EAST/SUN KING, ANDROMEDA'S HERO WIN FOR ZITO - Two-time Kentucky Derby (Grade I) winning trainer Nick Zito would dearly love to win a third "Run for the Roses" and two of his most promising 3-year-olds turned in performances at Florida tracks over the weekend that indicated that they could give him a chance to achieve that goal.

Tracy Farmer's Sun King, the third place finisher in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) at Lone Star Park, was impressive in his 2005 debut as he easily won a one-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park. Meanwhile, Robert V. La Penta's well-regarded Andromeda's Hero overcame a troubled journey to score a stretch-running victory in the $100,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Sun King cruised to a 5 ¾-length romp over Survivalist and Monarch Lane and completed his work under jockey Edgar Prado in a rapid 1:36.03 - a time that was just .15 off the track record.

"I couldn't ask for anything better," Zito told the Sun-Sentinel. "I want to get two more races in him before May. We got this race, and now we move on. It was extremely impressive. I was hoping for a big race."

Andromeda's Storm, a son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, overcame a bumping incident on the first turn and a wide trip to rally for a two-length victory over 52-1 longshot Summer Legacy. The winner, part of a favored entry with ninth-place finisher G P's Black Knight, covered the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:46.63 under jockey Rafael Bejarano as he scored his second win in four career starts.

The Sam F. Davis, the track's main prep for the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) on March 19, also served as the launching point for the 2004 Kentucky Derby campaign for the La Penta-owned and Zito-trained The Cliff's Edge. Last year's result was not as pleasing as The Cliff's Edge was upset in that race by longshot Kaufy Mate.

Harlington Injured, Out Of Derby - The Daily Racing Form reported that Melynk Racing Stable's Harlington came out of a disappointing effort in the Risen Star (GIII) at the Fair Grounds with a wrenched ankle and trainer Todd Pletcher has taken the $2.8 million yearling purchase off the Kentucky Derby Trail.

"X-rays were negative," Pletcher told the DRF, " but he's such a big, young horse we decided just to back off him, send him to the farm for 45 days, and then bring him back and point for the Travers."

The son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled out of Serena's Song suffered his first loss in three starts when he finished sixth as the favorite in the Risen Star.

WEST/SOUTHERN AFRICA ROLLS IN BORDERLAND - Al and Saundra Kirkwood's Southern Africa rallied from just off the pace to score a 1 ¼-length victory in Sunday's $100,000 Borderland Derby at New Mexico's Sunland Park.

The Michael Puhich-trained son of Cape Town, who was ridden by Garrett Gomez, covered 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.18 as California shippers ran 1-2-3. Favored Thor's Echo and Dover Dere, both trained by Doug O'Neill, finished second and third, respectively.

The top local hope was the previously unbeaten Cajun Pepper, a Colorado-bred who set the early pace but faded to finish next to last in the 12-horse field.

Derby Stars Out In Southern California - The red carpet at Sunday's Academy Award celebration had little on California racetracks on Saturday and Sunday as several major Kentucky Derby contenders took advantage of a break in the rainy winter to turn in important workouts. Fog City Stable's Roman Ruler breezed a sharp six furlongs from the gate on Sunday at Santa Anita under jockey Gary Stevens. The Bob Baffert-trained son of Fusaichi Pegasus covered the distance in 1:12.40, which was the fastest of 12 works at the distance.

Unbeaten juvenile champion Declan's Moon worked on Saturday at Hollywood Park for trainer Ron Ellis. He covered seven furlongs in 1:25.60 under jockey Victor Espinoza in preparation for a run in Saturday's Santa Catalina (GII) at Santa Anita. The Ellis-trained Don't Get Mad worked a half-mile in :49 at Hollywood.

Trainer Patrick Biancone's pair of Derby contenders - San Rafael (GII) winner Spanish Chestnut and Risen Star (GIII) winner Scipion - worked on Saturday at Santa Anita. Spanish Chestnut breezed seven furlongs in 1:26 in preparation for a run in the Santa Catalina, while Scipion worked six furlongs in 1:14.80 as he points toward a run in the Louisiana Derby (GII).

REGISTRATION CONTINUES FOR '05 "ROAD TO THE ROSES - The journey to Churchill Downs on the road to the Kentucky Derby remains in its early stages and plenty of time remains to register for the "Road to the Roses 2005" Online game. Top prizes in this year's game include a VIP trip to the Kentucky Derby and you could win one of three berths in the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping Championship next January in Las Vegas, Nev. Information and registration is available at www.roadtotheroses.com.

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