On Saturday, May 1, all eyes will be on Louisville for the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. But this Saturday, racing fans must expand their field of vision to keep track of the major Derby aspirants.
The day's richest race is the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. The Arkansas Derby is headlined by the undefeated Smarty Jones, victorious in all five of his starts. Smarty Jones, should he win both the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby, would collect a $5 million "Centennial Bonus" offered by Oaklawn Park to commemorate the track's 100th season. The Arkansas Derby won't be easy for Smarty Jones, however, because the Pennsylvania-bred drew the far outside post position in the field of 11 for the 1 1-8-miles race. Despite his outside draw, the son of Elusive Quality was installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's race.
Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., is the scene for Saturday's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. "This is the toughest prep race in the country," claimed Patrick Biancone, trainer of Lion Heart, who drew post six in the nine-horse field and was made the 5-2 morning line favorite.
Unraced until October of his two-year-old season, the speedy son of Tale of the Cat broke his maiden impressively in his racing debut at Santa Anita. He followed that effort with a six-length score in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes and ended his year on a high note, taking the Hollywood Futurity. Returned to the races in the San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita on March 6 of this year, Lion Heart led almost all the way, getting caught by Imperialism at the wire. That race should have tightened up Lion Heart, who will be hard to run down Saturday if left alone on the lead under Mike Smith.
Two-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Nick Zito will saddle two horses for the Blue Grass -- The Cliff's Edge and the Marylou Whitney-owned Birdstone. Also in the field is 2003 Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day.
Meanwhile, on the New York front, Master David drew post position five this morning and was established as the 5-2 morning line favorite in a field of 11 for Aqueduct's $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes, the race that produced last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, along with 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus and 2001 Derby winner Monarchos.
"With a good effort in the Wood, we should be in a good spot," said Peter Minikes, one of the owners of Master David who won the Sham Stakes earlier this year at Santa Anita. "Given that three of the last four winners of the Derby have come out of the Wood, this is a logical place to go."
The field for the Wood Memorial will go to post at 4:15 p.m. The Blue Grass Stakes will be run at 5:15 p.m. and the Arkansas Derby field will be off at 5:45 p.m. ESPN will show the Wood Memorial live during its one-hour "Citgo Racing to the Kentucky Derby" telecast that begins at 3:30 p.m. NBC will show a taped replay of the Wood Memorial, along with live coverage of the Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby during its 90-minute "NTRA Road to the Kentucky Derby" program that begins at 4:30 p.m.
BIG 3 PICK 3 OFFERED MAJOR DERBY PREPS
Fans will again have the opportunity for big payoffs if they can correctly select the winners of Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial from Aqueduct, the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland and the $1 million Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park in the Big 3 Pick 3 wager, a $1-minimum national bet.
"Naturally, we are excited to be the architect of the Big 3 Pick 3, and particularly proud of the growing importance of Aqueduct's premier race, the Wood Memorial," said Bill Nader, senior vice president of the New York Racing Association, which introduced the wager seven years ago. "The Big 3 Pick 3 is a terrific value play and is the only Pick 3 wager in history to record Wagering pools in excess of $1 million."
For each of its seven years, the Big 3 Pick 3 payoff has routinely generated the highest Pick 3 handle figures in North America. The 2003 handle of $1,010,482 was the fourth highest in history.
McGAUGHEY, SKIP AWAY, NOMINATED FOR HALL
Trainer Shug McGaughey and 1998 Horse of the Year Skip Away are among the candidates for election to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. More than 140 members of the racing media will vote on the Hall of Fame, and the one winner in each category will be announced on May 25.
The finalists are:
Jockeys: Kent Desormeaux, Eddie Maple, Randy Romero, Jose Santos
Trainers: Shug McGaughey, John Veitch, Nick Zito
Male horses: Lure, Manila, Skip Away
Female horses: Flawlessly, Mom's Command, Sky Beauty
The winners in each category will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in public ceremonies at the Fasig-Tipton Sale Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York, on the morning of Aug. 9.
RACING ON THE AIR
(All times Eastern)
April 10 Wire to Wire, 5:30-6 a.m., ESPN
April 10 Citgo Racing to the Kentucky Derby; Wood Memorial and Bay Shore Stakes (Aqueduct); 3:30-4:30 p.m., ESPN
April 10 NTRA Road to the Kentucky Derby and Visa Triple Crown; Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Keeneland), Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn Park) and Wood Memorial (Aqueduct); 4:30-6 p.m., NBC
April 13 Wire to Wire, 2-2:30 p.m., ESPN2
April 17 Wire to Wire, 5:30-6 a.m., ESPN
April 17 Citgo Racing to the Kentucky Derby; Coolmore Lexington Stakes (Keeneland) and Federico Tesio Stakes (Pimlico); 6-7 p.m., ESPN2
April 20 Wire to Wire, 2-2:30 p.m., ESPN2
RACING TO HISTORY
April 8, 1971 -- New York City Off-Track Betting opened for business. Two branches were available to accept wagers -- the Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan and an outlet in Queens. Total handle, including telephone betting, was $66,091.
April 8, 1991 -- Rider-turned-trainer Bill Shoemaker was paralyzed after an automobile accident.
April 8, 2001 -- "Seabiscuit -- An American Legend", by Laura Hillenbrand, took over the top spot on the New York Times bestseller list for nonfiction after just three weeks in the nation's bookstores.
April 9, 1962 -- Jockey Ron Turcotte rode his first winner, at Fort Erie Racetrack.
April 10, 1969 -- I Double Dareya was ridden to victory by jockey Gilbert Hernandez at Golden Gate Fields. Hernandez also happened to be the horse's owner and trainer, giving him a triple win.
April 11, 1945 Future Triple Crown champion Citation was foaled at Calumet Farm, Lexington, Ky.
April 12, 1948 -- After winning seven consecutive races, Citation lost the Chesapeake Trial Stakes by a length to Saggy, but rebounded to post 16 consecutive victories, including the Triple Crown.
April 12, 1969 -- Jockey Sandra Schleiffers, one of the first female riders in America and a former member of the Sisters of St. Francis convent in Clinton, Iowa, won her first career race at Turf Paradise. Schleiffers subsequently became the first woman to be admitted to the Jockeys' Guild.
April 13, 1872 -- The Louisiana Jockey Club held its inaugural meet at Fair Grounds. The first race, a two-mile hurdle, was won by Templo.
April 14, 1936 -- The first Maryland race result ever decided by a photo-finish camera took place at Havre de Grace in the second race, in which a 7-1 shot, Alit, was declared the winner.
April 15, 1940 -- With the start of the racing season at Jamaica, New York became the last major racing state to adopt electronic parimutuel wagering, thus eliminating on-track bookmaking.
April 15, 1941 -- In preparation for the May 3 Kentucky Derby, Whirlaway worked 1 1/8 miles in 1:52 at Keeneland.
April 15, 1943 -- With many of the country's young men joining in the war effort, women exercise riders were first employed at Pimlico Racecourse.
April 16, 1995 -- At age 25, Kent Desormeaux became the youngest jockey to reach the 3,000-wins mark when he rode Maisonaire to victory at Santa Anita Park.
April 17, 1972 -- Future champion filly Ruffian was foaled at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky.
April 18, 1970 -- The New York State Legislature passed a bill enabling off-track betting.
STAKES RACES
(Unrestricted stakes worth $75,000 and up)
THURSDAY, APRIL 8
Stonerside Beaumont Stakes, 3yo fillies, $250,000, Grade II, 7F, Keeneland
Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, 4&up, $150,000, Grade III, 6F, Oaklawn Park
FRIDAY, APRIL 9=
Fantasy Stakes, 3yo fillies, $200,000, Grade II, 1 1-16M, Oaklawn Park
Maker's Mark Mile, 4&up, $200,000, Grade II, 1M (T), Keeneland
Comely Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, Grade III, 1M, Aqueduct
SATURDAY, APRIL 10
Arkansas Derby, 3yo, $1,000,000, Grade II, 1 1-8M, Oaklawn Park
Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, 3yo, $750,000, Grade I, 1 1-8M, Keeneland
Wood Memorial Stakes, 3yo, $750,000, Grade I, 1 1-8M, Aqueduct
Carter Handicap, 3&up, $350,000, Grade I, 7F, Aqueduct
Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3&up, $250,000, Grade II, 7F, Keeneland
John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf, 3&up, $200,000, 1 1-8M (T), Sam Houston Race Park
Bay Shore Stakes, 3yo, $150,000, 7F, Grade III, Aqueduct
La Puente Stakes, 3yo, $150,000, 1M (T), Santa Anita Park
Shakertown Stakes, 3&up, $100,000, Grade III, 5 1-2F (T), Keeneland
Sunland Park Handicap, 3&up, $100,000, 1 1-8M, Sunland Park
Hallandale Beach Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 6 1-2F, Gulfstream Park
Instant Racing Breeders' Cup, 3yo fillies, $75,000, 1M, Oaklawn Park
Miss America Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $75,000, 1 1-16M (T), Bay Meadows
Northern Spur Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 1M, Oaklawn Park
SUNDAY, APRIL 11
Providencia Stakes, 3yo fillies, $150,000, 1M (T), Santa Anita Park
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14
Appalachian Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1M (T), Keeneland
THURSDAY, APRIL 15
Forerunner Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-8M (T), Keeneland
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The day's richest race is the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. The Arkansas Derby is headlined by the undefeated Smarty Jones, victorious in all five of his starts. Smarty Jones, should he win both the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby, would collect a $5 million "Centennial Bonus" offered by Oaklawn Park to commemorate the track's 100th season. The Arkansas Derby won't be easy for Smarty Jones, however, because the Pennsylvania-bred drew the far outside post position in the field of 11 for the 1 1-8-miles race. Despite his outside draw, the son of Elusive Quality was installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's race.
Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., is the scene for Saturday's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. "This is the toughest prep race in the country," claimed Patrick Biancone, trainer of Lion Heart, who drew post six in the nine-horse field and was made the 5-2 morning line favorite.
Unraced until October of his two-year-old season, the speedy son of Tale of the Cat broke his maiden impressively in his racing debut at Santa Anita. He followed that effort with a six-length score in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes and ended his year on a high note, taking the Hollywood Futurity. Returned to the races in the San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita on March 6 of this year, Lion Heart led almost all the way, getting caught by Imperialism at the wire. That race should have tightened up Lion Heart, who will be hard to run down Saturday if left alone on the lead under Mike Smith.
Two-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Nick Zito will saddle two horses for the Blue Grass -- The Cliff's Edge and the Marylou Whitney-owned Birdstone. Also in the field is 2003 Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day.
Meanwhile, on the New York front, Master David drew post position five this morning and was established as the 5-2 morning line favorite in a field of 11 for Aqueduct's $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes, the race that produced last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, along with 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus and 2001 Derby winner Monarchos.
"With a good effort in the Wood, we should be in a good spot," said Peter Minikes, one of the owners of Master David who won the Sham Stakes earlier this year at Santa Anita. "Given that three of the last four winners of the Derby have come out of the Wood, this is a logical place to go."
The field for the Wood Memorial will go to post at 4:15 p.m. The Blue Grass Stakes will be run at 5:15 p.m. and the Arkansas Derby field will be off at 5:45 p.m. ESPN will show the Wood Memorial live during its one-hour "Citgo Racing to the Kentucky Derby" telecast that begins at 3:30 p.m. NBC will show a taped replay of the Wood Memorial, along with live coverage of the Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby during its 90-minute "NTRA Road to the Kentucky Derby" program that begins at 4:30 p.m.
BIG 3 PICK 3 OFFERED MAJOR DERBY PREPS
Fans will again have the opportunity for big payoffs if they can correctly select the winners of Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial from Aqueduct, the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland and the $1 million Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park in the Big 3 Pick 3 wager, a $1-minimum national bet.
"Naturally, we are excited to be the architect of the Big 3 Pick 3, and particularly proud of the growing importance of Aqueduct's premier race, the Wood Memorial," said Bill Nader, senior vice president of the New York Racing Association, which introduced the wager seven years ago. "The Big 3 Pick 3 is a terrific value play and is the only Pick 3 wager in history to record Wagering pools in excess of $1 million."
For each of its seven years, the Big 3 Pick 3 payoff has routinely generated the highest Pick 3 handle figures in North America. The 2003 handle of $1,010,482 was the fourth highest in history.
McGAUGHEY, SKIP AWAY, NOMINATED FOR HALL
Trainer Shug McGaughey and 1998 Horse of the Year Skip Away are among the candidates for election to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. More than 140 members of the racing media will vote on the Hall of Fame, and the one winner in each category will be announced on May 25.
The finalists are:
Jockeys: Kent Desormeaux, Eddie Maple, Randy Romero, Jose Santos
Trainers: Shug McGaughey, John Veitch, Nick Zito
Male horses: Lure, Manila, Skip Away
Female horses: Flawlessly, Mom's Command, Sky Beauty
The winners in each category will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in public ceremonies at the Fasig-Tipton Sale Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York, on the morning of Aug. 9.
RACING ON THE AIR
(All times Eastern)
April 10 Wire to Wire, 5:30-6 a.m., ESPN
April 10 Citgo Racing to the Kentucky Derby; Wood Memorial and Bay Shore Stakes (Aqueduct); 3:30-4:30 p.m., ESPN
April 10 NTRA Road to the Kentucky Derby and Visa Triple Crown; Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Keeneland), Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn Park) and Wood Memorial (Aqueduct); 4:30-6 p.m., NBC
April 13 Wire to Wire, 2-2:30 p.m., ESPN2
April 17 Wire to Wire, 5:30-6 a.m., ESPN
April 17 Citgo Racing to the Kentucky Derby; Coolmore Lexington Stakes (Keeneland) and Federico Tesio Stakes (Pimlico); 6-7 p.m., ESPN2
April 20 Wire to Wire, 2-2:30 p.m., ESPN2
RACING TO HISTORY
April 8, 1971 -- New York City Off-Track Betting opened for business. Two branches were available to accept wagers -- the Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan and an outlet in Queens. Total handle, including telephone betting, was $66,091.
April 8, 1991 -- Rider-turned-trainer Bill Shoemaker was paralyzed after an automobile accident.
April 8, 2001 -- "Seabiscuit -- An American Legend", by Laura Hillenbrand, took over the top spot on the New York Times bestseller list for nonfiction after just three weeks in the nation's bookstores.
April 9, 1962 -- Jockey Ron Turcotte rode his first winner, at Fort Erie Racetrack.
April 10, 1969 -- I Double Dareya was ridden to victory by jockey Gilbert Hernandez at Golden Gate Fields. Hernandez also happened to be the horse's owner and trainer, giving him a triple win.
April 11, 1945 Future Triple Crown champion Citation was foaled at Calumet Farm, Lexington, Ky.
April 12, 1948 -- After winning seven consecutive races, Citation lost the Chesapeake Trial Stakes by a length to Saggy, but rebounded to post 16 consecutive victories, including the Triple Crown.
April 12, 1969 -- Jockey Sandra Schleiffers, one of the first female riders in America and a former member of the Sisters of St. Francis convent in Clinton, Iowa, won her first career race at Turf Paradise. Schleiffers subsequently became the first woman to be admitted to the Jockeys' Guild.
April 13, 1872 -- The Louisiana Jockey Club held its inaugural meet at Fair Grounds. The first race, a two-mile hurdle, was won by Templo.
April 14, 1936 -- The first Maryland race result ever decided by a photo-finish camera took place at Havre de Grace in the second race, in which a 7-1 shot, Alit, was declared the winner.
April 15, 1940 -- With the start of the racing season at Jamaica, New York became the last major racing state to adopt electronic parimutuel wagering, thus eliminating on-track bookmaking.
April 15, 1941 -- In preparation for the May 3 Kentucky Derby, Whirlaway worked 1 1/8 miles in 1:52 at Keeneland.
April 15, 1943 -- With many of the country's young men joining in the war effort, women exercise riders were first employed at Pimlico Racecourse.
April 16, 1995 -- At age 25, Kent Desormeaux became the youngest jockey to reach the 3,000-wins mark when he rode Maisonaire to victory at Santa Anita Park.
April 17, 1972 -- Future champion filly Ruffian was foaled at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky.
April 18, 1970 -- The New York State Legislature passed a bill enabling off-track betting.
STAKES RACES
(Unrestricted stakes worth $75,000 and up)
THURSDAY, APRIL 8
Stonerside Beaumont Stakes, 3yo fillies, $250,000, Grade II, 7F, Keeneland
Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, 4&up, $150,000, Grade III, 6F, Oaklawn Park
FRIDAY, APRIL 9=
Fantasy Stakes, 3yo fillies, $200,000, Grade II, 1 1-16M, Oaklawn Park
Maker's Mark Mile, 4&up, $200,000, Grade II, 1M (T), Keeneland
Comely Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, Grade III, 1M, Aqueduct
SATURDAY, APRIL 10
Arkansas Derby, 3yo, $1,000,000, Grade II, 1 1-8M, Oaklawn Park
Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, 3yo, $750,000, Grade I, 1 1-8M, Keeneland
Wood Memorial Stakes, 3yo, $750,000, Grade I, 1 1-8M, Aqueduct
Carter Handicap, 3&up, $350,000, Grade I, 7F, Aqueduct
Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3&up, $250,000, Grade II, 7F, Keeneland
John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf, 3&up, $200,000, 1 1-8M (T), Sam Houston Race Park
Bay Shore Stakes, 3yo, $150,000, 7F, Grade III, Aqueduct
La Puente Stakes, 3yo, $150,000, 1M (T), Santa Anita Park
Shakertown Stakes, 3&up, $100,000, Grade III, 5 1-2F (T), Keeneland
Sunland Park Handicap, 3&up, $100,000, 1 1-8M, Sunland Park
Hallandale Beach Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 6 1-2F, Gulfstream Park
Instant Racing Breeders' Cup, 3yo fillies, $75,000, 1M, Oaklawn Park
Miss America Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $75,000, 1 1-16M (T), Bay Meadows
Northern Spur Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 1M, Oaklawn Park
SUNDAY, APRIL 11
Providencia Stakes, 3yo fillies, $150,000, 1M (T), Santa Anita Park
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14
Appalachian Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1M (T), Keeneland
THURSDAY, APRIL 15
Forerunner Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-8M (T), Keeneland
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