May 4 The Kentucky Derby continues to amaze and baffle handicappers, fans, trainers and jockeys and owners, forever keeping alive the hope that a horse once purchased for $22,000 to could buck many historical trends to win the Run for the Roses at a price of 12-1. Funny Cide, ridden by Jose Santos, who won his first Derby after failing to hit the board in his first six attempts, won with the tenth-fastest Derby winning time of 2:01.19. Funny Cide, trained by Barclay Tagg, who had never been to a Derby much less entered a horse in the big race, is the first gelding to win the Kentucky Derby since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929, and is also the first ever Derby winner bred in New York. He also made believers out of skeptics by becoming the first Derby winner not to have trained on the Churchill Downs track; Funny Cide trained at Belmont Park and only arrived in Louisville three days before the race. With all those trends being thrown out the window, it only stands to reason that it would be another tough year for the Derby favorite, and it was. Empire Maker, who went off as the 5-2 favorite, finished second, and at the top of the stretch, though having been ridden wide, was in a clear position to take the lead and make a move. He indeed made a move, but Funny Cide never relinqueshed the lead along the stretch. Peace Rules came in third, giving trainer Bobby Frankel an impressive showing but without the big win he had been hoping for. Several jockeys complained their horses had trouble with the Churchill Downs track, but Funny Cide didn't -- and he was on the track for what really was his first time. Strange indeed. Atswhatimtalknbout passed tiring horses late to finish an impressive fourth. The biggest disappointment on the day was Ten Most Wanted, who finished ninth. Jockey Pat Day said his ride simply didn't fire, so despite how well he looked in training this week, it was not to be, and it was more Derby frustration for Day. The race unfolded like this. Brancusi took the early lead while Funny Cide, coming out of the six post, was rating behind in fourth. Peace Rules and Eye of the Tiger were contesting the lead. Santos put Funny Cide in third along the first turn, riding along the rail about two lengths back from Brancusi. The same four held form along the backstretch, with Peace Rules nundging close to the lead after six furlongs. Funny Cide was in third heading into the far turn, as Empire Maker, who had been running eighth the entire way, made his move. Rounding into the turn, Peace Rules overtook Brancusi, who quickly faded and finished last. Funny Cide moved into second with Empire Maker still charging. At the top of the stretch, Peace Rules led by a half-length over Funny Cide, with Empire Maker a length back and Eye of the Tiger in fourth. Ten Most Wanted had been trailing Empire Maker, but didn't fire when asked once Empire Maker started to advance. Funny Cide grabbed the lead by a head in mid-stretch, with Empire Maker a half-length further back. Funny Cide pulled clear, and Empire Maker passed Peace Rules in the final strides for second. Eye of the Tiger hung on for fifth. The rest of the order was Buddy Gil, Outta Here, Ten Cents a Shine, Ten Most Wanted, Domestic Dispute, Scrimshaw, Offlee Wild, Supah Blitz, Indian Express, Lone Star Sky and Brancusi. Indian Express reported trouble out of the gate, then being stuck between horses and never catching on. Tough to know how to handle this from a Derby handicapping point of view. Funny Cide broke several trends which will really throw future Derby handicapping into a frenzy. Between War Emblem last year and Funny Cide this year, it seems the rules for winning the Derby have been re-written. It was a beautiful day at the track, there was some great racing throughout the day, there was the fifth-largest crowd in Derby history, and it was another Run for the Roses for the ages. Hats off to the gutsy Funny Cide crew and to New York, for producing its first Derby winner.   Apr. 27 Since the main Derby preps are over, there is not too much new to report here. Instead, most updated information can be found on the tipsheet. Updates on Kentucky Derby contenders can be found there, and links to stories on the Web can be found on the news page. Derby week is finally here!! Good luck to all in their Derby handicapping, and may you all have an enjoyable and memorable Derby 129! Post positions and morning line odds will be posted on Wednesday night.   Apr. 20 In the sole major Derby prep race of the weekend, trainer D. Wayne Lukas stamped his ticket to the Kentucky Derby with Scrimshaw, who won the $325,000, 1 1/16 mile Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. Scrimshaw took the lead in the final furlong and drew away from Eye of the Tiger for a three-length victory. Lukas, who used victories in the Lexington Stakes as a final Derby prep for 1999 Derby winner Charismatic and last year's second place finisher Proud Citizen, will now make his 22nd Derby appearance in the last last 23 years. Lukas will be aiming for his fifth Derby win; Scrimshaw will be Lukas's 40 Derby entrant, more than any other trainer. The Bob Baffert trained Domestic Dispute came in third, but will probably skip the Derby. The winner was ridden by Edgar Prado, and is coming off a throat surgery in mid-February. In other Derby news, jockey Robby Albarado was awarded the Derby mount for Offlee Wild, who previously had been ridden by Pat Day, who will be aboard Ten Most Wanted in the Derby. Also, Bob Baffert has not ruled out Senor Swinger, who was fifth in the Wood Memorial in his last outing, for a shot at the Run for the Roses.   Apr. 13 The favorite for Kentucky Derby 129 will be Empire Maker, who followed up his impressive Florida Derby with a win in the $750,000, 1 1/8 mile Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Although he had to hold off a game Funny Cide by a half-length to claim the Wood, his run in New York was deemed effortless, and now Empire Maker is threatening to go off as the shortest priced favorite in the Derby in recent memory. Empire Maker is ridden by Jerry Bailey, and is trained by Bobby Frankel, who is looking for his first Derby win. Frankel also trains Blue Grass Stakes winner Peace Rules, so he will be coming into Louisville in Bob Baffert-fashion. Empire Maker, the son of 1990 Derby winner Unbridled, took the lead just inside the eighth pole, and stayed ahead of Funny Cide despite Bailey not asking too much of him; with their sights on the Derby, Empire Maker will still be fresh even after his wins in the Florida Derby and Wood. Empire Maker was the 1-2 favorite, and was placed third until the far turn. Bailey never even used his whip in the race, which was held on a muddy track. Bailey won his first Wood Memorial in his eighth attempt. Empire Maker claimed his third win in five starts, and is owned by Juddmonte Farms, which is controlled by Saudi prince Khalid Abdullah. Funny Cide, who had Jose Santos aboard, will also head to Louisville. Kissin Saint was 7 1/2 lengths further back for third. Frankel will earn an exra $100,000 if Empire Maker wins the Kentucky Derby, as the New York Racing Association has put up the award for any trainer sweeping the Wood Memorial and Kentucky Derby. Rounding out the other half of the Bobby Frankel double was Peace Rules, who took the $750,000, 1 1/8 mile Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Peace Rules had Edgar Prado aboard, and is owned by Edmund Gann. Peace Rules followed up his win in the Louisiana Derby with a 3 1/2 length win over Brancusi; as the 3-5 favorite, Peace Rules broke sharply and took the lead in the first turn, and wasn't challenged until Brancusi made a run in the stretch. Prado, winning his second straight Blue Grass Stakes (he rode Harlan's Holiday to a win last year) brought out the whip, and Peace Rules then coasted and pulled away to victory. Although Brancusi has won only once in seven starts, his trainer, Patrick Biancone, said he will point his colt towards the Kentucky Derby next. Offlee Wild was four and a half lengths back for third. Risen Star winner Badge of Silver was scratched from the race the night before due to a leg injury. Frankel may have been playing a D. Wayne Lukas trick when he talked down Peace Rules, questioning the colt's ability to handle the Derby distance despite Prado saying the colt had plenty of energy left in the tank. Proving that point was the fact it was the slowest Blue Grass Stakes since 1988. Peace Rules is now 5-1-1 in seven career starts, the first four on the turf. In the third and final Derby prep of the day, it was a long shot breaking form from the other two Derby preps, as 55-1 Sir Cherokee came from last place at the half mile mark to stun a talented field in the 1 1/8 mile, $500,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. Sir Cherokee was the longest shot to win the Arkansas Derby since Rockamundo won at 108-1 in 1983. Jockey Terry Thompson, riding the son of Cherokee Run for the first time, took his mount from ninth to third along the far turn. He pulled beside Christine's Outlaw, who finished third, in the stretch, then came from 2 1/2 lengths behind Eugene's Third Son to take the lead and win by 1 3/4 lenghts. The winner is trained by Mike Tomlinson. The 2-1 favorite Man Among Men, who has victories over both Empire Maker and Peace Rules, was never better than fifth, and finished tenth. Region of Merit, who had won four races in a row and was the only grades stakes winner in the race, was within striking distance in fourth place in the stretch, but never fired.   Apr. 6 There were two key Derby prep races this weekend, including the extremely important 1 1/8 mile, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby. That race has had such a positive impact on the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown trail, that only has the winner of the race gone on for good things, but so too those hitting the board and in some cases just running. Well, running in front of them all was the bay gelding Buddy Gil, winner of the San Felipe Stakes. Buddy Gil, with Gary Stevens aboard, held off the Bob Baffert-trained Indian Express by a head. Stevens won his record ninth career Santa Anita Derby, breaking the tie of 8 between him and Bill Shoemaker. Atswhatimtalknbout, the 3-5 favorite, finished fourth, while the Baffert-trained Kafwain finished third. Rounding out the trio of Baffert entries was Domestic Dispute, finishing fifth in a field of nine. The winner, was margin of victory was the second-smallest in race history, is trained by Jeff Mullins. Atswhatimtalknbout, trained by Ron Ellis, was last early, as much as eight lengths back. On the far turn, Buddy Gil was fifth, then took a short lead at the top of the stretch. Indian Express fought back along the wire, and raced with Buddy Gil down the stretch. Ministers Wild Cat was a late scratch, and may return for next week's California Derby. Although Jeff Mullins wouldn't commit to the Run for the Roses, at the least Both Buddy Gil and Atswhatimtalknbout will head from the Santa Anita to the Kentucky Derby, with more decisions coming over the next days and weeks. In the Midwest, at the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course, jockey Pat Day rode Ten Most Wanted to a four-length victory. Trained by Wally Dollase will point the winner toward the Kentucky Derby. As the 2-1 favorite, the winner was seventh early, used a solid run on the outside to draw near along the far turn, the pulled away in the stretch in a beautifully strong move. Fund of Funds was second, followed by Foufa's Warrior in third. The winner has now hit the board in all four of his season starts, which is obviously hard not to like. Lone Star Sky was the 5-2 favorite, but finished fourth. The Illinois Derby had in the past been run at Sportsman's Park, but after Sportsman's Park closed the race was moved to Hawthorne. In other Derby interest this past week, Trust N Luck was pulled off the Derby trail, and instead may now point to the Preakness Stakes.   Mar. 23 In one of two major Derby prep race this weekend, it was New York Hero taking the $500,000, 1 1/8 mile Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park. New York Hero held on to win by a neck after a stiff-stretch charge from Eugene's Third Son. The winner, with Norberto Arroyo Jr. aboard, went off at 14-1 and tracked Saintly Look for most of the race before taking the lead at the top of the stretch. Eugene's Third Son was ridden by Pat Day, who was going for his sixth race of the day, but couldn't quite catch the leader. Champali, with Jason Lumpkins aboard, stumbled at the start, but was able to just hold off 4-5 favorite Lion Tamer to take third, only 2 1/4 lengths behind the leader. New York Hero is trained by Jennifer Pederson and wore blinkers for the first time but won his third race in five career starts. New York Hero will now point to the Wood Memorial. The favored Lion Tamer never fired in his first start around two turns. On Sunday, in the 1 1/16 mile, $125,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, it was 36-1 long shot Crowned King holding off 3-5 favorite Great Notion by 1 1/4 length to win. Comic Truth finished two more lengths back for third. Great Notion got off to a good start, took the lead at the quarter-mile mark, and held the lead until he was passed by Crowned King late in the stretch. Crowned King is trained by Billy McKeever, Jr. and was ridden by Chandra Rennie; the winner will now most likely point towards the Arkansas Derby. In other key Derby news, it was announced that jockey Victor Espinoza was taken off Derby contender Kafwain. The switch breaks up last year's winning Derby connections in jockey Espinoza, trainer Bob Baffert and owner Thoroughbred Corporation. Kafwain's next race will be the Santa Anita Derby, and right now it looks like Patrick Valenzuela is the leading candidate for the mount. Also, Composure, a leading three-year old filly who was being considered for the Derby and was in the second Derby Future Wager Pool, was retired due to a leg injury.   Mar. 21 First, apologies to all on the delayed reports. Thanks for checking in, and we're glad to be back. What hectic times...Derby prep races, the NCAA Tournament (Go Cards!) and of course not to mention world events that despite the cliche are keeping in things in perspective. Let's hope for peace and more freedom soon. Still, this site is dedicated to weekly reports about horse racing specifically, so here we go. There is a lot of ground to cover, so lets' start with this past weekend's prep races. Any claims that there's no clear favorite for the Derby were disspelled when Empire Maker, the son of 1990 Derby winner Unbridled, outclassed everybody in $1,000,000, 1 1/8 mile Florida Derby at Gulfstream. The Bobby Frankel-trained colt, with Jerry Bailey aboard, romped to a record-breaking 9 3/4 victory. Frankel indicated he may point the winner straight to the Kentucky Derby (and bypass the Wood Memorial on April 12), despite the many historical trends against running a horse in the Derby without having done in April; the last horse to win the Florida Derby as his last start before winning the Kentucky Derby was Needles in 1956. Also, the last horse to win the Derby in his fifth career start was Exterminator in 1918. Still, you can't take away his brilliant and historical performance in the Florida Derby. The favored Trust N Luck, trained by Ralph Ziadie, finished in second, and may point straight towards the Kentucky Derby himself. He finished just a neck in front of Indy Dancer, who came in third. The Florida Derby did come away with bad news, though, when Midway Cat fell in the far turn, and was euthanized after the race. Jockey Jorge Chavez was to miss at least one week of riding due to the injury, but is otherwise OK. Trust N luck had the lead early on, trying to mimic his winning form in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, but Midway Cat stayed near. The winner, wearing blinkers for the first time, was fourth, but he matched the leader at the top of the stretch, then took the lead just inside the 3/16ths poll. In another major Derby prep, the $250,000, 1 1/16 miles San Felipe Stakes, it was Buddy Gil emerging as a new Derby contender. In switching to the track from the turf, he knocked off several favorites, including the 3-1 third choice Atswhatimtalknbout, who came in second, the 2-1 Bob Baffert-trained favorite Domestic Dispute, who was fifth, and the 5-2 second choice Man Among Men, who finished seventh. The winner won by just a nose over Atswhatimtalknbout, who will now point to the Santa Anita Derby. Buddy Gil, who went off at 9-1, was ridden by Gary Stevens and is trained by Jeff Mullins. While not yet nominated for the Triple Crown, he will be by the time he runs in the Santa Anita. It was Brancusi who finishing third. The early leader was Siberland, with Buddy Gil close behind; at the 1/8 pole, Buddy Gil found an opening and took the lead. Atswhatimtalknbout was wide, but made a nice closing kick to finish strong. Going back to Florida, it was Region of Merit who lumbered home to win the 1 1/16 mile, $250,000 Tampa Derby,just three-quarters of a length in front of Aristocat. Hear No Evil set the early pace, but the winner caught up with him deep in the home stretch, only to withstand a late challenge from Aristocat. Hear No Evil wound up third. It was the fourth straight win for Region of Merit, who had Eibar Coa aboard and is trained by Christophe Clement, who was undetermined on future plans for his colt. But wait, there's more. Up in New York, at the $200,000 Gotham Stakes, which due to poor whether was increased in distance from 1 mile to a mile and 70 yards, it was Alysweep stamping himself as a Derby contender by taking the lead in the first turn of beating second-place finisher Grey Comet by a 4 1/4 lengths. Alysweep, who won his fourth race in seven career starts, will now point to either the Wood Memorial or Blue Grass Stakes on April 12. Spite the Devil came in third.   Mar. 2 In prep races over the weekend, trainer Bob Baffert went 1-2 in the 1-mile, $200,000 San Rafael Stakes, with late entrant yet wagering favorite Rojo Toro holding off Spensive. Rojo Toro was ridden by Jerry Bailey, and remains undefeated after winning his 3-year-old debut and first race around two turns. Crowned Dancer finished third. The winner was engaged with Our Bobby V. throughout the backstretch until that colt faded to fourth. Laffit Pincay was supposed to ride Our Bobby V., but was injured in the fifth race at Santa Anita and was replaced by David Flores. Future plans for Rojo Toro and Spensive are undetermined, while Peace Rules was scratched from the race and will be pointed toward the Kentucky Derby. At Turfway Park, it was the second choice Champali winning his sixth race in seven starts by taking the 1 1/16 mile, $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes. Champali won despite starting from the outside post of the nine-horse field, and did it by knocking off favorite Grey Comet, was passed by the winner turning for home. The winner swerved in the stretch and was nearly caught by Chicken Soup Kid, but showed grit and determination to pull away to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Champali was ridden by Jason Lumpkins and is trained by Greg Foley. The winner will now be pointed toward the 1 1/8 mile Lane's End Stakes on March 22.   Feb. 16 There were three key Derby prep races this weekend, two of them taking place at Gulfstream Park in Florida. In the premier race, the $200,000, 1 1/16 mile Fountain of Youth Stakes, it was Trust N Luck who became the sixth straight horse to win that race in wire-to-wire fashion. Trust N Luck, running is his first race as a 3-year-old, has now won five of nine career starts. The winner, trained by Ralph Ziadie and ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, will now be pointed toward the Florida Derby. Long-shot Supar Blitz was game enough for second, while Midway Cat finished third. 5-2 favorite Ten Cents A Shine came in a disappointing sixth in the eight-horse field. Earlier in the day at Gulfstream, in the seven-furlong, $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes, the favored Lion Tamer took the lead inside the eighth pole to hold off Strength Within by six lenghts. Lion Tamer, who won for the third time in four starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, won his third race in four career starts. Crafty Guy finished third. The winner followed style by breaking slowly, then easily moved into second behind Crafty Guy. Lion Tamer caught the front runner turning for home, and then was up two lengths at the eighth pole before pulling away. Lion Tamer's connections were undecided about the colt's next race. In the other key race of the weekend, the 1 1/16 mile, $150,000 Risen Star Stakes, it was Badge of Silver who not only won his first race around two turns, but missed setting a stakes record by .01 seconds. Ridden by Robby Alberado, he won by ten lengths over Lone Star Sky, who was also making his first race around two turns. Defrere's Vixen finished third, while the favorite Indy Dancer never fired and wound up seventh. The winner easily caught and passed Saintly Look along the backstretch, and simply never looked back and rolled home to an easy win. Both Badge of Silver and Lone Star Sky will point towards the Louisiana Derby.   Feb. 8 First, a quick recap of some recent Derby prep races. In the 1 1/16 mile, $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby, it was Robledo, with David Flores aboard, upsetting 3-10 favorite Siberland in a duel to the wire. Boxed in for much of the race, Robledo was finally able to get outside to take over the lead and win by 3/4 of a length. Double Intrigue came in third, a full 17 3-4 lengths behind Siberland in what was only a five-horse field. Robledo, trained by Vladimer Cerin, was pulled up in his last race in the Santa Catalina Stakes, but after two workouts was able to return in fine fashion. The winner has now won three races in six lifetime starts. And in the other key race of last weekend, the seven-furlong, $150,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita, the Bob Baffert-trained Kafwain stamped himself as one of the leading Derby contenders. Kafwain was last of a five-horse field after a quarter-mile, moved four paths wide on the turn to overtake the leaders, then drew clear. With Victor Espinoza aboard and wearing more conventional blinkers, Kafwain won by 4 1/2 lengths over Sum Trick, who participated in a speed duel with the winner down the stretch. Southern Image finished third. Kafwain won his fourth race in nine lifetime starts. With Baffert as his trainer, and Espinoza as his jockey, and The Thoroughbred Corporation as an ownner, Kafwain has the same connections as last year's Derby winner, War Emblem. The son of Cherokee Run, who finished second in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, was making his first start of the year. Another horse stamping himself on the trail of the Kentucky Derby was Man Among Men, who upended 2-5 favorite and Jerry Bailey-ridden Empire Maker in the $81,000, 1 1/8 mile Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Friday Feb. 7. Empire Maker, trained by Bobby Frankel and running only his third race, finished second in the field of seven, while the Bob Baffert trained Spensive finished third. Man Among Men is trained by Gary Mandella and was ridden by Alex Solis. Despite the success of Robledo and Kafwain last weekend, the biggest news of the week was the reported injury to Vindication, last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and the early favorite of Derby 129. The leading horse in the barn of Bob Baffert, Vindication was diagnosed with an injury to his left front suspensory ligament, and is out of the Triple Crown races. He will now be pointed towards the Travers Stakes in August. His absence from the Triple Crown trail leaves stablemate Kafwain as the leading early Derby favorite.   Jan. 20 The Derby prep race season is now under way, with a handful of early races this weeekend and one even last week. While tracking the horses that crop up during the prep race season, one must remember that Derby winners are often already in stride, and not just merely getting there, before Derby Day. Most of the recent Derby winners have won either the race most prior or second race prior to the Running for the Roses. Just something to remember as you browse the tipsheet in early May. For now, it's time to look at the horse racing action so far. On January 12 at Golden Gate Fields, the bar for the Derby prep race season was set by Standard Setter in the 1 1/16 mile, $100,000 Golden Gate Derby. A 17-1 shot, he was the only California-bred in the 10-horse field, and won the race in front-running style. With jockey Roberto Gonzalez aboard, Standard Setter hung on to win despite a very serious late charge by 8-5 favorite Ozzie Cat, a son of the famous sire Storm Cat. Pine For Java was one length further back to finish third. It was the second win in seven career starts for the winner, who now has over $100,000 in earnings and is trained by Jeff Bonde. The race's second choice, the Bob Baffert trained-Spensive, finished fourth; his connections blamed the performance on the muddy track. Speaking of Bob Baffert, he was able to quickly turn things around this past weekend, just a bit further south in California. In the 1 1/16 mile, $150,000 Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita, it was the son of Unbridled's Song, Domestic Dispute winning in the fastest Santa Catalina Stakes since 1994. With David Flores up top, Domestic Dispute caught the front-running Our Bobby V. at the eighth pole, and then drew away to win by three lengths. The 9-5 favorite Scrimshaw finished in third, three and a half lengths behind Our Bobby V., who had Laffit Pincay aboard. The winner, who went off at odds of 5-2, had the outside post and was sixth along the backstretch in the eight-horse field. Scrimshaw was ridden by Alex Solis, but faded after being unable to keep with Our Bobby V. Like Standard Setter, it was the second win in seven career starts fo Domestic Dispute, whose career earnings now stand at about $225,000. Domestic Dispute, though, more likely than not is just third in the Baffert barn, behind Justification and Kafwain, neither of whom have raced thus far in 2003. And in other racing, the trend of longshots winning -- and scrambling the early Derby picture -- continued with the 27-1 shot Offlee Wild winning the 1 1/16 mile, $100,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. The son of Wild Again, who was ridden by Mark Guidry and is owned by Azalea Stable, just got a nose in front of the Frank Stronach-owned Powerful Touch, who had Jorge Chavez aboard. The 8-5 favorite Added Edge finished off the board, while the 5-2 and pace-setting Bahm was able to grab third. Offlee Wild, trained by Thomas Smith, took the lead in the stretch and just got in front of the game challenger Powerful Touch. It was the second win for Offlee Wild in a total of four career starts.