Derby Updates

EAST/ ACHILLES OF TROY LOOKS SOUTH FOLLOWING WHIRLAWAY WIN - Paraneck Stables' Achilles of Troy crushed the competition in New York on Saturday with a win in the $65,000-added Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct, and now the colt will look south to expand his growing empire to Florida.

The Jennifer Pedersen trainee stalked pacesetter One Way Flight throughout and collared the early leader at the quarter pole en route to an easy 4 ¾-length in the 1 1/16-mile race on the New York track. One Way Flight held on for second and Rob'em Blind was third.

Jockey Ramon Dominguez, who was aboard the colt for the first time, had the gray son of Notebook under wraps as he crossed the finish line a winning time of 1:43.28.

"I got to the three-eighths pole, and I even got a little concerned because he was so relaxed," Dominguez said. "As soon as I got to the top of the stretch, I shook him up and got an immediate response. In the stretch, once I knew he wasn't going to get beat, I put my hands down and he eased himself up. He's a real smart horse and he's got a great attitude."

Achilles of Troy, who had scored a dominating 14-length victory in the Count Fleet at Aqueduct on Jan. 7, improved his career record to 3-1-1 in six races.

While many expected Achilles of Troy to continue along the New York route to Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, Paraneck Stable owner Ernie Paragallo said following the race that his two-time stakes winner would ship to the Classic Mile Training Center in Florida to prepare for the $300,000 Fountain of Youth (Grade II) at Gulfstream Park on March 4.

Paragallo said Scanlon's Song, a son of Partner's Hero who scored an impressive victory in his only career start at Aqueduct on Jan. 28, would point to the New York series of Derby preps highlighted by the $750,000 Wood Memorial (GI) on April 8.

"I've already got the Wood marked in the win column," Paragallo said.

Pedersen also trains Scanlon's Song.

WEST/BAFFERT'S BLING GLISTENS IN SAN VICENTE - Stonerside Stable and Blazing Meadows Farm's Too Much Bling had tailed off last year after showing much promise early in his 2-year-old campaign, but Bob Baffert-trained colt is off to a sizzling start on 2006 after winning Sunday's $150,000-added San Vicente at Santa Anita.

The Ohio-bred son of Rubiano, ridden by Garrett Gomez, scored a front-running 1 ½-length victory and covered seven furlongs in 1:22.50. Stonestreet Stable's Peace Chant, a son of War Chant out of the brilliant sprinter Safely Kept trained by Richard Mandella, was second and Ellenay Racing's New Joysey Jeff was 3 ¾-lengths back in third.

Too Much Bling held on for the victory despite being pressed through sharp early fractions of :21.72, :43.97 and 1:08.84.

"P. Val's horse (Totally Gone) was really pressuring and got him running early," said Baffert. "But Too Much Bling showed his real quality by going on. If he could have gone slower he probably would have won by more. It's exciting to have a horse like this."

Winner of the six-furlong San Miguel last out, Too Much Bling improved his career record to 3-0-2 in seven starts. Too Much Bling started his racing career in Ohio before majority interest in the colt was sold and he was placed in Baffert's care.

The colt's best race at two may have been his run in the Hopeful (GI) at Saratoga. Too Much Bling overcame a troubled start that day to finish a respectable third to First Samurai.

Keagan Upsets In Turf Paradise Derby - Turf Paradise-based outsider Keagan rallied to upset odds-on choice Sky Diving in Saturday's $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby.

The Washington-bred son of Basket Weave rallied past the favorite in the stretch to win by a length under jockey Scott Stevens. He covered the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43.90. Longshot Soft Seventeen was third.

Scott Kruljac trains Keagan and is part of a four-member partnership that owns the colt. The other partners are Gary Olsun, Randy Bafus and Gary Stevenson.

Sky Diving, coming off a 14-length maiden romp on Jan. 25 at Bay Meadows, went off as the 3-5 favorite as he made his stakes debut. Baffert had scratched the son of Aptitude from the previous week's $100,000 Sham Stakes (GIII) at Santa Anita, which was won by his Baffert-trained stablemate Bob and John.

Keagan is not nominated to the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown. His victory in the Turf Paradise Derby improved his career record to 3-2-2 in nine races with earnings of $110,199.

Brother Derek Drills for Santa Catalina - Hollywood Futurity (GI) and San Rafael (GII) winner Brother Derek tuned up for a run in the Santa Catalina on March 4 with sharp five furlong workout on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Cecil Peacock's California-bred son of Benchmark, the top Derby contender on the West Coast following the defection of juvenile champion Stevie Wonderboy, breezed five furlongs for trainer Dan Hendricks in :59.40. The move under jockey Alex Solis was the fastest of 36 at the distance.

"It was a little faster than I wanted, but I he did it so easy that's fine," said Hendricks. "I got him galloping out in 1:13."

In other Santa Catalina news, trainer Bob Baffert said Sham Stakes winner Bob and John would bypass the Santa Catalina for a run in the San Felipe Stakes (GII) on March 18. Robert and Beverly Lewis' Point Determined, a son of Point Given and runner-up in a recent Santa Anita allowance, will represent Baffert in the Santa Catalina.

MIDWEST/PRIVATE VOW LOOKS TOWARD RETURN IN REBEL - The Arkansas route to the Kentucky Derby has become very popular in recent years and now Mike McCarty's Belmont Futurity (GI) and Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) winner a Private Vow plans to travel that path to Churchill Downs.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said the son of Broken Vow would ship to Oaklawn Park with an apparent eye toward making his 2006 debut in the $300,000-added Rebel Stakes on March 18. Private Vow has not raced since an easy victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26, but recently turned in his third workout of the year at Florida's Palm Meadows training center.

"The Rebel looks to be the perfect spot to bring Private Vow back," said Asmussen.

Smarty Jones prepped in Arkansas before winning the 2004 Derby and Afleet Alex followed the same path in a campaign in which in finished third to Giacomo in the Derby before he scored dominant victories in the Preakness (GI) and Belmont Stakes (GI).

A big effort in the Rebel could earn Private Vow a start in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (GII) on April 15, the major Kentucky Derby prep at the Hot Springs track.

The next prep on the schedule for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park is the $250,000-added Southwest, which will highlight a President's Day program at the track on Monday, February 20.

Possible starters in the Southwest include Fidyrich, who is trained by John Servis of Smarty Jones fame. Other considered likely include recent allowance winner Steppenwolfer, Hyte Regency, Mark of Success and Celluloid Hero.

William Farish, James Elkins, Jr. and W. Temple Webber, Jr.'s unbeaten Music School, a three-quarter brother to 2003 "Horse of the Year" Mineshaft trained by Neil Howard, breezed a half mile in :49 on Monday. The A.P. Indy colt is expected to skip the Southwest and could train up to a run in the Rebel.

COMING KENTUCKY DERBY 132 PREP RACES

Feb. 18 - $125,000 Jim's Orbit Stakes at Sam Houston (mile)
$100,000 La. Premier Prince Stakes at Delta Downs (7 furlongs)
$125,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs (1 1/16 miles)
Feb. 20 - $250,00 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park (mile)
Feb. 26 - $100,000 Borderland Derby at Sunland Park (1 1/16 miles)

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