Derby Updates

By: Josh Abner

MIDWEST/IT'S PRIVATE VOW VS. LAWYER RON IN OAKLAWN'S REBEL - Arkansas has been a key stop on the road to the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown in the last two years as many racing fans first heard the names of Smarty Jones, winner of the 2004 Derby and Preakness (GI), and Afleet Alex, a dominant winner in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 2005 after a close third-place finish in the Derby, in race from Oaklawn Park. Saturday could see new chapter in the Hot Springs track's rising profile as a Kentucky Derby proving ground as a field of 10 is set to compete in its $300,000 Rebel Stakes (Grade III).

Southwest Stakes winner Lawyer Ron, a former claimer trained by Oaklawn veteran Bob Holthus, faces Private Vow, one of the top 2-year-olds of 2005, who makes his 3-year-old debut for trainer Steve Asmussen, in the 1 1/16 mile Rebel, a prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (GII).

Lawyer Ron launched his career on turf, but has turned into a main track monster as he is unbeaten in five races on the dirt and carries a four-race winning streak into the Rebel. Campaigned by the Estate of James Hines Jr. following the death of the Owensboro, Ky. businessman last month, the son of Langfuhr is the morning line favorite for Saturday's race.

The colt led from start to finish in a three-quarter length victory over Rebel rival Steppenwolfer in the Southwest and has drawn the rail post for Holthus in the Rebel.

"Lawyer Ron is about as good a 3-year-old as I've ever had and he's coming into the Rebel in top form," Holthus said. Holthus will be seeking his fifth win in the Rebel.

Mike McCarty's Private Vow has been away from the races since a late November victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at Churchill Downs. He had already established himself as one of America's top juveniles with a win in Belmont Park's prestigious Futurity (GI). After a runner-up finish in his racing debut at Churchill Downs, the son of Broken Vow reeled off four wins in his next five races - with his only misstep a last-place finish in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) at Belmont Park. He raced with the early leaders that day, but a broken rein on the backstretch eliminated any chance for the headstrong bay colt to win that race and jockey John Velazquez eased him in the run through the stretch.

Another major Rebel player is Robert and Lawana Low's Steppenwolfer, who closed strongly to finish second to Lawyer Ron in the Southwest. The Danny Peitz-trained son of Aptitude should appreciate the added distance after his good run in the one-mile Southwest, but must overcome the extreme outside post position in the Rebel.

Other contenders include Red Raymond and Music School, the 3-4 finishers in the Southwest; local allowance winner Well Said; Nob Hill Deelite, winner of three straight Louisiana-bred stakes; Travelin' Leroy, ninth in the Southwest, but later found to have been suffering from a lung infection; Kip Deville, winner of the Texas Heritage at Sam Houston last out; and Film Fortune, a maiden trained by Hall of Famer Jack van Berg.

Saturday's weather forecast for Hot Springs could benefit Lawyer Ron as it calls for showers and the colt scored his first career win on a sloppy track at Keeneland.

Trainer Neil Howard said that Music School, a three-quarter brother to 2003 "Horse of the Year" Mineshaft, is only "50/50" to run in the Rebel. He could scratch and run next week in the $500,000 Lane's End (GII) at Turfway Park.

EAST/ACHILLES OF TROY FACES FIRST MAJOR TEST IN GOTHAM - A host of shippers will look to knock off the king of New York's 3-year-olds, Paraneck Stables' Achilles of Troy, in Saturday's $200,000 Gotham (GIII) at Aqueduct.

Undefeated in 2005 after winning Aqueduct's Count Fleet and Whirlaway, Achilles of Troy will run for the first time in the name of trainer Frank Amonte Jr. Paraneck owner Ernie Paragallo handed the colt's training duties to Amonte, a former assistant trainer, following a mutual agreed upon split with trainer Jennifer Pedersen. Amonte is excited about the chance to share some of the spotlight as Achilles of Troy bids to enter racing's biggest stage.

"I've been having dreams of him winning the Gotham, Wood and Derby," Amonte said. "To go to the Kentucky Derby, that's a dream everybody has. I can't wait for Saturday."

Amonte, a former exercise rider, has racing in his family. Just last year his father became the oldest jockey to win a race as he visited the winner's circle at Suffolk Downs one day shy of his 70th birthday. Frank Amonte, Sr. piloted Evas Boy to that win on Aug. 10, 2005.

While Achilles of Troy boasts local success and is the morning line favorite at odds of 9-5, he may end up the second-choice behind Starlight Stables, Saylor and Lucarelli's Florida-invader, Keyed Entry. Undefeated in three starts for Todd Pletcher, Keyed Entry (2-1) makes his first attempt at two turns following a brilliant performance in the 7 ½-furlong Hutcheson (GII) at Gulfstream last out. Pletcher had originally planned to send the son of Honour in Glory in the Rebel, but instead opted to run out of his New York base.

"It's a lot easier using our own barn than going into someone else's barn before the race," Pletcher said. "Our horses have been running very well over the inner track and, just as importantly, they've been coming out of their races well."

Ramon Dominguez will ride Achilles of Troy for Amonte in the Gotham.

"I'm glad it's coming up a tough race because we'll get to see how good (Achilles of Troy) is," said Amonte. "I thought his last two races were great, but he didn't beat much."

With Pletcher's first-call rider John Velazquez committed to stablemate Bluegrass Cat, who runs in Saturday's Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), jockey Edgar Prado ships in for the mount.

Other major shippers include Maryland speedster Sweetnorthernsaint and Florida-based Hesanoldsalt. Joseph Balsamo and Ted Theos' Sweetnorthernsaint comes into the Gotham off a rousing 10-length score in Laurel Park's Miracle Wood for trainer Michael Trombetta. Two-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey Kent Desormeaux will ride the son of Sweetsouthernsaint for the first time in the Gotham.

"Kent rode for me a bunch when he was first coming up through Maryland," Trombetta said. "I think he'll fit this horse very well."

Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation and two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Nick Zito will send out Hesanoldsalt. The son of Broad Brush turned in a dull 6th-place effort behind Bluegrass Cat in Tampa Bay Downs' Sam F. Davis Feb. 18, but he has trained well since and Zito is hoping that Hesanoldsalt simply did not care for the racing surface at Tampa Bay Downs.

Other contenders include John Dillon's Like Now, winner of the six-furlong Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes; Joseph Kowal's Sunshine Alpine, second in the "Cappy;" and Donald Flanagan's allowance winner Greeley's Legacy. Completing the field of 11 are Church Service, Eagle Head, Putonyerdancinshuz and One Way Flight.

SOUTHEAST/BLUEGRASS CAT HEAVILY FAVORED AT TAMPA BAY - Despite a route to Churchill Downs that would be considered unconventional in most years, the Todd Pletcher Bluegrass Cat could emerge as the Kentucky Derby contender on the East Coast if he wins Saturday's $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs.

WinStar Farm's son of Storm Cat is seeking to become the first horse to use the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby as a springboard to earning the famed garland of roses that goes to the Kentucky Derby winner on the first Saturday in May. Tampa Bay Downs has become a more popular destination for Florida-based Derby contenders because Saturday's premier race has graded status and the track offers races at the popular 1 1/16-mile distance, which cannot be run at the reconfigured Gulfstream Park.

Bluegrass Cat finished off the board in his racing debut at two at Keeneland, but is unbeaten in four races since he was transferred to Pletcher's care. The colt's wins include the Nashua (GIII) and Remsen (GII) at two and the Sam F. Davis at Tampa on Feb. 18. Regular rider John Velazquez will be aboard the even-money favorite.

Pletcher's prohibitive favorite will break from post two in the Tampa Bay Derby.

Notable challengers include Joseph Lacombe's Deputy Glitters and Bob LaPenta's Little Cliff, second and fourth behind Bluegrass Cat in the Sam F. Davis, and Cloverleaf Farm II's Tampa Bay allowance winner El Lobo. Mike McCarty and Steve Asmussen's Storm Treasure could join stablemate Private Vow on the Derby trail with a strong performance Saturday. Completing the field of nine are Winnies Tigger Too, Irish Majesty and Reaffirmed.

WEST/BOB AND JOHN LEADS BAFFERT TRIO IN SAN FELIPE - Earlier in the week it looked like horses trained by two-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert would make up as much as half of the field in Saturday's 250,000 San Felipe (GII) at Santa Anita. As it turns out, Baffert will only saddle one-third of the field.

Stonerside Stables' Bob and John heads the Baffert trio and will be favored in the field of nine entered in the 1 1/16-mile contest that is the final major local prep for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI) on April 8.

Baffert's other entrants are B. Wayne Hughes' Sky Diving and Point Determined, who are owned by Beverly Lewis and the Estate of Bob Lewis. He elected not to enter Point of Impact, who is also owned by the Lewis estate.

"Point of Impact, he's not running," Baffert said. "We'll find a race for him. Running three in there is enough."

Baffert entered Point of Impact in Saturday's ninth race at Santa Anita, the $80,000 Pasadena Stakes that immediately follows the San Felipe. Point of Impact is the 5-2 second choice in the one-mile turf stakes.

Bob and John, conceding six pounds to each of his rivals' 116, is the 2-1 favorite following his 4 ½-length win in the Sham (GIII) on Feb. 4. Stan Fulton's A.P. Warrior will look to rebound following his fourth-place finish behind Cause to Believe in the El Camino Real Derby (GIII) at Bay Meadows. The son of A.P. Indy will make his first start for 2005 Kentucky Derby winner John Shirreffs after being transferred from the barn of former Baffert assistant Eoin Harty.

Hughes' impressive allowance winner Refinery for Dick Mandella and Stronach Stables' recent maiden winner Racketeer will make their debut in stakes competition and could figure prominently in the race.

"This is kind of like finals week. He's got to pass his SATs and go on to college," Mandella said of his son of 1998 Kentucky Derby runner-up Victory Gallop. "I'm just hoping for good grades."

Also entered are New Joysey Jeff, second behind Refinery on Feb. 25; Simon Pure, sharp maiden winner for trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owned by the Lewis estate; and Blazing Sunset, sixth in the Santa Catalina (GII) last out, and making his first start for trainer Doug O'Neill.

CORRECTION: Monday's edition of the Derby Update said that next year's renewal of the San Felipe at Santa Anita will be renamed the Robert B. Lewis Memorial. The Santa Catalina, not the San Felipe, will be renamed in honor of the late two-time Kentucky Derby winning owner.

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