DERBY HANDICAPPING BEGINS NOW.Byline: KEVIN MODESTI Horse Racing ARCADIA - Does a gelding gelding castrated male horse. who's still brushing Pomona dust from his mane have the class to win the Kentucky Derby? Can a colt bred for the turf course reach the world's biggest dirt-track race by way of the Arizona desert? Will a couple of stars of the college basketball world trade in March Madness for May Madness? Those are some of the questions facing horseplayers this week as the preps for the May 5 Derby begin in earnest and the Churchill Downs futurebook opens for business. The injury to 2000 2-year-old champion Macho Uno has left an obvious early Derby favorite in Bob Baffert-trained Hollywood Futurity winner Point Given. But after him, the 3-year-old class is one big question mark, at least until steppingstone step·ping·stone n. 1. A stone that provides a place to step, as in crossing a stream. 2. An advantageous position for advancement toward a goal. stakes like Saturday's Fountain of Youth Fountain of Youth legendary fountain of eternal youth. [World Legend: Brewer Dictionary, 432] See : Unattainability at Gulfstream Park in Florida and Risen Star at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans stamp more contenders. The right answers will be rewarding for handicappers around the country who go in for Churchill Downs' so-called Kentucky Derby Future Wager, the parimutuel version of the winter books that have long tantalized bettors in Nevada and Mexico. The first round of betting began Thursday and continues through Sunday. Round 2 is March 8-11, round 3 April 5-8. Last year, Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus paid $27.80 for a $2 bet in round 1, $26.40 in pool 2, $8 in pool 3 - and only $6.60 on Derby day. Unfortunately, you can't make those bets in California, because the state horse racing laws prohibit wagering more than seven days before the event. But as an introduction to this year's Derby hopefuls, the 23 horses Churchill is offering for future wagering (in addition to the none-of- the-above ``field'') make a nice start: --Point Given (8-1 favorite on the Future Wager morning line): It's hard to find a weakness in The Thoroughbred Corp.'s homebred home·bred adj. Raised, bred, or reared at home; domestic. son of 1995 Derby winner Thunder Gulch as Baffert goes for his third Derby. --AP Valentine (10-1): The disappointing Breeders' Cup Juvenile The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup. favorite is trained by two-time Derby winner Nick Zito and owned by Rick Pitino's Celtic Pride Stable, which might have to change its name to Bruin Pride Stable. --Millennium Wind (10-1): The $1.2 million yearling yearling an animal in its second year of age, e.g. yearling cattle, yearling filly, yearling colt. yearling disease rinderpest in wildebeeste in the Serengheti. was second to Point Given at Hollywood Park, and could jump to the top of the rankings by beating him in the Feb. 17 San Felipe at Santa Anita. --Dollar Bill (12-1): Chris McCarron will go to Louisiana to ride the Risen Star favorite for former D. Wayne Lukas Darrell Wayne Lukas (born September 2, 1935 in Antigo, Wisconsin) is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. assistant Dallas Stewart. --Holiday Thunder (15-1): The frequent victim of bad trips will try to emulate sire Thunder Gulch by winning the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby. --Startac (15-1): The Hollywood Park-based colt by grass sire Theatrical rallied from 11th to win the Turf Paradise Derby The Turf Paradise Derby is a race for Thoroughbred horses held in February at Turf Paradise in Arizona. The Turf Paradise Derby is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. An ungraded stakes now offers a purse of $100,000. in Phoenix for the heirs of Allen Paulson. --Global Gait (20-1): Purchased after three wins in four starts in Maryland, the gelding will make his first start for Baffert and owners Bob and Beverly Lewis (the Silver Charm team) in the Fountain of Youth. --Hero's Tribute (20-1): Son of 1993 Derby winner Sea Hero is one of three on this list trained by John Ward for Oklahoma oilman Oil´man n. 1. One who deals in oils; formerly, one who dealt in oils and pickles. 2. A person working in the petroleum industry, esp. an oil company executive. Noun 1. John Oxley, the others being Holiday Thunder and Monarchos. --Monarchos (20-1): Speed-figure players are drawn to the gray colt who has yet to try the stakes level. --Street Cry (20-1): Second and third to the best 2-year-olds, he's training in Dubai for Godolphin Racing, which will defy convention again and skip the U.S. preps. --Buckle Down Ben (30-1): Colt who began in Delaware will run once more for trainer Steve Klesaris in the Fountain of Youth, then go to Lukas for new owner Michael Tabor. --Burning Roma (30-1): Belmont Futurity winner by sprinter Rubiano is being trained at Tampa Bay Downs Tampa Bay Downs is a horse track in Tampa, Florida. History The track opened in 1926. The track has operated under many names the most famous being Florida Downs. In 1943, the Army used the track as a training facility. by owner Harold Queen until Anthony Dutrow takes over in March. --Early Flyer (30-1): Ron McAnally and doughnut king Verne Winchell probably have a sprinter in the San Vicente winner. --Gold Trader (30-1): The son of leading sire Storm Cat won the low- rated Golden State Mile in the Bay Area. --Invisible Ink (30-1): Another Thunder Gulch offspring, he's improving in Florida for Lukas protege Todd Pletcher. --Meetyouatthebrig (30-1): Bought after an 11-length stakes win at the L.A. County Fair in Pomona, the gelding tries the Fountain of Youth for Elliott Walden. --Mongoose (30-1): So far, the best thing about him is the trainer-jockey combo of Bill Mott and Jerry Bailey. --Outofthebox (30-1): A big allowance win at Gulfstream made him the 3-1 morning-line favorite over 10 others in the Fountain of Youth. --Palmeiro (30-1): To the delight of punsters and baseball fans, Palmeiro will run in the San Rafael (March 3). --Songandaprayer (30-1): The Florida-based colt is co-owned by former Duke basketball All-American Bobby Hurley. --Talk is Money (30-1): If you like this Maryland-based colt, why not take his 15-1 morning line for the Fountain of Youth? --City Zip (50-1): Raced 12 times, winner five times, the $9,000 yearling still faces doubts about the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance. --Ommadon (50-1): The son of 1996 Derby winner Grindstone grindstone or grind common metaphor for industriousness. [Pop. Culture: Misc.] See : Industriousness is playing his own Subway Series: Second in Remsen, he'll prep in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . The ``field'' is the Future Wager's morning-line favorite at 5-1. --The Bigger 'Cap: The March 3 Santa Anita Handicap The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the late winter at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses three years old and up, and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during is getting more interesting. Turf star Bienamado will skip Saturday's $200,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap The San Luis Obispo Handicap is a race for Thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park each year. The race is open to horses age four and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on the turf. A Grade II event, it offers a purse of $150,000. to run instead in the $1 million Big 'Cap. This news came after 2000 3-year-old filly champion Surfside surf·side adj. Situated or sited at or near the seashore: surfside parties; a surfside road. , favorite for Sunday's Santa Maria Handicap The Santa Maria Handicap is a race for thoroughbred horses run each year at Santa Anita Park. A Grade I event, it is set at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. The Santa Maria is open to fillies and mares age three and up and offers a purse of $250,000. , was declared a candidate for the Big 'Cap by trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Also, Aptitude, second in last year's Kentucky Derby and Belmont, will make his 2001 debut in the Big 'Cap, trainer Bobby Frankel said. And Guided Tour, the San Antonio winner, might stay here for the Big 'Cap. Horse of the Year Tiznow remains the favorite for the 1 1/4-mile race. OUT OF THE GATE SANTA ANITA LEADERS (Through Wednesday) --Jockey Wins Laffit Pincay 37 Victor Espinoza 30 David Flores Flores, town, Guatemala Flores (flōrəs), town (1990 est. pop. 2,200), capital of Petén department, N Guatemala. Flores was built on an island in the southern part of Lake Petén Itzá and on the site of the 24 Kent Desormeaux 23 Chris McCarron 21 Corey Nakatani 21 --Trainer Wins Bob Baffert 21 Bill Spawr 12 Bob Hess Jr. 9 Jose Silva 9 Jack Carava 8 Vladimir Cerin 8 Ron Ellis 8 Bobby Frankel 8 John Sadler 8 PINCAY WATCH Laffit Pincay's victory Wednesday aboard maiden claimer In a Daze ($15) marked the eighth time in 37 days at Santa Anita that he rode the last-race winner. That's a lot for a Hall of Fame jockey, considering the nightcap night·cap n. 1. A usually alcoholic drink taken just before bedtime. 2. Sports & Games The last event in a day's competition, especially the final game in a baseball double-header. 3. often is the cheapest race on the card. It raised Pincay's record career-wins total to 9,080. THE STAKES SCHEDULE Santa Anita Saturday --$200,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap, 4-year-olds and up, 1 1/2 miles on turf. --$100,000 Boo La Boo, California-bred 3-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs. Sunday --$200,000 Santa Maria Handicap, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles. --$75,000 San Marino Handicap, 4-year-olds and up, 1 1/4 miles on turf. Monday --$150,000 Buena Vista Handicap The Buena Vista Handicap is an annual race for Thoroughbred horses held early in the year at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one mile on the Grade II]] event. The Buena Vista offers a purse of $150.000. , fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 mile on turf. Gulfstream Park Saturday --$200,000 Fountain of Youth, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Fair Grounds Saturday --$125,000 Risen Star, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. A WEEK AT THE RACES At The Races is a British television channel, originally co-founded with Channel 4, but now owned by a partnership between British Sky Broadcasting, Arena Leisure PLC and 28 (out of the 59) UK racecourses. Kent Desormeaux was presented with the ESPY for jockeys at ESPN's annual sports awards show Monday in Las Vegas. It's the fifth year in a row that the ESPY went to the Kentucky Derby-winning jockey, and the fourth year in a row that the ESPY recipient was different from the Eclipse Award winner. . . . Matt Garcia announced he's relocating from California to Chicago, a move cheered by his fellow jockeys here. Garcia, 30, sparked fights in recent years with rides they considered dangerously aggressive. . . . Five-time French riding champion Cash Asmussen said he won't return to Europe this season and indicated his career is over. CAPTION(S): photo, box MEMO} Kevin Modesti is a Daily News columnist. His horse racing column appears Fridays. He can be reached at (818) 713-3616 and HeyModesti(at)aol.com Photo: no caption (Laffit Pincay) Box: OUT OF THE GATE (see text) |
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