Derby News

Paraneck Stables owner Ernie Paragallo knows he's got the best horse in Saturday's $65,000 Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct in Achilles of Troy. What he doesn't know is whether Achilles of Troy is the best horse he's got.

"He's got a world of talent, but I don't know if he's the best 3-year-old in my barn," said Paragallo, who also hopes to send stablemate Scanlon's Song on the Kentucky Derby trail. That 3-year-old son of Partner's Hero, who broke his maiden on January 28 at a mile and a sixteenth, is slated to run in an allowance at Aqueduct next week and will hit the Derby trail in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park at a mile on February 20.

On Saturday, however, all eyes will be on Achilles of Troy, a 14-length winner of the Count Fleet Stakes who set a stakes record for the mile and 70 yards in 1:39 3/5.

"What I want him to do in the Whirlaway is get a little more experience," explained Paragallo. "The race sets up well for him - I would like to see a good finishing kick from him again and for him to progress."

Paragallo, who lives in Lloyds Neck, New York, is no stranger to the Run for the Roses. A decade ago, he campaigned Derby favorite Unbridled's Song, who had won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the Florida Derby. Hindered by foot problems, Unbridled's Song ran in the Derby wearing two bar shoes and finished fifth.

"Unbridled's Song was a phenomenal talent," said Paragallo, who owned Song of the Sword, 11th in the 2004 Derby and also trained by Jen Pederson. "There's no telling what might have been for him if things had worked out."

In the Whirlaway, Achilles of Troy will be ridden for the first time by Ramon Dominguez, who is replacing Alan Garcia. Dominguez, one of the leading riders at Aqueduct, was aboard the son of Notebook for a pair of workouts on the Big A's winner track. On February 8, he worked a half-mile in :49 2/5 and a week prior to that breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5.

"I'd be lying to you if I told you the horse is a real good work horse," said the rider. "He's very laid back, especially for a young 3-year-old and I'd like to see that. He's proven that he can run fast in the afternoon, so he doesn't need to go out in the morning and abuse himself. He's got a nice long stride on him and I really like the way he worked the last couple of times."

Challenging Achilles of Troy in the 1 1/16th mile Whirlaway will be Rob'em Blind, third to the favorite in a January 14 maiden race; Platinum Couple, third in the Count Fleet; Psychotic Reaction, winner of a New York-bred allowance on January 21; One Way Flight, another New York-bred who was the beaten favorite in the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes; River City Rebel, a maiden winner at Turfway Park, and Eye for Style, second in an allowance at Laurel last month.

But the only thing Paragallo is worried about is an impending snowstorm slated to hit New York late Saturday afternoon. "We stayed in New York because the winter has been so mild," he said. "Hopefully the snow will hold off and we made the right decision."

The field, from the rail out, with riders: One Way Flight (Channing Hill); Eye for Style (Francisco Jara); River City Rebel (Eibar Coa); Rob'em Blind (Kyle Kaenel); Platinum Couple (J Espinoza); Achilles of Troy (Ramon Dominguez); Psychotic Reaction (Mike Luzzi).

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