Derby News

For trainer Frank Amonte Jr., Saturday's $200,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) is a dream come true. In August, the 47-year-old native of Brooklyn quit his job as an assistant to trainer Gary Contessa and hooked up as an exercise rider for Jen Pedersen and Paraneck Stables. Six months later, Pedersen and Paraneck's temperamental owner, Ernie Paragallo, parted ways and guess who was left to saddle Kentucky Derby hopeful Achilles of Troy in the 1 /16th mile Gotham?

"This is a once in a lifetime chance," said Amonte. "I'm just glad Ernie gave me a shot. I've really waited a long time for this."

Achilles of Troy, who drew post No. 6 under Ramon Dominguez, will be facing a much tougher field Saturday than he did in winning the Count Fleet and Whirlaway Stakes on the Big A's winner track this winter.

Up from Florida, where he upset heavily favored First Samurai in the Hutcheson Stakes, is the Todd Pletcher-trained undefeated Keyed Entry. He will break from post No.7 under Edgar Prado.

Also drawing into the field at Thursday's draw were were Sweetnorthernsaint, winner of the Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel (post No. 10 under Kent Desormeaux), trainer Nick Zito's Hesanoldsalt (post No. 1 under Norberto Arroyo Jr.) and Greeley's Legacy (post No. 9 under Eibar Coa).

The rest of the field includes Church Service, Eagle Head, Like Now, Putonyerdancinshuz, Sunshine Alpine and One Way Flight.

Achilles of Troy, a son of Notebook, went out for his final breeze Wednesday morning under Dominquez, with Amonte looking on.

"The horse doesn't let anything bother him," said Amonte, son of rider Frank Amonte, at 70 the oldest member of the Jockeys' Guild. "This can be a great advantage when he goes to Kentucky and there are all those people screaming and yelling, he's very calm. Nothing bothers him."

If Achilles of Troy puts in a good performance Saturday, the next step would be the April 8 Wood Memorial (G1), a race that has produced three of the last six Derby winners in Fusaichi Pegasus (2000), Monarchos (2001) and Funny Cide (2003).

"This is a dream," said Amonte. "Every night for the past week I go to sleep thinking about him winning the Gotham, the Wood and the Derby. Wow.''

It's a dream Amonte has harbored ever since he was a little boy and his father - who became the oldest jockey ever to win a race last August at the age of 69 - took him to the racetrack.

"Dad taught me how to walk, groom and ride horses at Belmont, Aqueduct and Monmouth Park," he said. "And I wanted to be a trainer."

Amonte spent most of his life behind the scenes, with his moments of glory coming second-hand as the exercise rider for Darby Creek Road or getting his picture taken in the winner's circle when Contessa was out of town. His lone start as a trainer of record came in 2005 with a New York-bred named Dixie Bourbon, who developed a throat infection.

"It didn't work out," said Amonte.

But with the promotion - he was named assistant trainer to Pedersen several months ago -- Amonte is now in charge of 36 horses at Aqueduct and another eight at Belmont Park. So why give all that responsibility to a virtual unknown?

"He's a hard working guy, he's dedicated," Paragallo said. "He's impressed me with his work ethic, and to be honest, I'm not that impressed with most of the other trainers."

Paragallo, who campaigned 1996 Derby favorite Unbridled's Song, said it's been Amonte who's been handling Achilles of Troy recently as the colt romped to a 14-length victory in the Count Fleet and a 4 ¾-length score in the Whirlaway.

"To step right in here with this situation - well, all I can say is I'm grateful to Ernie for the chance," said Amonte.

On Wednesday, Amonte saddled his first official winner for Paragallo when Fuego Grande posted a nose victory in a $43,000 allowance race.

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