Big Brown odds favorite to win Belmont and Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown arrived at Belmont Park in New York on Monday and was quickly installed as a 1-3 favorite to win the Belmont Stakes on June 7 and take the Triple-Crown. If Big Brown can pull off a win in the $1 million Belmont Stakes he would become Thoroughbred racing's 12 th Triple Crown winner.
The 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes, which is the oldest and longest leg of the Triple Crown, has stopped 18 other horses in history from winning the Triple Crown, the most recent being Smarty Jones in 2004.
Big Brown, a son of Boundary, is now 5-0 and will seek to join Seattle Slew (1977) as the only undefeated Triple Crown winner. Seattle Slew was 9-0 after he won the Belmont Stakes. Big Brown won is first race on the turf at Saratoga last September 3 for trainer Patrick Reynolds. He then moved to trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.'s barn and won an allowance and the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park before winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
A possible challenger, Peter Pan winner Casino Drive, is expected to enter Belmont and has been installed at 5-2. Other challengers looking to upset Big Brown are Denis of Cork and Tale of Ekati (3rd and 4th place respectively in Kentucky Derby) as well as Nakal and Tomcito.
Copyright 2006 Point Spreads "All Rights Reserved"
Horse named for priest places third in Derby
TULSA - The ties that bind Tulsa businessman William K. Warren Jr. to the Catholic Church run so deep that he named a thoroughbred horse after the chaplain at St. Francis Health System.
Denis of Cork claimed a third-place finish in last week's Kentucky Derby, but the clergyman he was named after was busy officiating a wedding in Washington, D.C.
The Rev. Denis Casey, out of County Cork, Ireland, and now an Oklahoma hospital chaplain after a long tour as a U.S. military chaplain, said he was flattered to have Denis of Cork as his namesake.
But he had no regrets about missing the Derby to officiate the wedding of a pair of Georgetown University students.
"You are as good as your word, and I would hate to say to them that I have to go to a horse race on their wedding day," Casey said Tuesday. "The whole wedding party had the opportunity to enjoy the race at the hotel."
A saint, with one 'n'
Those connections carry over to his Derby horse, Denis of Cork. Casey came to Oklahoma after serving as a Naval chaplain in a military career that included a tour in Vietnam.
"He's named after a French saint who has only one 'n' rather than two in his name," Warren said of Father Casey. "He's been a good friend of mine for years, and even owned race horses himself."
Father Casey came to Oklahoma in 1987 and served as St. Francis chaplain until 2001, when he officially "retired." Today he spends two days a week at the hospital and also serves a retirement center. The mutual respect between the horse racing philanthropist and the (former) priest is obvious.
"I would say with the utmost confidence that Mr. Bill Warren is one of the most generous men I have ever met," Casey said. "He has been extremely generous with the St. Francis Health System. There is a tremendous amount of goodness that he has done, encouragement that you never hear about."
About that horse race
As for Denis of Cork's Derby run, the horse trailed the field for three quarters of the race before making a huge rally in the stretch run to finish third behind Big Brown and Eight Belles. With Calvin Borel aboard, Denis of Cork broke from the 16th gate and immediately was forced to the inside when the horse in the 17th gate bore into his lane.
"We were very elated in view of the bad break we got from the gate and by the fact that we were 'dissed' by so many people that our odds went off at 27 to 1," Warren said. "We made more money with our show receipt than the win bet on Big Brown."
Warren and his wife, Suzanne, bought the Florida-bred horse as a 2-year-old at a California sale for $250,000, which has since turned into a bargain price.
"Let's say we've made over $400,000 on him so far and looking forward to the Belmont stakes, which comes on June 7," Warren said. "We think he has a bright future in him."
Controversy has swirled around horse racing since the breakdown and death of Eight Belles at the conclusion of the Derby.
"I don't think it had anything to do with the track," Warren said. "Eight Belles was raced pretty heavily before the Kentucky Derby. Looking at the past three races, her speed figures kept going down. I think she was fresh for the race but all of them had been at pretty good distances. That mile and a quarter was really a very stressful grind, I would call it. It is for every horse in the Kentucky Derby."
Denis of Cork will skip the Preakness and race in the Belmont Stakes because its owner said the horse needs more than a two-week break between the Triple Crown races.
This time, Casey plans to be cheering on the Warren entry from trackside instead of watching on a hotel room television hundreds of miles away.
"I am already making plans to go to the Belmont because I think we will have another go with Big Brown, who ran a great race and by far was the best horse on that day," Father Casey said.
(c)2008 Produced by NewsOK.com
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Official 134th Kentucky Derby Odds Released at All Horse Racing
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - (Business Wire) All Horse Racing an international horse racing company, today released the latest odds on who will win the 2008 Kentucky Derby:
Pyro 5-1
Recapture The Glory 10-1
Tale of Ekati 18-1
Smooth Air 25-1
Colonel John 7-2
Cool Coal Man 25-1
Gayego 18-1
Anak Nakal 100-1
Big Brown 3-2
Eight Belles 35-1
Z Humor 40-1
Cowboy Cal 20-1
Monba 15-1
Visionaire 25-1
Court Vision 10-1
Big Truck 35-1
Z Fortune 8-1
Bob Black Jack 35-1
Adriano 10-1
Denis of Cork 12-1
Contenders are listed by graded earnings
The world may be watching "The Most Exciting 2 Minutes in Sports" on May 3rd at 6PM ET on NBC, but they will bet on the Kentucky Derby online at All Horse Racing.
All Horse Racing is offering a free derby bet on the Kentucky Derby as well as free bets on the other two jewels of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
All Horse Racing is a recognised leader in the online horse racing industry with a focus on the thoroughbred and harness horse racing market. Members have the ability to place wagers online on over 100 racetracks including Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Philadelphia Park, Pimlico Race Course and Belmont Park. Real time audio and video feeds are available for hundreds of races each day.
Copyright (c) 2008 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
J Be K Faces Short Field in Withers
Todd Pletcher will saddle half of the four-horse field in the $150,000 Withers Stakes (gr. III), but even favorable odds may not be enough to overcome the talent of J Be K, who goes for his fourth win in five starts April 26 at Aqueduct.
Because the one-mile Withers drew just four, it was moved to race 3 on the 10-race program. Post time is scheduled for 4:53 p.m. EDT. The 2006 Withers was captured by eventual Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Bernardini.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, J Be K was superb in his latest effort, a five-length score in the seven-furlong Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III) April 5 at Aqueduct. It was the third consecutive sprint victory for the son of Silver Deputy, who set the 5 1/2-furlong Saratoga course record while breaking his maiden last summer, and then won an allowance event by five lengths at Fair Grounds in February.
Owned by Zayat Stables, J Be K's lone setback came in the March 8 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) while stretching out to 1 1/16 miles.
"He came out of the Bay Shore in really good shape," said Toby Sheets, Asmussen's top New York assistant. "He's a classy horse and a pleasure to be around. For a sprinter, he's pretty easy-going and he'll do what you want in the morning. Obviously, he's got a lot of ability, and I think Steve is doing the right thing with him."
J Be K battled for the early lead in the Bay Shore through fractions of :22.38 and :45.21 before easily kicking clear for an impressive score in 1:23.67.
Out of the Valid Wager mare Major Wager, J Be K was bred in Kentucky by Glory Days Breeding. He turned in a :50.20 five-furlong breeze April 21 at Belmont Park. Garrett Gomez will ride.
Pletcher will counter with Padua Stables' Face the Cat and Stronach Stables' homebred Harlem Rocker, both owning victories over eight furlongs. Face the Cat broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park Jan. 4 and less than a month later returned to South Florida for a wire-to-wire four-length allowance win at a mile. The Tale of the Cat colt's lone setback this year came in the March 29 Florida Derby (gr. I), when he was over-matched by Big Brown while finishing eighth.
Also spending the winter at Gulfstream was Harlem Rocker, a late-blooming 3-year-old by Macho Uno. The undefeated Harlem Rocker made his racing debut Feb. 14 at Gulfstream, coming from off the pace to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Six weeks later, he again came from behind in allowance company, getting up just before the wire to defeat Samba Rooster, who went on to run second in the April 18 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.
Bred in Canada, Harlem Rocker will retain regular rider Eibar Coa and break from the rail.
The fourth entry is Rick Dutrow Jr. trainee Double Or Nothing, a heavily-raced 3-year-old by Double Honor. A Florida-bred, Double Or Nothing comes off a half-length score in the March 22 Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park. Prior to that, the bay gelding won a six-furlong starter allowance at Aqueduct by 7 1/4 lengths.
Double Or Nothing, who was claimed by Dutrow after breaking his maiden at Saratoga last summer, is 3-5-0 from 12 lifetime starts. Edgar Prado will ride for the first time.
Copyright (c) 1905-2008 The Blood-Horse, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Tale of Ekati rises, War Pass falls in latest Run to the Roses' Top 10 list
NEW YORK - Team Zito handled War Pass' latest loss much better than the last one.
"We didn't win, but it's just like a win," trainer Nick Zito said after War Pass was beaten a half length by Tale of Ekati in the Wood Memorial, a final prep race for the Kentucky Derby in four weeks.
"This is the first time I have finished second and can say it's just like a win, because of everything he had to endure and overcome," the trainer added. "He vindicated himself here."
Three weeks ago, War Pass lost for the first time after five front-running victories - a humbling last-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby in which the three-year-old colt finished 23 1/4 lengths behind the winner, Big Truck.
Zito and owner Robert LaPenta had a tough time explaining the loss, but Saturday's defeat told them their colt was back in good form despite tiring at the end of the one 1-8-mile Wood. At least he took the lead from the start and held on until the final strides.
"He got a lot out of this race," LaPenta said. "This was a great conditioning race."
Tale of Ekati and Big Truck are both trained by Barclay Tagg, who won the 2003 Derby with Funny Cide. In addition, Tagg may have a third Derby prospect in Elysium Fields, who is a possibility for the Blue Grass at Keeneland on Satuday,
Like War Pass, Tale of Ekati rebounded well from defeat. The colt ran sixth in the Louisiana Derby on March 8, but there were problems at the start.
"We always thought he was a good horse," Tagg said. "He got a little tangled up in the gate (in the Louisiana Derby) and ran a disappointing race. We still felt good about him, and we worked out some of those issues in the gate. He showed up big time."
Tale of Ekati and War Pass were en route to Kentucky on Sunday for a final month of preparation before the Derby. Court Vision, who finished third in the Wood, also is likely for the Derby.
This week, Pyro and Big Brown remain 1-2 in the AP's Run to the Roses' Top 10 list, while Tale of Ekati jumps in at No. 5 and War Pass falls to No. 7.
In the two other Derby preps Saturday, Colonel John stamped himself Best in the West with a half length win over Bob Black Jack in the Santa Anita Derby, and 15-1 shot Recapturetheglory took the Illinois Derby by four lengths - with previously unbeaten Denis of Cork finishing fifth.
Recapturetheglory is appropriately named by co-owners Ronnie Lemarque and Louis Roussel III, who trains the colt. The last time they were major players was 1988, when Risen Star won the 1988 Preakness and Belmont Stakes after running third in the Derby.
A final big weekend of preps comes Saturday with the Blue Grass and the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.
Pyro has been working sharply at Keeneland for trainer Steve Asmussen and will be the horse to watch in the Blue Grass. The field may be small, but it won't be short on talent. Also set to run are Zito's Fountain of Youth winner Cool Coal Man and Gotham winner Visionaire, conditioned by Barbaro's trainer Michael Matz. Others include Cowboy Cal and Monba, two of trainer Todd Pletcher's last hopes for a Derby starter.
A year ago, the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer sent out a record-tying five Derby starters, with his best finish a sixth place by Circular Quay.
The Arkansas Derby should feature a full field of 14, but won't have glamour names like recent winners Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Lawyer Ron and Curlin. Blackberry Road, Gayego, Liberty Bull and Z Fortune are among the horses expected for the race.
Denis of Cork and El Gato Malo - fifth in the Santa Anita Derby - dropped out of the top 10 because of poor performances. Georgie Boy drops out with an injury.
1. Pyro (Steve Asmussen, trainer, Shaun Bridgmohan, jockey): Hasn't missed a beat since winning Louisiana Derby last month. ... Worked 6 furlongs in 1:14.60 over Keeneland's Polytrack on Monday. ... Next start: Blue Grass (Keeneland, Saturday). ... Future wager odds (through Saturday): 5-1.
2. Big Brown (Rick Dutrow, Kent Desormeaux): Will be only Derby starter with an unbeaten record - 3-for-3 after 5-length romp in Florida Derby. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs, May 3). ... Odds: 3-1.
3. Colonel John (Eoin Harty, Corey Nakatani): Best in West after rallying to win Santa Anita Derby. .... Has four wins and two seconds in six career starts. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 6-1.
4. Cool Coal Man (Nick Zito, Desormeaux): Worked 4 furlongs in 47.40 at Keeneland on Thursday. ... Fountain of Youth winner has four victories in seven starts. ... Next start: Blue Grass. ... Odds: 20-1.
5. Tale of Ekati (Barclay Tagg, Edgar Prado): Big Wood win puts colt in the mix. .... Rebounded nicely from sixth-place finish in Louisiana Derby. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 18-1.
6. Big Truck (Tagg, Eibar Coa): Will have a Derby stablemate in Tale of Ekati. ... Tampa Bay Derby win ended 4-race losing streak. ... Next start: Holy Bull (Gulfstream Park, Saturday) or Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 32-1.
7. War Pass (Zito, Cornelio Velasquez): Rebounded well with runner-up finish in Wood. ... Distance could be issue as he tired at 1 1-8 miles - Derby distance is 1 1/4 miles. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 14-1.
8. Court Vision (Bill Mott, Garrett Gomez): Third-place in Wood has persuaded Mott to stay on Derby path. ... So of Gulch might be ready for big race next time out. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 19-1.
9. Visionaire (Michael Matz, Jose Lezcano): Worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.40 at Keeneland on Saturday. ... Matz looking for solid in Blue Grass to move on to Derby. ... Won Gotham in last start. ... Next start: Blue Grass. ... Odds: 19-1.
10. Bob Black Jack (Jim Kasparoff, Richard Migliore): Runner-up earnings from Santa Anita Derby likely enough to get colt in Derby if more than 20 are entered. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 42-1.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Denis of Cork, El Gato Malo, Reecapturetheglory, Smooth Air, Tomcito.
Copyright (c) 2008 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved
Will Tomcito prove he belongs on Derby trail?
Joe Hirsh, who has seen everything, was always the go-to source in the wake of unusual developments. When asked, and it was often, "... has this happened before?" the now retired Daily Racing Form columnist would answer, "... everything has happened before."
Thirty-seven years ago, a horse bred in Kentucky sold at auction for next to nothing and exported to South America returned to Louisville and won the Derby in what was considered at the time the most shocking upset in the history of America's race with a rally that carried him from 18th of 20 to a decisive victory.
A colt of modest lineage, Cannonero II, was sold at auction for $1,200 with no extra charge for a split hoof and crooked foreleg to Venezuelan connections, gained instant celebrity on both sides of the equator for his astounding Triple Crown exploits and endures still among the legendary figures in Latin American racing history. He would repeat his Derby victory in the Preakness and drew what was at the time the largest crowd ever to see the third leg of the Triple Crown to Belmont Park for an unsuccessful attempt to sweep the Triple Crown.
Cannonero II's sale price converts in 2008 dollars to $7,299.96, slightly less than the $7,500 paid for Tomcito at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale, where despite the paternal influence of Street Cry, sire of last year's Derby and Travers winner Street Sense, the yet to be named colt's price was muted by ungainly, wide-set forelegs. Trainer Dante Zanelli made the final bid on behalf of casino owners Polo and Omar Monti, long-established horsemen in Peru and shipped the colt to Lima.
Tomcito has grown to size a close to Canonero II's 16 hands and like the Venezuelan legend, has developed a long, fluid, ground-covering stride despite obvious flawed conformation.
While Canonero II was a far more experienced horse when sent directly from Caracas to Louisville, Tomcito has started only five times in Peru, winning four, and if he is to run in the Kentucky Derby, he must first prove himself in Saturday's Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park
"It was a different case for Canonero," Zanelli said last week at Gulfstream."They knew what they had. That might be the case for our horse, but we're in a different place."
Like all South American horsemen, Zanelli was raised hearing tales of the exploits of Canonero II. He is aware that in 37 years since that fateful Derby only a handful of horses have emerged from South America to reach the highest levels in the North America, most recently the international superstar Invasor, who left South America after having swept the Uruguayan triple crown. No South American three-year-old since 1971 has made an impact in Kentucky,
While the thought of winning the most-important race run in the United States with a colt dismissed as a yearling by the world's keenest eyes for youthful potential, the minions of Arab royalty (the powerful Darley Stable is co-breeder) and the most astute and successful of American trainers and pinhookers must enter his thoughts, Zanelli at this stage is focused on the development of Tomcito without entertaining the possibility that his horse is ready to take up Canonero II's mantle.
"He has this really nice stride," Zanelli said. "He was a little wide in front and he's a little wide with the way he walks, but when we brought him to the racetrack he really started to stretch out. He covers a lot of ground. We need to see where he is. He's been working steadily since we got him here and our goal has been to get him as ready as we can for a race like the Florida Derby. We're almost there."
Tomcito has not run since last November, when he won the 12-furlong Derby Nacional. He was runner-up at a mile in the Peruvian 2,000 Guineas but owns a victory at 10 furlongs in the Clasico Ricardo Ortiz de Zevallos, making him the only three-year-old currently in this country to have won races at both 10 and 12 furlongs. Not insignificantly he won those races, including a Peruvian classic, in competition with horses bred in the Southern Hemisphere who enjoyed an advantage of several months more development and foundation.
His position in the Kentucky Derby chase, which is becoming increasingly complicated as it progresses, will be defined by Tomcito's performance in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. The anticipated participants include Big Brown, the undefeated, lightly raced and so far untouchable colt from trainer Rick Dutrow's arsenal; the Barclay Tagg-trained Elysium Fields, a fast-closing runner-up to Cool Coal Man in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, and Fierce Wind, a Nick Zito-trained colt who won the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs over Big Truck, subsequent winner of the Tampa Bay Derby. If Tomcito stands his ground in Florida on Saturday, there will be no question that he belongs among the eventual 20 assembled at Churchill Downs on May 3. If the odds appear to be stacked against the best three-year-old in Peru, they have been from the outset of his career.
"I like to point out," said Zanelli, "that 51 horses went to Peru two years ago from the U.S. Only three of them made the classics down there and only one of them won."
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Pyro replaces beaten War Pass at No. 1 in Run for the Roses' Top 10
OLDSMAR, Fla.: Smiling and signing autographs as he left the winner's circle, Barclay Tagg attempted to explain the remarkable turn of events at the Tampa Bay Derby.
"Anything's possible, or impossible, in racing," the trainer said.
His colt, Big Truck, won Saturday's race while overwhelming favorite War Pass finished last in the first loss of his up-to-now brilliant career.
The astonishing outcome shook the road to the Kentucky Derby, with Louisiana Derby winner Pyro replacing War Pass at No. 1 in this week's Run to the Roses' Top 10. War Pass, the 2-year-old champion who won his first five races in front-running style, dropped to No. 7, just behind new arrival Big Truck.
Circumstances may have prevented War Pass from running his best. He had a fever early in the week, was too eager in the gate and was pinched between horses at the start. Still, don't count out trainer Nick Zito's speed demon. War Pass could run in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5, then end up in the Derby on May 3.
Zito said Sunday that War Pass came out of the race in fine shape, although there were several cuts on his legs from being jostled at the start by Make Me Zach and Gentleman James.
"Everything is working good mechanically," Zito said by phone from Gulfstream Park in South Florida. 'We'll do more X-rays tomorrow, but thank God, he looks fine. That certainly wasn't the War Pass we know. Hopefully, we'll look to go forward in the Wood."
Pyro, meanwhile, is now the prime Derby contender. The colt trained by Steve Asmussen is 2-for-2 this year with both wins punctuated by explosive finishing kicks.
Big Truck, a New York-bred owned by Eric Fein, won his first stakes race and improved his record to 3-for-7. After earning $180,000, Big Truck now has nearly $200,000 in graded stakes earnings - all but guaranteeing a spot in the Derby if more than the maximum of 20 horses are entered.
"We're hoping this Truck stops in Louisville," said Fein, who bought Big Truck for $90,000 last year.
Two other Derby preps Saturday produced new prospects.
-Georgie Boy beat Gayego by three-quarters of a length in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, and moves into the rankings at No. 8 after his third straight stakes victory.
-Sierra Sunset captured the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park by three lengths, with favorite Z Fortune a disappointing fifth and Anak Nakal, another Zito trainee, seventh.
While it was a bad day for Zito, the trainer has a few other Derby contenders with Fountain of Youth winner Cool Coal Man (No. 3) and Sam F. Davis winner Fierce Wind.
Tagg's fortunes, meanwhile, brightened.
The trainer who won the 2003 Derby and Preakness with New York-bred Funny Cide also conditions No. 10 Tale of Ekati (Wood Memorial is next) and Elysium Fields (Florida Derby, March 29), listed in the keep-an-eye-on category.
Next Saturday features several races that could produce more Derby contenders - the Lane's End and the Rushaway, both at Turfway Park, and the Private Terms at Laurel.
The three new entries in the Top 10 are Big Truck, Georgie Boy and Tale of Ekati.
1. Pyro (Steve Asmussen, trainer, Shaun Bridgmohan, jockey): Clear leader following War Pass' loss. ... Risen Star, Louisiana Derby winner training well at the Fair Grounds. ... Next start: Blue Grass (Keeneland, April 12). ... Future wager odds: 4-1.
2. Colonel John (Eoin Harty, Garrett Gomez): Worked 4 furlongs in 49.20 at Santa Anita on Thursday. ... Sham winner is 3-for-5 with two seconds. ... Next start: Santa Anita Derby (April 5). ... Odds: 17-1.
3. Cool Coal Man (Zito, Kent Desormeaux): Worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.00 at Palm Meadows on Friday. ... Fountain of Youth winner has four wins in last five starts. ... Next start: Blue Grass. ... Odds: 26-1.
4. Denis of Cork (David Carroll, Robby Albarado): Skipped Rebel in favor off just one more prep. ... Southwest winner is 3-for-3 over three tracks. ... Worked 6 furlongs in 1:13.80 at the Fair Grounds on Sunday. ... Next start: Blue Grass. ... Odds: 12-1.
5. El Gato Malo (Craig Dollase, David Flores): San Rafael winner is 3-for-4. ... Worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.20 at Hollywood Park on Saturday. ... Next start: Santa Anita Derby. ... Odds: 15-1.
6. Big Truck (Barclay Tagg, Eibar Coa): Big win in Tampa Bay Derby for first stakes win. ... Beat Atoned by a neck with strong finish. ... One of three Derby hopefuls trained by Tagg. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs, May 3). ... Odds: 6-1 (mutuel field).
7. War Pass (Zito, Cornelio Velasquez): So much for perfect records. ... Could not overcome poor start in Tampa Bay Derby, and finished last. ... Do not discount Derby chances. ... Next start: Wood Memorial (Aqueduct, April 5). ... Odds: 9-2.
8. Georgie Boy (Kathy Walsh, Michael Baze): Won San Felipe for third straight stakes win. ... California-bred gelding has won four of seven starts, all on synthetic surfaces. ... Baze replaced injured Rafael Bejarano. ... Next start: Undecided. ... Odds: 20-1.
9. Visionaire (Michael Matz, Jose Lezcano): Gotham winner headed for one more prep. ... Ran third behind Pyro in Risen Star on Feb. 9. ... Next start: Blue Grass or Illinois Derby (Hawthorne Park, April 5). ... Odds: 19-1.
10. Tale of Ekati (Tagg, Edgar Prado): Beaten by both Pyro and War Pass, but still a threat. ... Big effort could come in final prep. ... Next start: Wood Memorial. ... Odds:47-1.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Atoned, Court Vision, Elysium Fields, Fierce Wind, Sierra Sunset.
Copyright (c) 2008 the International Herald Tribune All rights reserved
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