ARCADIA, Calif. -- The Kentucky Derby still needs a favorite.
A major Derby prep once again produced an unexpected result when 30-1 long shot Castledale, trained by Utah native Jeff Mullins, won the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, leaving racing fans wondering who's the horse to beat at Churchill Downs on May 1.
Castledale, a colt bred in Ireland who just started running on dirt in America, beat top Derby prospects Wimbledon, St Averil and Imperialism in the final major prep on the West Coast.
After the race, co-owner Frank Lyons couldn't believe his good fortune.
"To go to the Kentucky Derby, the greatest race in the world, with a chance, is unbelievable," he said. "There's no standout this year, that's why we're here."
This week's Derby Prospects list reflects that thinking, which is why Master David -- trainer Bobby Frankel's colt who hasn't raced since February -- moves in at No. 1 this week, replacing trainer Bob Baffert's Wimbledon.
Master David, winner of the Sham Stakes on Feb. 5 and never off the board in six starts, is set to run in Saturday's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
While Louisiana Derby winner Wimbledon could have stamped himself the clear-cut favorite with a victory Saturday -- he was fifth -- the Santa Anita Derby still has produced three of the last seven Kentucky Derby winners.
As many as six of the seven 3-year-olds from Saturday's race could end up in Louisville -- Castledale, Imperialism, Rock Hard Ten, Quintons Gold Rush, Wimbledon and St Averil.
Imperialism was in position to win Saturday's 1 1/8-mile race, but Rock Hard Ten drifted inside during the stretch run and forced 21-year-old trainer Kristin Mulhall's colt to check hard before finishing third. A stewards' inquiry, though, disqualified Rock Hard Ten and placed him third; Imperialism was moved up to second.
Joining the prospects list for the first time is Pollard's Vision, a two-length winner in Saturday's Illinois Derby. The colt trained by Todd Pletcher is named for Seabiscuit jockey Red Pollard. Like Pollard, Pollard's Vision cannot see out of his right eye.
The biggest prep weekend arrives Saturday, with the Blue Grass, Wood Memorial and Arkansas Derby. Then there's the Lexington Stakes on April 17.
The top 10 prospects:
1. Master David (Bobby Frankel, trainer; Edgar Prado, jockey);
2. Friends Lake (John Kimmel, Richard Migliore);
3. Value Plus (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez);
4. Read the Footnotes (Rick Violette Jr., Jerry
Bailey);
5. Birdstone (Nick Zito, Bailey);
6. Preachinatthebar (Bob Baffert, Javier Santiago);
7. Imperialism (Kristin Mulhall, Victor Espinoza);
8. Pollard's Vision (Pletcher, Eibar Coa);
9. Wimbledon (Baffert; Santiago);
10. Smarty Jones (John Servis, Stewart Elliott).
Keep in mind: Action This Day, Castledale, Eddington, Lion Heart, The Cliff's Edge.
http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Apr/04052004/sports/154279.asp
A major Derby prep once again produced an unexpected result when 30-1 long shot Castledale, trained by Utah native Jeff Mullins, won the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, leaving racing fans wondering who's the horse to beat at Churchill Downs on May 1.
Castledale, a colt bred in Ireland who just started running on dirt in America, beat top Derby prospects Wimbledon, St Averil and Imperialism in the final major prep on the West Coast.
After the race, co-owner Frank Lyons couldn't believe his good fortune.
"To go to the Kentucky Derby, the greatest race in the world, with a chance, is unbelievable," he said. "There's no standout this year, that's why we're here."
This week's Derby Prospects list reflects that thinking, which is why Master David -- trainer Bobby Frankel's colt who hasn't raced since February -- moves in at No. 1 this week, replacing trainer Bob Baffert's Wimbledon.
Master David, winner of the Sham Stakes on Feb. 5 and never off the board in six starts, is set to run in Saturday's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
While Louisiana Derby winner Wimbledon could have stamped himself the clear-cut favorite with a victory Saturday -- he was fifth -- the Santa Anita Derby still has produced three of the last seven Kentucky Derby winners.
As many as six of the seven 3-year-olds from Saturday's race could end up in Louisville -- Castledale, Imperialism, Rock Hard Ten, Quintons Gold Rush, Wimbledon and St Averil.
Imperialism was in position to win Saturday's 1 1/8-mile race, but Rock Hard Ten drifted inside during the stretch run and forced 21-year-old trainer Kristin Mulhall's colt to check hard before finishing third. A stewards' inquiry, though, disqualified Rock Hard Ten and placed him third; Imperialism was moved up to second.
Joining the prospects list for the first time is Pollard's Vision, a two-length winner in Saturday's Illinois Derby. The colt trained by Todd Pletcher is named for Seabiscuit jockey Red Pollard. Like Pollard, Pollard's Vision cannot see out of his right eye.
The biggest prep weekend arrives Saturday, with the Blue Grass, Wood Memorial and Arkansas Derby. Then there's the Lexington Stakes on April 17.
The top 10 prospects:
1. Master David (Bobby Frankel, trainer; Edgar Prado, jockey);
2. Friends Lake (John Kimmel, Richard Migliore);
3. Value Plus (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez);
4. Read the Footnotes (Rick Violette Jr., Jerry
Bailey);
5. Birdstone (Nick Zito, Bailey);
6. Preachinatthebar (Bob Baffert, Javier Santiago);
7. Imperialism (Kristin Mulhall, Victor Espinoza);
8. Pollard's Vision (Pletcher, Eibar Coa);
9. Wimbledon (Baffert; Santiago);
10. Smarty Jones (John Servis, Stewart Elliott).
Keep in mind: Action This Day, Castledale, Eddington, Lion Heart, The Cliff's Edge.
http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Apr/04052004/sports/154279.asp
