April 2009 Archives

Here's how some of the trainers based at Hollywood Park see Saturday's 135th running of the Kentucky Derby, courtesy of Hollypark publicity man Steve Schuelein:

Jesse Mendoza -- "I've got to go for (trainer Jeff) Mullins's horse (I Want Revenge). He was so impressive in his last race, getting left at the gate and overcoming trouble to win."

Paul Aguirre -- "There are so many X-factors, but I like Pioneerof the Nile. Any time a horse can change his style as often as he has and still win, he has to be an outstanding horse."

John Sadler -- "Emotionally, I'm rooting for Papa Clem. It's bigger than (trainer) Gary Stute. It's Clement Hirsch (the late icon after whom the horse was named by his son and owner, Bo), Warren Stute, Mel Stute and California racing. I think all the California horses -- Papa Clem, Pioneerof the Nile, Chocolate Candy and Mr. Hot Stuff -- will run well. It's a strong group. Chocolate Candy, owned by Jenny Craig: what a story that would make."

Mark Glatt -- "You've got to like Mullins's horse (I Want Revenge)."

Barry Abrams -- "Dunkirk. He's a fresh, up-and-coming horse, and has got the right style for this race."

Steve Knapp -- "I like Baffert's horse (Pioneerof the Nile). He's done nothing wrong, and Baffert has won the race three times before."

Mike Harrington -- "I Want Revenge."

Julio Canani -- "It's going to be a long shot. Bet the field."

David Hofmans -- "I Want Revenge."

Eric Guillot -- "Baffert's horse is a proven commodity, but I'd like to see Mullins' horse win."

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Hey, don't ignore Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem in Saturday's Kentucky Derby ... the son of Smart Strike is 20-1 on the morning line, which shocks trainer Gary Stute.
He's right ... there are some very good reasons why the colt should not be 20-1, and we cover them in Friday's column. I had a long telephone conversation with Gary on Wednesday and he's upbeat going into the race.

We'll also let you know how his father, Mel Stute, is going to bet the race. He's looking to hit it big quickly!! Make sure you pick up the paper tomorrow and check it out.

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Check these out, courtesy of www.bodog.com ... I mean, the Kentucky Derby is getting to be like the Super Bowl. You can bet on just about anything!!!

Will any Horse win the 2009 Triple Crown?

Yes +600

No -1100

2009 Kentucky Derby vs. Ricky Hatton/Manny Pacquiao - 135th Kentucky Derby Winning Margin vs. Number of Knockdowns in the Fight

135th Kentucky Derby Winning Margin -3 (+170)

Number of Knockdowns Pacquiao/Hatton +3 (-250)

Will NBC best its previous Kentucky Derby Nielsen rating high of 9.3 achieved in 2001 with its presentation of the 135th Kentucky Derby?

Yes +155

No -225

How many different horses will race caller Tom Durkin (NBC) call as the race leader?

Over/Under 5

How long will it take LeAnn Rimes to sing the national anthem at the 135th Kentucky Derby?

Over/Under 1 minute and 54 seconds (1:54)

2009 Kentucky Derby - What color will Leann Rimes hat be at the 135th Kentucky Derby?

Blue 5/6

White 5/2

Grey 4/1

Red 6/1

Black 8/1

Purple 10/1

Any Other Color 3/1

How long will the it take to sing "My Old Kentucky Home" at the 135th Kentucky Derby?

Over/Under 2 minutes 17 seconds (2:17)

Will the winner of the 135th Kentucky Derby be bred in Kentucky?

Yes -2500

No +1250

Will the crowd attendance exceed that of the 157,770 of 2008?

Yes +125

No -165

How many lengths will the winner of the 135th Kentucky Derby win by?

More than 2 lengths 6/5

2 lengths 7/1

Less than 2 lengths 1/1

Will a horse win the 135th Kentucky Derby wire to wire?

Yes (Horse Wins 135th Kentucky Derby Wire to Wire) +550

No (Horse Wins 135th Kentucky Derby Wire to Wire) -1100

Who will NBC Horse Racing Analyst Gary Stevens pick to win the 135th Kentucky Derby?

PIONEER OF THE NILE 1/1

I WANT REVENGE 7/5

GENERAL QUARTERS 5/1

Any Other Horse 2/1

Odds to finish LAST in the 135th Kentucky Derby

ADVICE 10/1

CHARITABLE MAN 7/1

CHOCOLATE CANDY 16/1

DESERT PARTY 15/1

DUNKIRK 75/1

FLYING PRIVATE 8/1

FRIESAN FIRE 60/1

GENERAL QUARTERS 14/1

HOLD ME BACK 11/1

I WANT REVENGE 75/1

MINE THAT BIRD 7/1

MR. HOT STUFF 9/1

MUSKET MAN 13/1

PAPA CLEM 17/1

PIONEER OF THE NILE 60/1

REGAL RANSOM 14/1

SQUARE EDDIE 10/1

SUMMER BIRD 9/1

WEST SIDE BERNIE 9/1

WIN WILLY 10/1

The superlatives keep pouring in for 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra, the 3-5 morning-line favorite in Friday's $500,000 Kentucky Oaks -- the filly version of the Kentucky Derby.

Here's what D. Wayne Lukas had to say about the Oaks drawing only eight fillies:

"Two words: Rachel Alexandra. I think she's the strongest favorite since Winning Colors' year (1988) if she had raced in the Oaks."

Winning Colors was trained by Lukas and became only the third filly to win the Kentucky Derby. She's also the last filly to do it.

He was asked why he's running three fillies in the race if he thinks Rachel Alexandra is such a strong favorite.

"If you could guarantee me second place right now I'd be a happy man," he said.

Lukas, who's won the Oaks four times, will saddle a trio of long shots this year -- Be Fair, Stone Legacy and Tweeter.

Neal McLaughlin, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's brother and assistant trainer, had this to say about Rachel Alexandra:

"She's an amazing filly. You hear a lot about fillies taking on the boys in the Derby. This filly is probably that caliber," he said. "We're going to have our work cut out for us, but if we have our best day and she doesn't, who knows? If we both have our best days, we might be in trouble."

The McLaughlins are running Justwhistledixie, the 7-2 second choice who has won five consecutive races.

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Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, who heads up the Godolphin Stables, has this dream of winning the Kentucky Derby by preparing his colts in Dubai and then traveling to the States before the race. He's failed in four previous attempts and has two chances this year -- Regal Ransom and Desert Party. I know some experts who give both colts a big chance Saturday, but I just can't see it. I think he'll be 0 for 5 after this weekend because it's just too taxing on a young horse to travel this far and then have to beat 19 others in a grueling 1 1/4-mile race.

Read the Tuesday report on Sheikh Mohammed's two colts released by the Churchill Downs publicity folks and then participate in our poll and let us know what you think.

DESERT PARTY/REGAL RANSOM - Shortly before dawn and well before rain arrived, trainer Saeed bin Suroor sent the two Godolphin colts out to gallop a mile and a quarter.

"We tried coming from Dubai four times. Now, I think we have better horses than what we saw in Dubai. We're trying this year and it looks to me that our horses are doing much, much better than ever."

Hollywood Park was forced to cancel Thursday's live racing because there were not enough horses to fill the eight-race card. The racing office was working Tuesday to fill Friday afternoon's card -- the only afternoon Friday card of the spring-summer meet. Hollywood Park will be open Thursday for simulcast wagering.

This may not be the only time this happens this year. There is a severe horse shortage in California, and Golden Gate Fields was forced to cancel a card earlier this month when the Northern California track could not fill its races.

The latest from Louisville ...

* Square Eddie, runner-up in last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile and a colt who was attracting a lot of attention after his big effort in the Lexington Stakes on April 18, is out of the Derby. He re-aggravated a cannon bone injury and is sidelined indefinitely. Trainer Doug O'Neill doesn't think the injury is serious, but it should lay him up for a while.

* I Want Revenge (pictured), impressive winner of the Gotham Stakes and Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, turned in his final Derby work Tuesday morning, moving four furlongs in 47.34 seconds with jockey Joe Talamo aboard.

* With Square Eddie out, the Todd Pletcher-trained Take the Points, a disappointing fourth in the Santa Anita Derby on April 4, is now in. Who knows, maybe he doesn't like synthetics and will fire big on Derby Day. Remember, Charismatic finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby and then won the Run for the Roses and Preakness in 1999.

* Dunkirk, who many onlookers pick to win the 135th Derby despite the fact he's raced only three times, arrived at Churchill Downs today and is scheduled to hit the track Wednesday morning. Pletcher, despite all his Eclipse Awards as the nation's outstanding trainer, is 0 for 21 in the Derby.

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I submitted my final Kentucky Derby Top 10 rankings to The Paulick Report last night. Here is the way I see it:

1. I Want Revenge -- Talamo rides this colt with confidence
2. Pioneerof the Nile -- Looks like he's taking to dirt at Churchill
3. Friesan Fire -- Has the talent to stage quite a show on Derby Day
4. Chocolate Candy -- Hollendorfer confident Candy Ride colt will fire on dirt
5. Papa Clem -- Stute not worried about Saturday's subpar work
6. Dunkirk -- Many think this guy is talented enough to win in only fourth lifetime start
7. Square Eddie -- Looked like a colt that needed a race in the Lexington
8. Musket Man -- Candidate for a minor award
9. Hold Me Back -- See Musket Man
10. General Quarters -- Might be the story of the week

Each afternoon the Churchill Downs publicity crew e-mails a report to turf writers around the country wrapping up that morning's activity of all the horses expected to start in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

Here's their report this morning on Santa Anita Derby winner Pioneerof the Nile, who had his final Derby work Monday morning:

PIONEEROF THE NILE - Regular exercise rider Joe Steiner guided Pioneerof the Nile through a five-furlong work in 1:01 moments after the track reopened at 8:30 a.m. following the renovation break.

Trainer Bob Baffert watched the work from the front side of the track and, as is his custom, was in touch with the rider via radio. Pioneerof the Nile, owned by Zayat Stables, cruised through fractions of :11.80. :23.80, :36 and :48.60. He was allowed to gallop out a long way and was timed in 1:13.40 for the six furlongs.

"He went really nice," Baffert said. "There was a lot of wind. He left the half-mile pole, went five-eighths and he galloped out pretty strong all the way around there. He was moving really well and looked comfortable over the track."

Pioneerof the Nile has won all four of his starts on synthetic surfaces in California since being moved to Baffert's care late last year. The son of 2004 Kentucky Derby runner-up Empire Maker has trained well on dirt, but the Derby will be his debut on dirt.

"He's got a long stride as it is, but he really moves better over the dirt, I think," Baffert said. "His stride is just tremendous."

Baffert was pleased with the way the colt performed in his final breeze before the Derby.

"He did it pretty effortlessly," Baffert said. "I think he wanted to go a little faster; I wouldn't let him. I was really happy with the work. I'm really excited about the work."

Steiner gave the Santa Anita Derby winner high marks, too.

"It was a comfortable, smooth move," Steiner said. "He just kind of coasted around there and we let him gallop out on his own. He felt perfect."

Steiner, who has been a jockey for nearly 25 years, said he likes the way the colt is approaching the race.

"Mentally, he's focused, he's confident, he's calm," Steiner said. "The way you want a horse to act, he's shown everything. He's like a dream to gallop. He's very kind.

"I think the key at this point is being focused and confident. He's handling all the media and all that stuff around him. It doesn't faze him. And physically, he's right on. With the combination of the two, now it's up to luck."

Steiner said Pioneerof the Nile feels the same way to him on the dirt track at Churchill Downs and the synthetic surfaces in California. The Derby will be Pioneerof the Nile's first race on dirt.

"You couldn't ask a horse to be doing any better than this." Steiner said.

The 135th Kentucky Derby lost one of its premier colts early Monday morning when it was announced that Florida Derby winner Quality Road will not race Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Here's the story from the Daily Racing Form's Web site, drf.com:

By David Grening
ELMONT, N.Y. - Quality Road's bid to make Saturday's Kentucky Derby ended Monday morning when the colt's right front foot was simply too sore to allow him to train.

Quality Road had developed a quarter crack on his right front foot last Thursday, but his connections were hopeful the horse could still make the Derby. However, Quality Road needed to get a workout in Monday morning, but instead was relegated to standing in a tub of hot water and Epsom salts in an attempt to get the soreness out of the foot.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens noted that the quarter crack on Quality Road's right front foot was simply too sensitive when the horse walked the shed row Monday morning. On Sunday, Quality Road had some blood trickle out of the foot after galloping 1 3/4 miles over Belmont Park's training track.

"It's devastating," Jerkens, 50, said about missing out on the chance to run Quality Road in the Derby. "I don't know if you could ever get a horse for a race like the Derby with his credentials leading up to it."

Quality Road won 3 of his 4 starts including the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. His victories impressed his jockey, John Velazquez, who was a visitor to Jerkens' barn Monday morning.

"The things he's done so quickly for a horse coming from three quarters to a mile to a mile and an eighth; what he did was impressive, very impressive," said Velazquez, who picked up the mount on Mr. Hot Stuff for the Derby.

Ed Evans, the owner and breeder of Quality Road, had been to the barn three consecutive mornings hoping to get some good news. Instead, he must now think ahead to other races, which could include the Preakness on May 16 but more likely will feature other 3-year-old races later this summer.

"It's very disappointing because everybody, everywhere was rooting for him, wanted him to get there," Evans said. "We raise horses; we got to do what's right for the horses. We're used to being told by the horse what to do. We've got several hundred horses on the farm telling us what to do. We're like the junior partner sometimes."

Quality Road had been sending signals for a while that the Derby was not in his plans. He suffered a quarter crack on his right hind foot the day he won the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, but that had not proven to be a hindrance to the colt. Last Thursday, after galloping three-quarters of a mile following a gate-schooling session, Jerkens noticed the crack on the colt's right front foot.

The horse did not train Friday and just jogged on Saturday. Noted equine hoof specialist Ian McKinlay put a patch and a drain on the foot on Sunday morning before the gallop. Though there was the trickle of blood, Quality Road did gallop sound.

After examining Quality Road Monday morning, McKinlay shaved off a quarter of the shoe "to take the pressure off the quarter." The horse then stood in a tub of hot water and Epsom salts for 20 minutes.

"He's tender in that heel, [it] never went away," McKinlay said.

McKinlay said he would examine Quality Road again on Tuesday to see how the foot progressed overnight. If the soreness is gone, it is conceivable Quality Road could jog Tuesday and resume normal training on Wednesday.

"We're just looking for that coronet band to calm down," McKinlay said. "If he's sound, he'll go out and jog him and he'll probably be perfectly sound by the weekend."

The Kentucky Derby is still five days away and yet we already have a colt that will likely run in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on May 16 -- Mr. Fantasy, who won Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Withers Stakes at Aqueduct by 1 3/4 lengths under Richard Migliore.

After the race, Migliore reportedly told the New York bred colt's connections that he'd be a logical candidate for the Preakness, the second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. This Ones for Phil was second, 7 1/4 lengths ahead of Gone Astray.

As usual, Mr. Fantasy broke badly at the start but had enough talent to overcome the adversity. The son of E Dubai, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, has won three of four lifetime. It was the colt's first stakes victory and his first win against open company.

Watch for this guy in the coming weeks and months. He could be one of the nation's top 3-year-olds come Travers Stakes time in August.

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We'll talk about the latest in horse racing. This is a good week to start, what with the Kentucky Derby only five days away.

Trainer John Shirreffs told the Daily Racing Form today that Zenyatta will make her 2009 debut in Friday's $350,000 Louisville Distaff at Churchill Downs.

Zenyatta, champion older filly for 2008 who has won the first nine starts of her career, breezed five furlongs in 59 seconds Sunday morning at Hollywood Park. She's scheduled to be flown to Louisville on Monday.

"She looks like she's getting ready right now, and I didn't want to particularly train her for a couple more weeks," Shirreffs told the Racing Form.

Owner Jerry Moss told me last week Zenyatta would have returned in the Grade III Hawthorne Handicap at Hollywood Park if track management had not canceled the race as part of its purse cuts. Moss and Shirreffs didn't want to wait until the $150,000 Grade II Milady Handicap on May 23, thus the start in Kentucky. Moss would like to run the 5-year-old daughter of Street Cry at least once at Hollywood Park, and she could run in the $300,000 Grade I Vanity Handicap on June 27.

Zenyatta, who won her only previous start on dirt powerfully in last April's Oaklawn Handicap, has not raced since winning the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic by 1 1/2 lengths on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita.

I think there might be four bettable races today at Hollypark:

4th -- Bill Spawr has Thelma Rose, a 3-year-old daughter of Rio Verde, ready to roll. He claimed her for $25,000 on Feb. 21 at Santa Anita, raised her all the way up to $50,000 and put her on the grass in a two-turn race. She'd never gone two turns in nine previous races and she finished seventh, beaten six lengths. Today, she drops back into a sprint -- where she's 2 for 5 -- at a level higher ($32,000) than where she was claimed. She switches back to Rafael Bejarano, who had ridden her in six prior races before the last. I like this gal a lot.

5th -- Cape Truth drops from the Pasadena Stakes into an $80,000 claimer and regains the services of Garrett Gomez, who rode the 3-year-old Cape Town colt when he broke his maiden at Santa Anita two back. The fact he's trained by Doug O'Neill obviously doesn't hurt his cause.

6th -- Union Soldier went postward at 25-1 in his bow at Santa Anita on Jan. 22 and finished fourth in an $80,000 maiden claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs on Pro-Ride. I like the fact trainer Ron Ellis saw enough in this guy to put him in a maiden special weight and switch him to the grass. He's a contender in here.

7th -- A winner of two of three lifetime, Lemon Supreme figures to stalk the pace and have plenty in the stretch for jockey Tyler Baze, who inherits the mount from Joel Rosario. The 4-year-old Lemon Drop Kid filly is on the rise and I'll single her in my pick six and late pick four.

Good luck today!!

He's a little bit shorter than Midnight Lute, and he doesn't have the best eating habits, but this guy would be plenty handy to have around. Just think, you wouldn't have the expense of transporting him to the track on race days because he could ride in the car with the owners and/or trainer. And you wouldn't need a stable manager, because it looks like he handles answering the phone just fine.

Rafael Bejarano just won his fourth California Gold Rush race in six tries today, riding 9-1 shot Pretty Unusual to a come-from-behind victory in the $200,000 Melair Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Bejarano has been on a tear the whole meet so far, winning 11 races as he tries for his record seventh consecutive SoCal riding title. He and Chris McCarron share the record of six consecutive since Hollywood Park began its autumn meet in 1981, giving Southern California five major race meets during the year. Bejarano, McCarron and Patrick Valenzuela are the only jockeys to sweep all five in one year.

As hot as Bejarano's been, that's as cold as Garrett Gomez is today. He's ridden in five of the six races and finished off the board in all five. In fact, he's finished fifth or lower with all of his mounts. Just shows that even the best riders have an off day now and then.

I like Feisty Suances, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, in today's $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes, the marquee event of Hollywood Park's California Gold Rush card. The 3-year-old son of Suances has been running against the likes of Kentucky Derby contenders Pioneerof the Nile and Chocolate Candy and has been competitive. He's trained by Darrell Vienna and will be ridden by Victor Espinoza.

Feisty Suances has won three of seven lifetime with two seconds and has career earnings of $139,820 -- second in the field to Triumphant Flight's $206,543. Bejarano, off to a nice start with three wins in the first four Gold Rush races, will ride Triumphant Flight, a son of Chullo who is the 9-2 third choice in the wagering.

A look at the Snow Chief:
Feisty Suances -- Wins if he runs back to San Felipe effort
He's Really Big -- Will benefit from fast pace
Unbridled Roman -- Proven at the distance
J P Jammer -- Upset special

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Garrett Gomez, who flew to California today to ride eight horses on California Gold Rush Day at Hollywood Park, has come up empty with his first three mounts -- empty as in clear off the board.

Gomez has blanked with Golden Doc A in the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes, Ruffled Feathers in the $60,000 Alphabet Kisses Stakes and heavily favored Bel Air Sizzle in the $150,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes.

Rafael Bejarano, meanwhile, has won two of the first three races. He won with Waveline in the B. Thoughtful and Bootleg Annie in the Fran's Valentine. Woman Warrior, a first-time starter from the Bruce Headley barn, came from off the pace under Alex Solis to win the Alphabet Kisses at 6-1.

This could be a huge afternoon for Bejarano, who has mounts in all 10 Gold Rush races.

Quality Road, the Florida Derby winner who is one of the favorites for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2, has developed another quarter crack. With the Derby only eight days away, his status for the Run for the Roses is tenuous at best.

Here's the story from the Daily Racing Form's Web site, drf.com:

By David Grening
ELMONT, N.Y. - After getting over a quarter crack on his right hind foot, Quality Road has developed a quarter crack on his right front foot that puts his status for the May 2 Kentucky Derby in doubt.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens canceled Saturday's scheduled workout at Belmont Park and said Friday morning that if the horse could not breeze by Monday "then it looks like we won't be able to go."

Based on victories in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby, Quality Road figured to be one of the Derby favorites.

Jerkens said he noticed the quarter crack Thursday morning as Quality Road was about to be get new shoes following his morning training session.

"We always pull him in the middle there to dry his legs off, look everything over and there it was," Jerkens said. "It didn t have any blood or anything but it was there. We pulled him into shoe him; it wasn t something you could see too easy unless you got real to close to it."

Quality Road had his wrapped in animalintex, which contains a mild antiseptic plus natural poultice agent designed to draw any heat or infection from the area. Jerkens said he did not think there was any infection. On Friday, Quality Road remained in the barn.

Ian McKinlay, the noted hoof equine specialist, saw the crack Thursday and was scheduled to examine Quality Road Friday afternoon. "This is a very low grade quarter crack," McKinlay said Friday morning. "No infection, no nothing."

Asked if Quality Road could still make the Derby, McKinlay said, "I wouldn't know why not."

Jerkens said if McKinlay were able to lace the crack Friday, the horse could gallop on Saturday. "If he comes back without any problems," Jerkens said, "then he can patch it right away. He'll have to determine if it'll need another day of drying out or not."

Jerkens said he would like to be able to gallop Quality Road on Saturday and work him on Sunday. "More realistically, I'm thinking it would be gallop him Sunday and work Monday."

Quality Road is scheduled to leave for Kentucky on Tuesday.

Quality Road suffered a quarter crack on his right hind foot while winning the Florida Derby on March 28. The original patch that was put on by a farrier in south Florida did not hold, and Quality Road had some blood coming from that foot following a routine gallop on April 6. McKinlay put a new patch on the hind foot April 8 and the horse has twice worked without any incident.

Joe Talamo, who will ride one of the favorites, I Want Revenge, in the Kentucky Derby on May 2, is going to be on television tonight. A news release from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association:

TALAMO TO APPEAR TONIGHT ON LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY

Joe Talamo, the 19-year-old jockey of top Kentucky Derby contender I Want Revenge, will be featured tonight on "Last Call with Carson Daly", a popular talk and variety show on NBC that airs at 1:35 a.m. ET. (Check local listings.)

Talamo, who has garnered much media attention this year for his role on the Animal Planet series "Jockeys" and for his recent exploits on Twitter, will appear in a special segment taped last week at Santa Anita Park with Daly.

See what a 10-horse field at Hollywood Park does? It gets me eager to bet, and I really like a horse in the eighth today, a $25,000 maiden claimer going 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track.

Take a look at Fever Reliever. I know, he's had 11 tries and still hasn't been able to get the job done, but I liked his last race when he closed and narrowly missed getting third and I think trainer Frank Lucarelli, not a household name in these parts, has the 4-year-old filly ready to find the winner's circle. She adds blinkers and is a healthy 8-1 on the morning line.

Joel Rosario is off to a nice start at the 65-day meet, scoring four times Wednesday. He would appear to be the only threat to Rafael Bejarano's bid for a record seventh consecutive SoCal riding title since Hollywood Park's autumn meet began in 1981.

Good luck today!!

It won't take you long to handicap today's opening-day card at Hollywood Park. Let's see, six horses in the first, five in the second, five in the third, six in the fourth ... 53 in the eight races. You're not going to get a lot of value with so few horses running, but get used to it. This meet figures to have a lot of short fields what with many trainers transferring horses out of state in search of either dirt tracks or larger purses.

I am going to bet a couple of horses today:
MEN'S MAGAZINE in the third gets the services of Tyler Baze. The 5-year-old son of Dr Devious won three of six on the turf in Italy as a 2-year-old and appears to be rounding into form for trainer Ron McAnally.

JULIA M has found her spot today in the fourth race, a six-furlong sprint for $8,000 claimers. The 5-year-old mare has flashed early speed for $12,500 twice since February and faded badly. She also flashed early lick against $10,000 claimers on March 11 at Santa Anita and stuck around for third, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths. She's running against even cheaper today and has a great shot to go gate to wire on a Cushion Track that in the past has been kinder to speed horses than Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface.

Good luck today!!

Here's my latest Kentucky Derby rankings that I submitted to The Paulick Report on Monday evening:

1. I Want Revenge -- Mullins making more news off track than his colt
2. Pioneerof the Nile -- Baffert's now a Hall of Famer; fourth Derby win next?
3. Friesan Fire -- Larry Jones' final shot at winning a Derby
4. Quality Road -- Many think Elusive Quality colt is most talented of the bunch
5. Chocolate Candy -- Capable of outrunning what figures to be double-digit odds
6. Papa Clem -- Can Gary Stute win the Derby his dad couldn't?
7. Dunkirk -- Prado climbs aboard when Gomez chooses Pioneerof the Nile
8. Musket Man -- Illinois Derby winner closes at 25-1 in final Future Wager pool
9. Hold Me Back -- Distance should be no problem for son of Giant's Causeway
10. Square Eddie -- Can Doug O'Neill really pull this off?

When Silverbulletday was announced as the choice in the contemporary female division to join the 2009 class in the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame, my first reaction was pretty limited. I mean, even though I covered some of her races in 1999, I guess I never fully appreciated how great a filly she was because she raced so many times outside of California.

This is a filly who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 1998 and came back to win the Kentucky Oaks the following spring. It's becoming more and more apparent that 2-year-old champions, particularly fillies, just don't seem to carry over their brilliant form as juveniles to their 3-year-old campaigns. Halfbridled and Sweet Catomine are two that come to mind, and this year Stardom Bound has not looked like the same filly she was in 2008. Whether it be injuries or whatever, they just are not transferring their greatness from one year to the next.

But Silverbulletday, trained by new Hall of Fame member Bob Baffert and owned by Mike Pegram, was the exception to the rule. She was brilliant as a juvenile and equally as illuminating as a sophomore when she won, among other races, the Ashland at Keeneland, the Gazelle at Belmont Park and the Alabama at Saratoga to go with her Kentucky Oaks score. That's four Grade I victories at four different race tracks.

Overall, the daughter of Silver Deputy won 15 of 23 starts for earnings of a little more than $3 million. She was a true champion, one that I obviously didn't appreciate enough when she was racing.

Pegram was unable to attend Monday's Hall of Fame announcement because of a previous commitment, but he issued a statement concerning Silverbulletday.

"She was a gift from heaven to me," he said. "You always dream to have a great one like this, but she's going to be very hard to reproduce in the future because she was just that good. She's just one of those once-in-a-lifetime horses, and I was lucky enough to get one."

And most of us were lucky enough to have seen her run.

Bob Baffert, who's won three Kentucky Derbies and a record five Santa Anita Derbies, is now a Hall of Famer. Baffert beat out Robert Wheeler. On a conference call Monday morning to announce the inductees to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame, Baffert credited his mom and dad and owner Mike Pegram for his success.

Jockey Alex Solis lost out in the voting to former jockey Eddie Maple. Randy Romero was also up for induction. Both Maple and Romero were fine riders, but I think Solis got robbed here. He's won more races than either Maple or Romero did and accomplished more.

Tiznow, the only two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic, was voted in as contemporary male horse, beating out 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given and Best Pal, one of the best Cal-bred horses of all time who won the inaugural running of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

Silverbulletday, trained by Baffert and owned by Pegram, edged Open Mind and Sky Beauty to gain induction.

The award winners for the 2008-09 Santa Anita meet:

Horse of the Meet -- Pioneerof the Nile
Older Horse -- Einstein
Older Filly/Mare -- Life Is Sweet
Grass Horse -- Midships
Grass Filly/Mare -- Magical Fantasy
3-Year-Old -- Pioneerof the Nile
3-Year-Old Filly -- Stardom Bound
Sprinter -- Georgie Boy
Claimer -- Bootleg Annie
Trainer -- John Sadler
Jockey -- Rafael Bejarano
Race -- La Canada Stakes
Achievement -- Bejarano, six titles

Not much to argue with. All solid choices.
Any thoughts?

John Sadler just saddled the winner of today's seventh race at Santa Anita, 7-2 shot Oil Man, and leads Mike Mitchell in the battle for top trainer of the meeting, 40-39. Sadler has overcome a 39-35 deficit by winning twice both Thursday and Friday and with his only entry today.

Mitchell is still alive to at least share the title. He has Sensational Score, currently 5-2 with seven minutes before post time, in the eighth and two horses in the San Juan Capistrano Handicap -- defending champ Big Booster and Church Service.

Rafael Bejarano, who had already clinched his sixth consecutive SoCal riding title, has won once today and has 99 wins for the meet in his bid to become the first jockey since Kent Desormeaux (112) in 1995 to surpass the century mark. He has mounts in the final three races.

Just received the entries for the first two days of Hollywood Park's spring-summer meet, and they're not pretty folks. In fact, they're worse than we could have imagined -- six horses in the first race on opening day Wednesday, five horses in both the second and third races and six in the fourth. Overall, 53 horses are entered in the eight races -- an average of about 6 1/2 per race. Wow.

It doesn't get much better Thursday, either. Six in the first, five in the second, seven in the third, seven in the fourth. Overall, 57 horses are entered in the eight races -- an average of about seven per race.

The horse population is low. Very, very low. Less mares are being bred every year because the sales are just not producing results like in past years. I was told that in the past, 50,000 race horses on the average were born each year, and about half of that total -- 25,000 -- made it to the tracks. Now, the number of foals each year is closer to 30,000, and it doesn't figure to get much better in the immediate future.

This Hollywood Park meet could be one of the darkest in years, perhaps ever.

It's no surprise here to learn that Garrett Gomez will ride the Bob Baffert-trained Pioneerof the Nile in the Kentucky Derby on May 2, choosing the son of Empire Maker over the lightly-raced but talented Dunkirk.

To me, it was a no-brainer. Gomez has never won the Derby, the pinnacle of success for all jockeys, and I think the more seasoned Pioneerof the Nile gives Gomez a better chance to accomplish that goal than Dunkirk, who very well could eventually turn into a better colt than Pioneerof the Nile but is nowhere near the Derby threat right now.

Dunkirk has raced only three times, and Pioneerof the Nile, who has won four consecutive graded stakes, has raced eight times. Pioneerof the Nile goes into the Derby off a victory in the Santa Anita Derby, and Dunkirk was second to Quality Road in the Florida Derby.

Anderson told the Daily Racing Form's David Grening that this was the most difficult decision he has had to make in 36 years as an agent. He said the final decision was made because Gomez has won four stakes aboard Baffert's colt.

"If I had won four stakes, two Grade 1's, on the other horse, I would have been on that one," Anderson told the Racing Form.

Edgar Prado will ride Dunkirk in the Derby.

There are only six horses entered in today's closing-day San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita, but five of the six could win the 1 3/4-mile turf marathon, making it a most interesting 70th running of the longest stakes race in California.

Mike Mitchell, embroiled in a tight race for top trainer at the meet with John Sadler, will be going for his third consecutive San Juan win when he saddles defending champ Big Booster and Church Service, both of whom have big shots to find the winner's circle and put Mitchell over the top for his second consecutive Santa Anita training title.

Mitchell, tied with Sadler at 39 wins apiece, will saddle four horses before the San Juan and Sadler has only one bullet today. Advantage, Mitchell. But if Sadler should win with Oil Man in the seventh, he could win the title outright if Mitchell blanks, which is unlikely. Mitchell has too many live horses to not win at least once, putting the pressure squarely on Sadler.

The other three runners in the San Juan who have a big shot are the Bobby Frankel-trained Midships, Spring House and Obrigado. Midships has already won the San Luis Rey on March 21, and Spring House took the San Luis Obispo Handicap on Feb. 22. If you go back to the Grade I Hollywood Tuf Cup on Dec. 6 at Hollywood Park, Obrigado finished a strong second, beaten only a half-length, to Champs Elysees, runner-up to Einstein in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.

The only horse that doesn't figure here is On Fire, who just doesn't appear to have the class to find the winner's circle against this bunch.

Here's the way I see this year's San Juan --
1. Midships -- will be tough to beat if no one goes with him
2. Big Booster -- will be closing but needs someone to soften up the top choice
3. Spring House -- Solis says he'll run better than in last
4. Church Service -- part of the closing brigade
5. Obrigado -- seems to have tailed off, but never discount Drysdale
6. On Fire -- minor award is his best chance for success

Good luck today!!

Defending champion Mike Mitchell and John Sadler will go into Sunday's final day of Santa Anita's winter-spring meet tied atop the trainer standings with 39 victories apiece. Sadler, who trailed Mitchell 39-35 heading into Thursday's action, won two times both Thursday and Friday to pull into the tie, and both conditioners blanked on Saturday.

Sadler came up the slimmest of noses short in the Santa Barbara Handicap with Black Mamba, which would have given him a one-win lead heading into Sunday's 10-race card. Instead, Magical Fantasy, with Alex Solis aboard, just held off the closing burst of Black Mamba and Joel Rosario.

Mitchell, who won the title 33-28 over Sadler last year, has a decided advantage heading into the final card. He is scheduled to saddle six horses, including Big Booster and Church Service in the $200,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap. Sadler, meanwhile, will saddle only one horse Sunday -- Oil Man in the seventh, a 1 1/8-mile low-level allowance race on the turf.

Mitchell will most likely get the job done somewhere along the line, putting the pressure on Sadler to win with his only horse in order to have a shot at sharing the title.

That intriguing matchup pitting Rachel Alexandra against Stardom Bound in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1 is off. Read the story from the Daily Racing Form:

By David Grening
Stardom Bound, last year's 2-year-old filly champion, has been ruled out of the May 1 Kentucky Oaks by her connections and will be given 60 days off to prepare for a late summer and fall campaign.

The decision was made Saturday after Stardom Bound had a subpar training session at Keeneland, said Michael Iavarone, co-president of the IEAH Stables, which owns majority interest in the filly. Stardom Bound was scheduled to breeze Sunday morning at Keeneland, but Iavarone said that exercise rider Michelle Nevin told him that she didn't feel comfortable working the filly.

Stardom Bound finished third in the Grade 1 Ashland in her last start.

"She just dulled out; she hasn't trained forwardly at all since the Ashland," Iavarone said. "It seems like we're at the point where she just needs a freshening. She was going to breeze [Sunday], but Michelle told me she'd be afraid to breeze the filly. That's all I needed to hear.

"She would have to be 100 percent to go against Rachel Alexandra, and now that there's this question, it doesn't make sense. It's disappointing because we really wanted to run in that race. She deserves to run against the best when she's at her best."

Iavarone said that Stardom Bound would likely be turned out at Three Chimneys Farm in Lexington, Ky.

As a 2-year-old, Stardom Bound was owned by Charlie Cono and trained by Christopher Paasch, and she won the Eclipse Award on the strength of electrifying off-the-pace victories in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Oak Leaf, and Del Mar Debutante. She went through the auction ring last November, and was purchased for $5.7 million by a group headed by IEAH.

Stardom Bound began her 3-year-old season with Grade 1 victories in the Las Virgenes and Santa Anita Oaks for trainer Bobby Frankel. She was turned over to Rick Dutrow and had her five-race winning streak snapped in the Ashland.

According to the Courier-Journal, Garrett Gomez will replace Mike Smith aboard 2008 champion filly Stardom Bound in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1. Smith rode Stardom Bound, a daughter of Tapit, to five consecutive Grade I victories before a third-place finish in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on April 4.

Of course, the way Rachel Alexandra has been destroying her opposition, it might not matter who rides Stardom Bound. Rachel Alexandra, a Medaglia d'Oro filly who's won four consecutive stakes and is unbeaten in three 2009 starts, will go into the Oaks off a scintillating 8 3/4-length victory in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 5. Calvin Borel was aboard.

Rachel Alexandra, in addition to perhaps being in better form than Stardom Bound, also has the advantage of already having proved she can run on dirt. Stardom Bound's eight career starts have all come over synthetics. Rachel Alexandra also has won twice at Churchill Downs. She's won 6 of 9 lifetime, and Stardom Bound has won 5 of 8 starts.

Take a look at these final two prep races and tell us who you like in the Kentucky Oaks:

The final major Kentucky Derby preps are behind us, and here are the three I rated as the most impressive, in order. I Want Revenge is involved in two of the three and is my choice today to win the Kentucky Derby. The third is Friesan Fire's romp in the Louisiana Derby on March 14.

Take a look at all three and tell us what you think.

Only four days left at Santa Anita's winter-spring meet, and if you're going to take in one more day at the races, today might be the day you want to go. There's a $94,872 pick six carryover, and who couldn't use a little extra money in this economic climate, huh?

There are a lot of wide-open races on today's eight-race card. The pick six includes races three through eight, with the third going postward at about 2 p.m. If you're looking for a singleton to keep the cost of your ticket down, take a good look at Manifest Destiny in the nightcap that includes 3-year-old maidens. He's dropping in for a tag for the first time, and trainer Kristin Mulhall wins at a 21-percent clip in route races. The gelding is worth a shot.

Good luck!!

More bad news for Southern California racing -- trainer Paulo Lobo is packing up 25 horses at his barn at Hollywood Park and will relocate to Belmont Park in late April, according to the Daily Racing Form. Lobo, 40, told the Racing Form that some of his owners want to stay in the Southland and will transfer their horses to different trainers.

"I was thinking about this for a while," he told the Racing Form. "I don't have anything against California. It was a decision for me and my owners. Almost all of my owners would like to do this. I've been very lucky here. It's time for a change." Lobo is winless with 23 starters at the Santa Anita winter/spring meet heading into today's eight-race card.

Lobo's defection comes at a time when many other name trainers are picking up and leaving. Todd Pletcher, who has had a large contingent of horses here the past two winters, has shipped his stable back east. He had only half as many horses at Santa Anita this winter as he had a year ago. Also, Bobby Frankel, Vladimir Cerin and Bob Hess Jr. have moved parts of their stables to other tracks outside the state.

Southern California has been blessed to have the best baseball announcer of all time -- Vin Scully -- the best basketball play-by-play man ever -- Chick Hearn -- and the best baseball/football announcer in Dick Enberg. Southland horse racing fans were also blessed to have who I consider the best turf announcer I've ever heard -- Harry Henson.
Listen to Harry bring the fabulous filly Landaluce home at Hollywood Park in the distinctive way that only he could:

Martin Pedroza, sidelined since Jan. 11 because of a fractured pelvis, is shooting for a return to action at the Hollywood Park meet on June 1. Pedroza's longtime agent, Richie Silverstein, says Pedroza is going to the gym and exercising every day. "The middle of (the) Hollywood Park meet is a very realistic starting point," Silverstein said.

Zenyatta, this reporter's 2008 Horse of the Year, drilled six furlongs in 1:10.60 at Hollywood Park on Sunday morning. Trainer John Shirreffs says the 5-year-old daughter of Street Cry will more than likely make her 2009 debut at Hollywood Park sometime in May -- perhaps the $150,000 Grade II Milady Handicap on May 23? The $300,000 Grade I Vanity Handicap on June 27 would be a logical next step after that.

Veteran jockey Isaias Enriquez moved his tack to Sunland Park in New Mexico after Saturday's action at Santa Anita. Enriquez, a 35-year-old native of Tijuana who was winless from 65 mounts during the meet, is named on three horses at Sunland Park today. Enriquez cited the economy as a major reason why he had to leave town. "I'm not leaving just because I didn't win here," he said. "It's tough for everybody ... I'm not going to wait here until the boat sinks."

Jockey Garrett Gomez, yet to choose between Pioneerof the Nile and Dunkirk as his Kentucky Derby mount, probably will decide either Friday or sometime this weekend. Look for Gomez to choose Pioneerof the Nile, a much more experienced colt who could give the 37-year-old Arizona native his first Derby victory. I'd be very surprised if he opts for Dunkirk.

Plans call for Square Eddie, runner-up to Midshipman in last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, to race Saturday in the $300,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. If he runs well and comes out of the race in good order, he's still on track for the Kentucky Derby. Square Eddie worked six furlongs on Hollywood Park's Cushion Track on Saturday in 1:12.20. "Square Eddie belongs with these horses," said Dennis O'Neill, brother and associate of trainer Doug O'Neill. "It's just a question of fitness, I guess, at this point. The way he worked (Saturday), and hopefully with a race into him Saturday, we'll be close (for the Derby)."

Mel Stute, 81-year-old trainer and father of Gary Stute, had the line of the week when he was asked if he gave his son any advice before Papa Clem won the Arkansas Derby: "No. That's probably why he won."

There is much speculation over how well Pioneerof the Nile, one of the favorites for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby, will fare when he races for the first time in his career on dirt in the Run for the Roses on May 2.

Well, Horse Racing TV analyst Jon White made a very compelling case for the Bob Baffert-trained colt when talking with Santa Anita publicity guru Ed Golden last weekend:

"In my opinion, based on Pioneerof the Nile's pedigree, there's a strong likelihood that he will do quite well on the dirt, just like I Want Revenge and Papa Clem," White said. "Also consider what a number of other horses running on Santa Anita's synthetic track have accomplished this year when they left California and raced on dirt. After winning the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Santa Anita's synthetic surface, Albertus Maximus won the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on the dirt. And Well Armed lost twice on Santa Anita's synthetic track this year, then won the Dubai World Cup by a record 14 lengths on the dirt."

Makes sense to me. White also told Golden he feels Pioneerof the Nile is a viable candidate to win the Triple Crown. He says he thinks the Belmont will be the easiest of the three for the son of Empire Maker, who won the final leg of the Triple Crown in 2003.

It was impressive how jockey Rafael Bejarano was able to sit fifth much of the way with Papa Clem and then move in the stretch to win Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, setting himself up as a true contender in the Kentucky Derby on May 2.
Take a look at the race and judge for yourself, and also watch a replay of the Blue Grass Stakes, which was won by 14-1 long shot General Quarters. Both colts displayed the type of stalking style that could prove effective on Derby Day.

Here's my latest Kentucky Derby top 10 that was sent to the Paulick Report late Sunday evening:
1. I Want Revenge -- Stands out off past two efforts in Big Apple
2. Pioneerof the Nile -- Gomez undecided on this guy and Dunkirk; he'll go with the Nile
3. Friesan Fire -- Too much time between Louisiana Derby score and Derby Day?
4. Quality Road -- Connections will watch Florida Derby winner's quarter crack closely
5. Chocolate Candy -- Mike Smith knows his way around Churchill Downs
6. Papa Clem -- Don't discount this ultra-competitive son of Smart Strike
7. Dunkirk -- Figures to get into the race, but is this colt seasoned enough?
8. Musket Man -- Could hit the board, but Derby win would be a surprise
9. Giant Oak -- Another who will be closing; use in exotics
10. Hold Me Back -- Question of whether he really likes the dirt

I'm leaving both Godolphin colts -- Regal Ransom and Desert Party -- off my list because I just don't like the route they take to Louisville. They should be prepping in the U.S. against quality competition, not in Dubai against suspect foes. Also, the connections for Square Eddie are planning to run the Smart Strike colt in the Derby if he runs well in Saturday's $300,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. This looks like a top-notch Derby field, and I think they're taking a chance of ruining Square Eddie if they race him in the Derby. For the colt's sake, I hope he doesn't start.

Mike Smith, who won the 2005 Kentucky Derby aboard 50-1 long shot Giacomo, has gained the mount on viable contender Chocolate Candy in this year's running of the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on May 2. Russell Baze, reportedly very upset that he did not get the mount, rode Chocolate Candy to two stakes victories at Golden Gate Fields to begin the year, and Joel Rosario was aboard the son of Candy Ride for his runner-up effort behind Pioneerof the Nile in the Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

Chocolate Candy has been competitive against the West's top 3-year-olds, running third behind Pioneerof the Nile and I Want Revenge in the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 20 and then turning in his huge effort behind the Bob Baffert-trained Pioneerof the Nile in the Santa Anita Derby. If he takes to the dirt the way I Want Revenge and Papa Clem have, he'll be a very dangerous horse come Derby day because of his closing kick down that long stretch.

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Chocolate Candy worked five furlongs Sunday morning at Santa Anita in :59.20 under Smith, who was aboard for the drill to familiarize himself with the colt before he leaves for Kentucky on Tuesday morning. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said he was happy with the drill and that Smith will work the colt twice at Churchill Downs before the race.

Two weeks ago, jockey Aaron Gryder won the $6 million Dubai World Cup by a record 14 lengths aboard Well Armed, and it was a victory that was well celebrated thoughout the Southland circuit. Gryder is a good guy who has paid his dues and is a pro's pro. It would have been tough to find somebody who wasn't happy for him.

Saturday, trainer Gary Stute, son of longtime Southland favorite Mel Stute, saddled Papa Clem for a half-length victory in the $1 million Arkansas Derby, stamping a ticket to the Kentucky Derby on May 2. Papa Clem, who ran huge while finishing second to Pioneerof the Nile in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, could be a huge player in the Run for the Roses at a really nice price. Gary's a gregarious guy, and he'll be accepting a lot of congratulations on the backside when he returns from Oaklawn Park.

Rafael Bejarano, seeking a sixth consecutive SoCal riding title, has won three of today's first six races at Santa Anita to take an 89-86 lead in the jockey standings over Garrett Gomez. With only seven more racing days after today and Gomez having moved his tack to Keeneland, Bejarano should cruse to the title, although he will have more than 100 more mounts than Gomez. Joel Rosario has third place locked up.

I'm going to withhold comment on these incidents until all the facts are in, but here is a statement released this morning by the NTRA:

The following is a statement from Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, regarding the ongoing New York investigations of trainer Jeff Mullins and owner Ernie Paragallo:

"In both instances, should the charges prove true, authorities should move swiftly to impose the most severe penalties applicable under the circumstances."

Can Stardom Bound, who had her streak of five consecutive Grade I victories snapped in Saturday's Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, even come close to beating Rachel Alexandra in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1? Watch this running of Sunday's Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park. She might not have beaten much, but it's more the way she won than who she beat.
She is one talented filly.

1. I Want Revenge -- Showed he's for real with incredible performance in Wood
2. Pioneerof the Nile -- He'll be even better with pace to run at
3. Friesan Fire -- Louisiana Derby winner will train up to the Derby
4. Quality Road -- Churchill oddsmaker says he'd be the morning-line favorite today
5. Old Fashioned -- Gets his chance at redemption in Saturday's Arkansas Derby
6. Chocolate Candy -- Santa Anita Derby runner-up has style that suits the Derby
7. Dunkirk -- Connections nervously await to see if he has enough earnings to get in
8. Musket Man -- Don't dismiss Illinois Derby winner; War Emblem took same path in '02
9. Papa Clem -- Needs big effort at Oaklawn Park on Saturday to go on to Louisville
10. Giant Oak -- Finished second to Musket Man in Illinois

Alex Solis II, son of jockey Alex Solis and co-owner of The Pamplemousse, said Sunday that the 3-year-old son of Kafwain will not run in the Kentucky Derby on May 2 because of a tendon issue.

Test results will be known later today or sometime Monday regarding just how severe the problem is. Another co-owner, Bill Strauss, said Saturday the problem was in the front left tendon, where heat was discovered earlier that morning and necessitated the withdrawlal of the colt from the Santa Anita Derby.

Santa Anita track officials had to be beaming Saturday when an on-track crowd of 50,915 wagered more than $5.6 million on Santa Anita Derby Day -- a 10 percent hike over last year when 50,358 turned out for the Derby. This marked the fourth consecutive year that the Derby has drawn more than 50,000 -- topped by the 56,810 who showed up to see Tiago win the race in 2007.

The news, however, wasn't as bright concerning the overall betting handle. Counting all sources, there was more than $20 million wagered on Saturday's 11 races -- a decline of 6 percent from 2008.

Overall, a very good day for Santa Anita during trying times.

I wanted to see how I Want Revenge would follow up his 8 1/2-length victory in the Gotham Stakes in Saturday's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, and boy did he ever turn in one tremendous performance.

Left at the gate at the start, I Want Revenge and jockey Joe Talamo saved ground throughout, encountered traffic trouble in the stretch before finding room, and closed to win comfortably and stamp himself as perhaps the Kentucky Derby post-time favorite on May 2.

Afterward, trainer Jeff Mullins said he thought the race was over at the start, and who could blame him. "Nine out of 10 times, they don't overcome it," Mullins said. "So for him to do what he did today is just unbelievable. He had every trouble you could have in a race and still overcame it. That's as good as it gets right there."

The only worry, really, is whether the effort took too much out of the colt. Remember, it's only four weeks until the Derby. But Talamo said not to worry.

"I thought today was a fairly easy race for him," he said. "To be honest, he only ran the last eighth of a mile so I don't think it took too much out of him. He just keeps getting better and better."

Take a look at the race and judge for yourself:

The Pamplemousse, the 9-5 morning-line favorite for today's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, has been withdrawn from the race after a pre-race examination this morning revealed swelling in a tendon. Part-owner Alex Solis II confirmed the swelling, but would not reveal which leg was the problem. Later, part owner Bill Strauss confirmed it is the left front leg.

In Ed Golden's Santa Anita stable notes Friday morning, trainer Greg Gilchrist made mention to stories swirling around the backside that The Pamplemousse was not doing well. They turned out to be true, though there is still hope The Pamplemousse can perhaps run in next Saturday's Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland if nuclear scans Sunday morning do not reveal any serious injuries.

Not good news for the colt's connections, or fans. This is the second Santa Anita Derby disappointment for trainer Julio Canani in two tries. In 2005, Sweet Catomine was favored to win the race and finished fifth. Afterward, it was revealed the filly was sick.

Julio was not commenting to the print media early Saturday afternoon.

Just did a quick check on Saturday's weather report for Santa Anita Derby day and I'm sure it has Santa Anita track officials beaming -- sunny and 73 degrees. The weather, coupled with the free T-shirts and the fact that this is a day when many people make it their lone trip to the track each year -- should mean another large turnout.

The past three Santa Anita Derbies have drawn on-track crowds in excess of 50,000, with a high of 56,810 in 2007 when Tiago scored his 29-1 shocker. Counting off-track, there was a total attendance figure of 71,596 that day.

The largest Santa Anita Derby on-track crowd ever? In 1984, 63,130 witnessed Mighty Adversary's win at 32-1 for jockey Eddie Delahoussaye and the late trainer Tommy Doyle.

There are 11 races this year, with the Santa Anita Derby set to go as the sixth race and be televised live by NBC between 2 and 3 p.m. NBC will also teleivse the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course. The Santa Anita Derby is scheduled to go postward at approximately 2:40 p.m.

Overall, it should be a great day of racing.

That 14-length victory by Well Armed in last Saturday's $6 million Dubai World Cup was so impressive, you've just got to watch it again. Aaron Gryder finally has that signature horse he can hang his hat on. The 6-year-old gelding could be a handful this summer and fall if he rebounds well from that long journey.

A pair of ultra-talented 3-year-old fillies, Stardom Bound and Rachel Alexandra, are on a collision course to meet in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1 at Churchill Downs. If both fillies win their final prep this weekend, it figures to be quite a showdown.

Stardom Bound, whose connections had Derby dreams earlier this year, has won five consecutive Grade I stakes -- something the great Ruffian didn't even accomplish -- as she prepares for Saturday's $400,000 Grade I Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday. Regular rider Mike Smith will again be in the saddle.

Meanwhile, Rachel Alexander will go in Sunday's $250,000 Grade II Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. Calvin Borel will ride the filly, who's won three consecutive stakes, none of which were Grade I's.

So, if we're fortunate enough to see these two young ladies square off the day before the Run for the Roses in the Oaks, who do you like?