May 2 In the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby, Smarty Jones became the first undefeated horse since Seattle Slew in 1977 to capture the Run for the Roses, and in so doing, had the richest payday in racing history. Not only did he win $854,800 in purse money, but he also collected on a $5 million bonus through a promotion run by Oaklawn Park, which awarded the prize this year only to a horse who won the Rebel Stakes, the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby. Ridden by first-time Derby jockey Stewart Elliott, and trained by first-time Derby trainer John Servis, Smarty Jones now stands 7-7 lifetime. His connections expressed an interest in heading to the Preakness assuming Smarty Jones came out of the Derrby this year. The Derby was held on a sloppy track for the first time since 1994, and only the fourth time in history. The time of 2:04.06 was the slowest Derby since Sunday Silence won over a muddy track in 1989. Smarty Jones now stands as the sixth-highest money earner of all time, and he could bank another $5 million if he captures the Preakness and Belmont. The field broke cleanly, with Lion Heart, ridden by Mike Smith, taking the early lead on the inside and Quintons Gold Rush trying to move in front on the outside, with Smarty Jones and Pollard's Vision right behind those two. In keeping with Derby form over the last few years, the winner was never far behind, and stalked the leader until top of the stretch. Lion Heart, despite the off-track, set a good pace of 46.73 over a half-mile and 1:11.80 for six furlongs. He led by at least a length throughout the first mile. Smarty Jones finally caught up with Lion Heart as the two turned for home. The pair went stride for stride until the winner out in front in the final eighth, and won in commanding fashion by 2 3/4 lengths. It was another 3 1/4 lenghts back to third-place finisher Imperialism. Limehouse finished fourth, while The Cliff's Edge, who went off as the fourth choice at 8-1, was wide most of the way but rallied to fifth. Smarty Jones is the 43rd chestnut horse to win the Derby, and the second in a row. He is only the second horse bred in Pennsylvania to win the Derby, the other being Lil E. Tee (1992). He also was just the fourth winner to have prepped in the Arkansas Derby, the others being Lil E. Tee, Sunny's Halo and Grindstone.   Apr. 11 It was the biggest Derby prep weekend of the year...and does anyone really have a clue who the best horse out there is? At least now there a handful of horses to like, but we hold that the handicapping for Derby 130 will be treacherous, but with good payoffs for those who make the right call. Let's start by recapping the action, starting in Kentucky. In the $750,000, 1 1/8 mile Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, The Cliff's Edge kept trainer Nick Zito's Derby hopes alive by tracking down and passing favorite Lion Heart in the stretch to win by a half-length with jockey Shane Sellers aboard. Sellers will be making his 13th Derby appearance, and only two jockeys have ever had that many without a win, and none have gone that long in the Derby saddle without hitting the board, as Sellers has. It was the third win in the Blue Grass for both Sellers and Zito. The Cliff's Edge's final furlong, and the way he closed, stamps him as the Derby favorite. He came back from 10 lengths off the lead on a speed-favoring track. The Cliff's Edge is 2-2 lifetime in races at Churchill Downs. Did he max out in the Blue Grass, though? That really is the only concern. Lion Heart went to the lead early, followed by Limehouse and Preachinatthebar. Afer a quarter-mile, The Cliff's Edge was second to last. Lion Heart moved out in front on the second turn, with The Cliff's Edge gradually moving up. Sellers moved the winner to the outside at the quarter-pole, setting up his stretch run. With an eighth to go, the winner was only 1 1/2 lengths behind Lion Heart, who couldn't hold off The Cliff's Edge but still has never finished worse than second in five starts. Now to New York and the Wood Memorial, which has produced three of the last four Derby winners. Tapit closed well to win the 1 1/8 mile, $750,000 Wood at Aqueduct by a half-length over Master David. Tapit is trained by Michael Dickinson, who will be sending his first colt to the Kentucky Derby. Most recently, Tapit had been sixth in the Florida Derby. Tapit was ninth after the first half-mile of the Wood, and seventh after six furlongs. He still had five horses to beat inside the quarter pole, but was able to take the lead in the final strides despite running wide in the stretch and looking a little green. Not since Sunny's Halo in 1983 has a horse won the Derby with only two starts as a three-year-old prior to Derby day. Master David, running his first race in over two months, finished just in front of Eddington. Those three are the only Wood competitors still being considered for the Derby, though Eddington could be locked out due to a lack of graded earnings. Rounding out the weekend's action was the Arkansas Derby, which will provide Derby 130 with its most accomplished, or at least the hottest, contender in Smarty Jones, who with his win at Oaklawn improved to 6-6 lifetime. Smarty Jones charged past Purge on the turn to win the $1 million, 1 1/8 Arkansas Derby. Coupled with his win in this race and the Rebel Stakes, Smarty Jones can claim $5 million extra with a win in the Derby, thanks to a promotion being sponsored by Oaklawn to mark their 100th anniversary. Smarty Jones will try to become the first undefeated horse to win the Derby since Seattle Slew in 1977. He is trained by John Servis and ridden by Stewart Elliott, who will both be making their first Derby appearences. Borrego finished second, while it was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Pro Prado. Smary Jones won his first grades earnings in this race, but could pocket $5.8 million in Louisville for what would be the richest payday in horse racing history. Lil E. Tee was the only other Pennsylvania-bred horse to win the Derby. Both Borrego and Pro Prado are still being considered for the Derby.   Apr. 4 Will a favorite for the Kentucky Derby please distinguish itself? In the biggest West Coast prep, the $750,000, 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby, it was 30-1 longshot Castledale, an Irish import making only his second start on dirt, who won the race by a head over Rock Hard Ten. Rock Hard Ten's rider, David Flores, objected after the race, and there was a 10-minute, three-horse inquiry once the horses crossed the finish line. The judges decided Castledale had not interfered with Rock Hard Ten, but that instead Rock Hard Ten had drifted into third-pace finisher Imperialism at the sixteenth pole. Imperialism was bumped up to second, while Rock Hard Ten moved down to third. The two favorites in the race crashed and burned. The second choice, the Bob Baffert-trained and Louisiana Derby winner Wimbledon, was part of a wall of leaders at the turn of the stretch, but then faded to fifth. First choice St Averil finished sixth in the field of seven. Speaking of six, it appears that many horses may move to Louisville following this prep in Santa Anita. Castledale was ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr. and is trained by Jeff Mullins, who won last year's Santa Anita Derby with Buddy Gil. Lucky Pulpit and Quintons Gold Rush went out to the lead. At the second turn, Wimbledon and Rock Hard Ten joined the leaders. With an eighth-mile to go, Rock Hard Ten and Quintons Gold Rush were on the lead. But Castledale and Imperialism, who had been last and next-to-last, were charging hard and only a length behind at the sixteenth pole. Castledale and Rock Hard Ten then grueled it out the rest of the way. Rock Hard Ten is trained by Jason Orman, who said he may try to enter Rock Hard Ten into the Derby. Imperialism, trained by 21-year-old Kristin Mulhall, was pleased with the race, and this closer will certainly head to Louisville. His talent as a closer will draw serious attention. Both Wimbledon and St Averil are still being considered for the Derby as well. In the other major prep race of the weekend, the $500,000 1 1/8-mile Illinois Derby, the favorite delivered, as Pollard's Vision took the lead just after the start and pulled away to win in the final 100 yards by two lengths at Hawthorne. The winner, with Eibar Coa aboard, was the favorite in the field of 11. Song of the Sword, who had been 3-3 so far in his career, finished second in his stakes race debut. Suave finished third. Pollard's Vision was coming off a third place finish in the Louisiana Derby, and is trained by Todd Pletcher. Connections were undecided on the winner's next race.   Mar. 21 Like last weekend, there were three key Derby preps, and with each race, favorites are falling and new stars are rising. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a true favorite for the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby. In New York, in the $200,000, 1-mile Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, Saratoga County took the lead turning for home and started smelling roses. Trainer George Weaver indicated that Saratoga County's next race will be in the Lexington Stakes on April 17, and that further Derby plans will be contingent on how his horse runs at Keeneland. Saratoga County will certainly face distance questions. In the Gotham, with Javier Castellano on board, he stayed off a blistering pace set by Deupty Storm, then overtook Pomeroy to win by 2 1/4 lengths. The 6-5 favorite Eddington was pinched at the start of the race, and did not pose a serious threat despite finishing third 3/4 of a length behind Pomeroy. Saratoga County earlier in the year ran third in the Hutcheson Stakes. Pomery is trained by Patrick Biancone, while Eddington had Edgar Prado aboard. At Turfway Park, the surprise was in the poor performance of favored Birdstone. Intead it was Sinister G who went right to the lead from the outside post but then needed to rally to win the $500,000 1 1/8-mile Lane's End Stakes. Birdstone was never a factor and finished fifth in the field of 11. It was 1 1/2 lengths back to second-place finisher Tricky Taboo, and then one length further to Little Matth Man. With Jerry Bailey aboard, Birdstone started from the inside post, and then ran fifth along the rail in the backstretch. He took third at the top of the turn, but never fired nor contended. Sinister G was ridden by Paul Toscano, and went to the lead immediately. That's An Outrage took the lead for a stride, but gave way again to Sinister G down the home stretch. Sinister G is trained by the jockey's father John Toscano Jr. And over in Arkansas, at the $200,000 1 1/8-mile Rebel Stakes, Smarty Jones won his fifth race in five starts and his third straight stakes race. He will next run in the Arkansas Derby, most likely as the favorite. He is trained by John Servis, and was paired with second-place finisher Purge, who led until Smarty Jones, ridden by Stewart Elliott, took the lead coming into the stretch to win by 3 1/4 lengths. If Smarty Jones can go on to win the Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby, he'll pocket an extra $5 million through a promotion run through Oaklawn, which is marking its 100th anniversary. Since the Rebel Stakes began in 1961, Sunny's Halo (1983) is the only horse to win that triple crown.   Mar. 15 Coming off an eight-week layoff, Friends Lake, the winner of the $1 million Florida Derby, the richest Derby prep race, was the third-highest price horse ever in the history of the prestigious 1 1/8 mile prep. Trained by John Kimmel and ridden by jockey Richard Migliore, Friends Lake closed from mid-pack, took the lead in the final 70 yards and hung on to win by 3/4 lengths. The attention going into the race was being lavished upon even-money favorite Read the Footnotes, who weakened in the final eighth and settled for fourth. Both Friends Lake and Read the Footnotes, are, like Funny Cide last year, New York-bred horses, and Friends Lake became the first New York-bred to win the Florida Derby. Value Plus came in second, a half-length in front of The Cliff's Edge. Earlier this year, Friends Lake was a well-beaten third in the Holy Bull Stakes. Trainer Kimmel indicated he may hold the winner out until the Kentucky Derby; no horse has won the Derby without racing in April since Needles in 1956. The last horse to win the Derby with only two races as a three-year-old was Sunny's Halo in 1983. In other racing at Gulfstream, Wynn Dot Comma won the 7-furlong, $150,000 Swale Stakes, and was ridden by Edgar Prado, who with the victory recorded his 5,000th career win. Wynn Dot Comma held off a fast-charging Eurosilver by a head. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back to Dashboard Drummer, while Chapel Royal finished fourth. Much of the attention in this race was given to the Nick Zito-trained Eurosilver, who wasn't looking for a win as much as a good race. In other racing, Kilgowan won the $200,000, 1 1/16 mile El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. The winner rallied from seventh to pull off the upset by a half-length over the favored Seattle Borders and Capitano, who finished in a dead heat for second. O.K. Mikie finished fourth. Kilgowan, who won his third race in five starts, was ridden by Chance Rollins and is trained by Lonnie Arterburn. Skipaslew finished a disappointing seventh in the field of 10.   Mar. 8 In key races over the weekend, Imperialism stamped himself as one of the premier horses on the West Coast by following up his win the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes with a win in the 1-mile San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita. Imperialism knocked off the previously unbeaten Lion Heart, who was making his first start of the year, by just a neck. The winner was in last place after a quarter mile, while Lion Heart edged out in front at the half mile mark. It looked like he was in control when took a 1 1/2 length lead at the top of the stretch. Imperialism, racing five wide, passed two horses in the stretch and only caught up and passed Lion Heart in the final strides. Lion Heart was 4 1/2 lenghts in front of Consecrate. Lion Heart's trainer, Patrick Biancone was optimistic about his horse, and thought it was a good first 2004 warm-up, with most likely the Wood Memorial next. Imperialism, ridden by Victor Espinoza, is now trained by Kristin Mulhall. He has two in two starts with his new trainer, and is 5-14 for his career. He may match up with new rival Lion Heart in the Santa Anita Derby. Down on the bayou, it was trainer Bob Baffert reemerging on the Derby scene with a surprise win by Wimbledon in the 1 1/16 mile, $600,000 Louisiana Derby. The winner had Javier Santiago aboard. Borrego finished second, who was a head in front of Pollard's Vision. It was the second straight year when out of state horses finished 1-2-3 in the Louisiana Derby. The 2-1 favorite Gradepoint finished a disappointing eighth. Winmbledon raced along the rail, went to the outside at the top of the stretch, and took the lead just inside the eighth pole. Borrego, who was ridden by Victor Espinoza, was eight wide and second-to-last early. Borrego's trainer, Beau Greely, was pleased with his horse's effort, and looked forward to races with greater distance. Baffert would not forecast Wimbledon's next race.   Feb. 16 One other favorite Derby prep, favorite because it takes place in the fun city of New Orleans at the Fair Grounds, was run yesterday, and it was second-choice Gradepoint coming from last to win over a six-horse field in the 1 1/16-mile $150,000 Risen Star. The son of A.P. Indy won by a half-length over the favored Mr. Jester. Gradepoint was last through six fulongs before making his move; he took the lead in just the last 100 yards with jockey Robby Albardo aboard. Nightlifeatbigblue was a length behind Mr. Jester and settled for third. Gradepoint, owned by Mt. Brilliant Stable and U.S. Ambassador to Great Britian William Farish, won his third straight race, and his trainer Neil Howard said that his colt needs some more time to mature, and is without hesitation a closer who requires a slow pace. If that slow pace develops, however, watch out. Howard indicated the Louisiana Derby will most likely be Gradepoint's next race. Mr. Jester, trained by Steve Wren, tired, but was nonetheless impressive in his three-year-old debut after winning last year's Kentucky Juvenile.   Feb. 15 The first major Derby prep of the season did not disappoint in terms of excitement and fantastic racing. And while the $250,000, 1 1/16 mile Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream produced a legitimate Derby favorite, another promising colt sustained an injury that knocked him out of not just the Triple Crown trail, but out all together until November or December. Read the Footnotes overcame favorite Second of June, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes, by just a neck in a stretch drive that sets the standard for the 2004 Triple Crown trail. Read the Footnotes, with Jerry Bailey aboard, was able to pass the favorite in just the final yards of the race, and will now point towards the Florida Derby. Frisky Spider led after the first half-mile, but then Read the Footnotes and Second of June engaged six furlongs into the race, at which point Second of June held a narrow lead, which he maintained until mid-stretch. It was another 7 1/2 lengths back to third-place finisher Silver Wagon. It was the first race for Read the Footnotes since he won the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct last November. Read the Footnotes is trained by Rick Violette, who was concerned about the effort expired by his colt in this race, so early in the Derby prep race season. A New York-bred, Read the Footnotes has now won five of six starts. On Sunday it was announced that Second of June came out of the Fountain of Youth with a broken bone, and would undergo surgery on Sunday. Trainer Bill Cesare said his horse would not return to the track until November or December. In other action at Gulfstream Park, trainer Todd Pletcher took first and second in the $150,000, seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes, with Limehouse getting the win and Deputy Storm coming in second. Making his first start of the year with John Velazquez aboard, Limehouse was in the middle of the pack in the backstretch, was eased out in the early stretch, then ran down Deputy Storm inside the sixteenth pole to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Deputy Storm was making his first start since last August, so it stands to reason he'd be a bit rusty, although he did have Jerry Bailey aboard. Saratoga County took third, while the favorite Wynn Dot Comma only managed fourth. Pletcher was undecided on the next race for either of his two colts.   Feb. 9 The most highly watched prep race of this past weekend was the $75,000, 1 1/8 mile Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, where 2-year-old champion Action This Day, who won lsat year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, was making his 3-year-old debut. But the curse of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (or rather, trend, for those who don't believe in curses) looks to be holding up, as it was the Bobby Frankel-trained Master David who came up with the win as the 6-5 favorite. Master David took the lead from pacesetter Gethsemani on the far turn, then held off a stretch-long challenge from Borrego, who came in second only one length behind the winner. Master David, ridden by Alex Solis, got his first win in three starts since coming to the United States in November. The Bob Baffert-trained Preachinatthebar came in third just a head in front of Action This Day. Master David will now be pointed toward the Florida Derby. Richard Mandella, the trainer of Action This Day, was disappointed to not get the win, but thought the race served as a good prep for his colt, who will now most likely be pointed toward the Santa Anita Derby. A day earlier at Santa Anita, the Kristin Mulhall-trained horse Imperialism took the $150,000, seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes. Imperialism came from last to win the race, and was as many as 11 lenghts behind the leader. He was still in last place at the top of the stretch, but by the eighth pole he had moved in front of the six-horse field to win by 1 1/4 lengths under jockey Victor Espinoza. Imperialism is now 4-3-1 in 13 career starts, far more than we've seen in the last few years for average Derby contenders. After setting the early pace, the unbeaten favorite Hosco settled for second, while the Bob Baffert-trained Consecrate took third.   Jan. 18 Two key Derby preps were held this weekend, one in Florida and one in California. In Saturday's $150,000, 1 1/16-mile Santa Catalina Stakes, it was St Averil winning only the third start of his career while running wide the entire race. Lucky Pulpit was 1 1/2-lengths back, and it was another two lengths to third-place finisher Master David, who was making his first start since last November's Remsen Stakes. St Averil, whose last race was a second in the Hollywood Futurity, was ridden by Tyler Baze, and held off all challengers despite being pushed four-wide in the early going, and three-wide down the stretch. Out of Saint Ballado, St Averil is trained by Rafael Becerra and will now by pointed toward the Santa Anita Derby. The other major prep was the 1 1/16-mile, $100,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. This race, featuring many talented horses, was won by Second of June, who is trained by Bill Cesare. Second of June, a son of Preakness winner Louis Qatorze, finished 2 3/4 lengths in front of Silver Wagon, a Grade I winner, for his third career victory, all of them in convincing fashion. The winner, with Cornelio Velasquez aboard, broke alerty and was four-wide into the first turn. He engaged El Prado Rob in the second turn, then drew away from Silver Wagon in the early stretch. Silver Wagon, with Jerry Bailey up top, fought gamely until the eighth pole, but had no steam in the final furlong. It was a distant 10 lenghts back to third-place finisher Friends Lake. Second of June will now be pointed to the Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 14. Second of June is named for the day he was foaled; it is believed that only Lucky Debonair in 1965 has won the Derby while being foaled so late in the calendar year.   Jan. 11 The 2004 Kentucky Derby prep race season got under way this weekend in California, opening the gate for the Run for the Roses on May 1, 2004, the day of the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby. The favorite Skipaslew won the 1 1/16-mile, $100,000 Golden Gate Derby at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, which was his second straight stakes victory and his first win in a graded race. Skipaslew's owner, Merv Griffin, confirmed that the colt is officially on the Derby trail. The winner took first by two lengths over O.K. Mikie, was a head in front of Bensquito. Skipaslew had jockey Eric Saint-Martin aboard. The winner was three-wide on the quarter pole, and took the lead in the stretch despite being hit in the head by an errant whip. He is trained by Doug O'Neill, who said his colt would be nominated for the Triple Crown and most likely be pointed to the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on March 13.