By: John Asher

CENTRAL /GREATER GOOD SIZZLES LATE IN SOUTHWEST - Lewis Lakin's Greater Good, an odds-on favorite ridden by John McKee, got away from the gate poorly in his first race as a 3-year-old - but what happened over the rest of one-mile Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park more than justified his status as a major contender for Kentucky Derby 131.

The Robert Holthus-trained son of Intidab hopped at the start and dropped far off the pace set by previously unbeaten Munificence. He was sixth heading into the far turn and fifth as the field straightened out on the run through the short stretch of Oaklawn's mile course, but exploded under McKee and passed the leader near the finish line. Humor At Last finished third in the $100,000 race.

"I would liked to have been a lot closer in the first turn," said McKee. "I had to urge him a little at that point so we wouldn't be too far behind. Then I had to use him at the half-mile pole so that I was in contention by the quarter-pole. But he did all that easily. I was really impressed with his effort."

Greater Good covered the mile in 1:39.09 in his first start since a victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) in November at Churchill Downs.

The winner improved his career record to 4-0-1 in six starts - included three wins in as many races at two-turn distances - and boosted his earnings to $286,000.

A victory in the Southwest was the second step on unbeaten Smarty Jones' path to victory in the 2004 Kentucky Derby. Greater Good is scheduled to make his next start in Oaklawn's $250,000 Rebel (GIII) on March 19.

ROCKPORT HARBOR BRUISES FOOT - Trainer John Servis cancelled a scheduled Sunday workout for unbeaten Rockport Harbor after the colt suffered a bruised left front foot - an injury that could knock him out of his planned season debut in the March 19 Rebel.

Servis said that Fox Hill Farm's unbeaten son of Unbridled's Song would miss some training because of the ailment and that his status for the Rebel was in doubt.

"I'm not going to rule out the Rebel, but everything has to go right," he said. "Foot bruises happen all the time. You treat them and go on. But with a horse like Rockport Harbor, you don't take any chances."

PROUD ACCOLADE TO LOUISIANA - Hutcheson (GII) and Champagne (GI) winner Proud Accolade will make his next start in the Louisiana Derby (GII) on March 12, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. The colt will be seeking his first win at a two-turn distance in the 1 1/16-mile race.

Meanwhile, trainer Steve Asmussen said that Risen Star (GIII) runner-up Real Dandy would run in the Louisiana Derby. Trainer Dallas Stewart said that Lecomte (GIII) winner Storm Surge, third in the Risen Star, would also point toward that race.

WEST/BIANCONE AIMS BIG GUNS TOWARD DERBY 131 - Trainer Patrick Biancone continues to point his pair of Kentucky Derby contenders - speedy San Rafael (GII) winner Spanish Chestnut and stretch-running Risen Star (GIII) winner Scipion - toward Churchill Downs and Derby 131 on Saturday, May 7.

Biancone said over the weekend that Spanish Chestnut will run next in the Santa Catalina (GIII) at Santa Anita, while Scipion will return to the Fair Grounds for the Louisiana Derby.

"Right now, they're like teenagers," said Biancone. "Who will be the best on the seventh of May, nobody knows. But so far I would not change my chances with anybody."

EAST/LONGSHOT DISTINCTIVE TRICK TAKES "CAPPY" - Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Stewart Elliott guided Philadelphia Park-based longshot Distinctive Trick to a front-running upset in Saturday's $75,000 Fred "Cappy" Caposella Stakes at New York's Aqueduct.

It's doubtful that anyone will confuse the winner with Smarty Jones, who launched his successful Kentucky Derby campaign under Elliott in last year's Count Fleet at Aqueduct, but the win by the New York-bred 22-1 shot gave owner/trainer Uriah St. Lewis reason to smile.

"I had this spot or the New York-bred race tomorrow (the Holly Hughes), but that was against older horses and I didn't want to race against older horses," said St. Lewis. "It was better to run against 3-year-olds. He is just coming into his own right now.

Distinctive Trick won by a half-length over Pavo. Benjamin's Baby was third and Attila's Storm was fourth. The winner covered the distance in 1:10.96.

GALLOPING GROCER SUFFERS FOOT BRUISE - A planned start by Galloping Grocer in the Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park on March 5 is in doubt after the New York-bred gelding bruised his right front foot during training on Thursday.

Trainer Dominick Schettino said the ailment appeared to be minor, but Galloping Grocer will miss a scheduled breeze on Wednesday. He said Galloping Grocer may have "stepped on something" during training and was noticeably lame as he left the track that day.

Schettino said that the Louisiana Derby (GII) at the Fair Grounds or the Gotham (GIII) at Aqueduct could be alternatives for Galloping Grocer if he misses the Fountain of Youth.

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