I was expecting the pace to be much faster," said Mulhall. "I was a little worried but I was actually thinking he was going to be further back. But I've seen him close and he can fly down the stretch. We were just hoping he (Victor Espinoza) was going to swing him out and make one run and that's what he did."

Imperialism covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.34 and improved his record to 4-3-1 in 13 career starts.

Hosco, the previously unbeaten post-time favorite, settled for second after setting the early pace. Two Baffert-trained entrants, Consecrate and Teton Forest, finished third and fifth, respectively.

The weekend wasn't a total loss for Baffert as James McIngvale's Wimbledon scored his first career victory on Sunday after having failed in his previous three attempts. The son of Wild Rush, who was a $425,000 Fasig Tipton two-year-old purchase, is one of Baffert's highly regarded sophomores.

Golden State Mile - Another former claimer was victorious over the weekend as O.K. Mikie, claimed for $25,000 on Nov. 7 by owner Charles Lo, closed from last to pull off a mild upset at Golden Gate Fields. The Jerry McArthur-trained gelding, who was coming off a runner-up finish in the Golden Gate Derby (GIII), will now be pointed to the March 13 El Camino Real Derby (GIII) over the same track. The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained filly Bending Strings, the 9-5 favorite, finished second and Point Dume ran third.

ARIZONA - Everest Stables, Inc.'s Mambo Train overcame a rough trip for a 2 1/2-length upset victory over 1-2 favorite Perfect Moon in Saturday's $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby.

The Marcelo Polanco-trained son of Kingmambo, who was winless on the dirt and had not won since a maiden victory on the turf in August at Del Mar, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.07. Jockey Emile Ramsammy was forced to steady Mambo Train at the three-quarter pole, but the colt managed to regain his momentum and overtook the leaders with an eighth of a mile remaining.

EAST - NEW YORK - Vincent Papandrea's Little Matth Man rallied from last on the backside to continue a run of upsets with a victory in Saturday's $75,000 Whirlaway at Aqueduct.

The son of Matty G, who is not nominated to the Visa Triple Crown, defeated Risky Trick by 1 1/2 lengths over a "muddy" track. Little Matth Man was coming off a 13-1 upset in a New York-bred allowance race and two starts earlier had scored his first career win at 32-1 odds. Trainer Martin Ciresa, who is now 2-for-2 with the colt, said after the victory that he would consider nominating the colt to the Visa Triple Crown.

Overbrook Farm's Quick Action, winner of the Fred "Cappy" Caposella and the heavy favorite for three-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas, set the pace and tired to finish third.

MARYLAND - Michael Gill's White Mountain Boy kept his unblemished record intact as he out dueled Hands On down the stretch for a half-length victory in Saturday's $75,000 Goss L. Stryker Stakes for Maryland breds at Laurel Park.

The son of Meadowlake, who is trained by Phil Schoenthal, is perfect in four starts that include three consecutive stakes wins against state-bred competition. White Mountain Boy covered seven furlongs in 1:24.22 under jockey Abel Castellano, Jr. Schoenthal indicated that his colt could be pointed toward the April 3 Illinois Derby (GII) at Hawthorne, but hasn't ruled out a run in Laurel's Miracle Wood on Feb. 28.

"I wasn't that confident we would win," he said. "He just didn't seem like himself, but he went out and won a very hard victory which shows how much courage he has. At this point in time he is our most logical prospect for a possible chance to run in the Kentucky Derby...He's still undefeated so we have to keep dreaming."

FLORIDA - Pollard's Vision, one of trainer Todd Pletcher's record 35 nominees to the Kentucky Derby & Visa Triple Crown, romped to a 5 3/4-length victory on Sunday in a Gulfstream Park allowance race that had originally been scheduled for the turf. The son of Carson City covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.92 under jockey John Velazquez.

MIDWEST - KENTUCKY - Silver Minister extended his winning streak to four in a 5 1/4-length romp over 69-1 longshot Revolver Six in the $50,000 WEBN at Northern Kentucky's Turfway Park. Trained by Greg Foley, who won last year running with Champali, Silver Minister covered the mile in a pokey 1:41.98 over "good" going under Rafael Bejarano. The gelded son of Silver Deputy has a career record of 3-2-0 in five starts and is expected to run next in the Lane's End (GII) on March 20.

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