SAN FELIPE STAKES: GRIFFIN QUIET ON COBALT BLUE.Byline: KEVIN MODESTI Staff Writer ARCADIA -- Merv Griffin Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. (July 6 1925 – August 12 2007) was an American talk show host, game show host, entertainer, pianist, television personality and raconteur. touted his new Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby One of the classic U.S. Thoroughbred horse races. It was established in 1875 and run annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Ky. With the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, it makes up U.S. racing's coveted Triple Crown. dream Saturday in what was, for the entertainer, unusual fashion. Merv did it relatively quietly. Upstaged on a coast-to-coast busy afternoon of 3-year-old races by Street Sense's comeback victory in Florida and Curlin's smasher in Arkansas, the lightly raced colt Cobalt Blue won the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes The San Felipe Stakes is a race for Thoroughbred horses run each year at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The race is normally held in mid-March and is open to horses, age three, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles (8.5 furlongs) on the dirt. at Santa Anita to give Griffin a contender for the May5 Derby. Another big test looms for Cobalt Blue, in either the April14 Arkansas Derby or April 7 Illinois Derby, before the owner can book Louisville hotel rooms for his entourage. Maybe that's why, in the Santa Anita winner's circle, Griffin sounded as if he was trying to contain his anticipation. Or maybe he learned a lesson last year when Stevie Wonderboy got hurt and never reached Churchill Downs. "It's alive again," Griffin said of the Derby dream. "But I don't want to talk too much about it. I think I talked too much before Stevie Wonderboy." Understand, quiet is a relative concept for Griffin, the 81-year- old talk-show host, game-show entrepreneur and all-around center of attention. He explained that Dennis O'Neill, brother and assistant of Cobalt Blue trainer Doug O'Neill, has "forbidden me" to sing "My Old Kentucky Home." He said "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 , New York" is permitted. "How about, 'Chicago, Chicago ...'?" Griffin said, turning to Dennis O'Neill and breaking into song. Recently, Griffin said if everything went well in the San Felipe, Cobalt Blue would have his final Kentucky Derby prep in the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne. Dennis O'Neill pointed out to him Saturday that the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park has a $1million purse -- twice as nice. "Oh, then we're going there," Griffin said before pivoting back toward reporters and deadpanning: "But I'm not in this for the money." Everything went very well in the San Felipe for Cobalt Blue ($6.40) and jockey Victor Espinoza as they led virtually the whole 11/16 miles to beat 6-5 favorite Air Commander by two lengths in a five-horse field. For the Florida-bred son of Golden Missile, bought by Griffin for $325,000 at a 2-year-olds auction, this was the first start beyond a 6-furlong sprint, the first stakes-level victory, and the third win in four tries. Cobalt Blue was out from August to February because of a hind-end injury. Now, suddenly, he belongs on the O'Neill barn's troupe of Derby prospects with Great Hunter, Notional and Liquidity (O'Neill's horse for the April 7 Santa Anita Derby The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $750,000. ). "He's a powerhouse, a powerhouse of a racehorse racehorse refers usually to thoroughbred but may also include standardbred, trotter. ," Griffin said. "Today he's Cobalt Green. You know, he was born on Abraham Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12, and his first big win as a 3-year-old came on Valentine's Day. Today is St. Patrick's Day, and Derby Day is Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo (Spanish; “Fifth of May”) Mexican holiday commemorating the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla in 1862. The French army, better-equipped and far larger than the Mexican army, had been sent by Napoleon III to conquer Mexico. . He's a holiday horse." The San Felipe was one of Saturday's three races of interest to Triple Crown handicappers. 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. , 2-year-old champion Street Sense ($4.40) overcame his many doubters and a late start to his 3-year-old season to nose out Any Given Saturday Any Given Saturday (foaled January 29, 2004 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. From the mare Weekend in Indy, a daughter of the 1992 U.S. Horse of the Year and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, A.P. in the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby The Tampa Bay Derby is a race for Thoroughbred race horses held in March at Tampa Bay Downs. A Grade III event, the race is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles (8.5 furlongs) on the dirt. . Street Sense and jockey Calvin Borel clocked 1:43.11 to break the 11/16-mile track record. At Oaklawn, Curlin ($7.40) made only his second start but romped again in a 5(bul)-length victory over Officer Rocket. Robby Albarado rode for trainer Steve Asmussen. heymodesti(AT_SIGN)aol.com (818) 713-3616 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Cobalt Blue, right, with Victora Espinoza aboard, finishes first in the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. Edna T. Simpson/Daily News |
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