HORSE RACING: CURLIN LOOKS LIKE DERBY FAVORITE.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

The Kentucky Derby has a new contender -- maybe even a new favorite.

Curlin stormed down the stretch to another runaway victory Saturday, winning the Arkansas Derby in Hot Springs, Ark., by a record 10 1/2 lengths. The chestnut colt has been overlooked on the Kentucky Derby trail because of his inexperience, but trainer Steve Asmussen expects that to change after this performance in Oaklawn Park's final Derby prep.

"I'd be very surprised if he wasn't the favorite going in," Asmussen said. "He's beating them easy, and everybody loves that."

Curlin has only three career starts, but all were impressive wins. He took the Rebel at Oaklawn last month by 5(bul) lengths and cruised to a 12Illegal 'X-value' for character STYLs voided here -length victory in his seven-furlong debut at Gulfstream Park in February.

Asmussen acknowledged last week that his horse had a lot to prove, but Curlin answered plenty of questions while pulling away down the stretch.

"Running straight to the wire, not drifting out," Asmussen said. "All of those things were what we had hoped for and it happened."

The Arkansas Derby has had some notable winners in recent years, including Smarty Jones in 2004 and Afleet Alex the following year. Both those horses went on to win two legs of the Triple Crown.

Curlin covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 50.09 seconds. He paid $3.60 for a $2 win ticket.

Blue Grass Stakes: This time, Street Sense came up a nose short.

In a wild four-horse dash to the finish, Dominican put his nose in front of Street Sense in the final stride and won the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

The first Blue Grass on Polytrack produced the most thrilling finish of a Derby prep this year -- the first four horses were separated by a mere half-length.

With the victory, Dominican is on his way to the Kentucky Derby in three weeks. Street Sense will be there, too, but probably not as the favorite.

Street Sense came into the Blue Grass off a nose victory over Any Given Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby last month. After another stretch battle, he came up short.

"Last time we got the photo, this time they got the photo," Street Sense trainer Carl Nafzger said. "I actually thought we had it won."

Dominican covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.33, and paid $18 for a $2 win ticket.

A son of El Corredor, Dominican needed to win or finish second to get into the Derby if more than 20 horses are entered. If that happens, graded- stakes earnings determine who gets in.

With the win, Dominican earned $465,000 for owner Silverton Hill LLC. He came into the race ranked 24th in earnings at $33,484.

La Puente Stakes: Golden Balls, an Irish-bred import whose name celebrates the soccer accomplishments of British superstar David Beckham, rallied furiously to nail odds-on favorite Desert Code in the final strides of Santa Anita's 27th running of the $108,300 La PuenteStakes for 3- year-olds at one mile on turf.

Following two decisive sprint victories over Santa Anita's hillside turf course, Desert Code appeared safely en route to his first route victory when 7-1 fourth choice Golden Balls came storming home under Brice Blanc to win by a nose.

The final time was 1:34.61. Golden Balls' victory in his U.S. debut was worth $16.40, $4.80 and $3.20.

Also: Silver Birch, a 33-1 long shot, won the 160th edition of the Grand National, beating Mckelvey by three-quarters of a length in Liverpool, England. ... Round Trip Flight beat Glorification by two lengths in the $76,875 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Oaks for 3-year-old fillies in San Mateo. ... Notional fractured his left front ankle during a gallop at Keeneland and will not run the Kentucky Derby. ... Aqueduct canceled today's card because of the high wind and heavy rain forecast for the New York area.