May 1 If there was ever a relic along the Kentucky Derby trail it is the idea that horses running in the Kentucky Derby Trial, on the first day of the Spring meet at Churchill Downs, will actually use the race as a Derby prep. In today's thinking, the entire concept seems foreign. But for the first time in years, it seems the Derby Trial winner might consider the Derby, though a packed field may leave him on the outside looking in. Don't Get Mad used a powerful move to take a dominating seven-length win in the $113,100, 1-mile race, leaving owner B. Wayne Hughes with a tough decision. Hughes also owns Illinois Derby winner Greeley's Galaxy, who would be a supplemental entry for the Derby. If 20 other horses are entered, Greeley's Galaxy would not get in, as a supplemented horse cannot bump a previously nominated horse. But Hughes may keep out Don't Get Mad, who last ran a sluggish sixth in the Santa Anita Derby in order to get Galaxy into the Derby, unless one other horse drops out of Derby contention. Jockey Gary Stevens held Don't Get Mad behind the seven-horse field early, hoping to avoid being in a speed duel. Don't Get Mad still trailed entering the final turn, when Stevens swung his mount to the outside. Don't Get Mad was all class from there, cruising to his third victory at Churchill in three starts there. Trainer Ron Ellis was confident Don't Get Mad would be able to run again next week if he gets in. Gallardo finished in front of 2-1 favorite Vicarage by 3/4 of a length to take second, while Vicarage took third. In news that will help Don't Get Mad, this week it was announced that General John B, who had finished second in the Santa Anita Derby, will not run in the Derby due to an injury to his left knee. He defection opens the door for Going Wild, and at least one of B. Wayne Hughes' horse. Also announced this week was the rider for Lexington Stakes winner Coin Silver: Patrick Valenzuela, who won the Derby in 1989 aboard Sunday Silence, but hasn't ridden in the Derby since 1993. Lastly, although not a suprise, it was announced that jockey Pat Day will not ride in the 2005 Derby as he is still recuperating from hip surgery. This will end his record of 21 straight Derby mounts. Day has ridden in every Derby since 1984, winning in 1992 aboard Lil E. Tee. Day hopes to return to the track soon, and is especially hopeful to ride in the Preakness. Day is horse racing's all-time winning jockey in terms of earnings. Get better soon, Pat, and hurry back. The Derby won't be the same without you.   April 24 Ever since we bombed on Charismatic in the 1999 Lexington Stakes, we have to pay more attention to this race than we would like. Still, we now know it's possible for a horse to win the 1 1/16 mile Lexington and go on to win the Derby, which is why trainer Todd Pletcher is smiling now that he has his third Derby contender in Coin Silver. A 13-1 long-shot in the seven-horse field, Coin Silver took command in the stretch over a sloppy track on a very cold day. Coin Silver now has two wins in five career starts, and made his stakes debut yesterday. Coin Silver will join Bandini and Flower Alley as Pletcher's entries in Derby 131. Jockey Javier Castellano rode Coin Silver, but as the regular rider for Bellamy Road, it looks like Coin Silver will have to go jockey shopping. Bob Baffert's Sort It Out was second, and will try to enter the Derby, assuming he has enough graded earnings. Coin Silver was near the back of the pack early, but saved ground by running close to the rail. The son of Anees took the lead at the top of the stretch and won by 3 1/2 lengths over Sort It Out, who was 3 1/2 lengths in front of third-place finisher Storm Surge. The biggest disappointment of the day was 3-5 favorite Rockport Harbor, trained by John Servis and ridden by Stewart Elliott, the connections who brought us Smarty Jones last year. Rockport Harbor didn't take to the track, and is now out of Derby contention. We think he could be a good contender down the road, so don't forget his name, especially if he recovers from all the injuries and poor health he has endured the last few months. It was just a tough-luck spring for last year's Derby winning team. The Federico Tesio Stakes in Maryland rarely produces as much as a Derby contender, but as it does send colts on to the Preakness, it's worth mentioning. It was Malibu Moonshine taking advantage of a slow pace and compact field to win the $150,000, 1 1/8 mile race by 3/4 length over Hello Jerry, who was passed in deep stretch. Winning trainer King Leatherbury was non-committal on pointing his horse toward the Preakness. With jockey Steve Hamilton aboard, Malibu Moonshine swung wide in the homestretch and had just enough to get in front by the wire.   April 17 Bellamy who? Yesterday provided us two performances that looked an awful lot like Bellamy Road's showing in the Wood, if maybe not as fast. But it's hard to look any better than Afleet Alex did in winning the $1 million, 1 1/8 mile Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn. Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile second place finisher, who was slowed in his last race, the Rebel Stakes, due to a lung infection, looked to be in prime health yesterday in making a legit claim to Derby favorite. He set a stakes record in winning by eight lengths in what some considered to be the best race of his career. The second-largest crowd in Oaklawn Park history was vindicated in sending the winner off as the 2-1 favorite. With Jeremy Rose aboard, Afleet Alex was in the middle of the pack through the first six furlongs. Nearing the far turn, Afleet Alex turned it on while being four paths wide. Flower Alley moved with Afleet Alex, but after entering the stretch and heading for the wire, it was all Afleet Alex. Flower Alley, trained by Todd Pletcher, held on for second, three-quarters of a length in front of third place finisher Andromeda's Hero. The biggest disappointment in the race was Greater Good, who was wide on both turn and never contended. Afleet Alex has now won six of nine starts, and finished second in the other two races. His worst performance was his last race, the Rebel, which now can be entirely written off due to injury. Some questions remain as to who will ride Afleet Alex in the Derby, either Rose or John Velazquez, who rode Bandini to victory in the Blue Grass Stakes. Trainer Tim Ritchey would not comment on the matter after the race. And in another case of an impressive Derby prep, Bandini won strong in the $750,000, 1 1/8 mile Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Bandini, trained by Todd Pletcher, took the lead at the top of the stretch and was never threatened by what was considered the toughest Derby prep field all season. Bandini, in front of a record crowd, needed the win in order to boost his graded stakes earnings. He'll have no problem making the top 20 in case that many horses enter the Derby field. Bandini won by six lengths over 5-2 favorite High Limit, while Closing Argument was third. Bandini is a son of 2000 Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. Despite their performances in the race, Nick Zito's Sun King, Bobby Frankel's High Limit and D. Wayne Lukas' Consolidator will all point to the Kentucky Derby. Bandini won for the third time in five starts. It was rabbit Spanish Chestnut who took the early lead, with High Limit settling in behind in second and Bandini right behind him. But come the final turn, it was all Bandini, who had John Velazquez aboard. Todd Pletcher won his first Blue Grass Stakes, and is looking for his first Triple Crown win this season.   April 10 It was a busy day on the Derby prep scene, with three big races taking place, including two of the biggest Derby preps in the country. Let's jump right in. We'll start on the East Coast. In Queens at Aqueduct Bellamy Road ran probably the strongest Derby prep of 2005. His performance in the 81st Wood Memorial was remarkable. Jockey Javier Castellano was celebrating his ride's win by the sixteenth pole. Bellamy Road won by an amazing 17 1/2 lengths; he tield the track record for 1 1/8 miles set 32 years ago by eventual Derby winner Riva Ridge. Bellamy Road is trained by Nick Zito, the hottest trainer in the U.S. who now has three legitimate Derby contenders, and is owned by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Bellamy Road went to the lead as soon as the gate opened, and tood advantage of a fast-running track. At the six-furlong point, the winner stretched a 2 1/2 length lead to 10 lengths at the eighth pole under a hand ride by Castellano. Even better, it was clear Bellamy Road had more in the tank when Castellano has trouble pulling his horse up at the end. Bellamy Road won for the fourth time in five starts, and is now 2-2 under Zito. Bellamy's Road won his only other race this year, an allowance at Gulfstream. For the record, Survivalist finished second, while Scrappy T came in third. Steinbrenner has run five horses in the Derby, the last being Concerto in 1997. Concerto, who finished ninth that year, is Bellamy Road's sire. John Galbreath, who owned the Pittsburgh Pirates, also owned Derby winners Chateaugay (1963) and Proud Clarion (1967). Will Bellamy's Road inexperience as a three-year-old come back to haunt him? Time will tell. Out on the West Coast, in the $750,000, 1 1/8 mile Santa Anita Derby, trainer Jeff Mullins became the first trainer to win the 68-year old race three years in a row. He did with 30-1 long shot Buzzards Bay who, with jockey Mark Guidry aboard, held off the 64-1 General John B by a half-length. Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, Wilko, ran wide most of the race but put in a solid effort to take third. Sweet Catomine, last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner, came in fifth; it was reported after the race that she is off the trail of both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Mullins won the Santa Anita Derby with Buddy Gil in 2003, and Castledale last year. Mullins has come under fire this spring for one of his horse's breaking a milkshaking rule at Santa Anita; horses in his bard had to be in detention barn 30 days before a race. The win certainly felt like a vindication of sorts for Mullins. Buzzards Bay, General John B and Customer ran on the lead together for the first three-quarters of a mile. Wilko kicked it into gear at this point, as Customer faded. Wilko, with Frankie Dettori aboard, was making only his second start of the year. Mullins will be running a horse in the Derby for the fourth straight year. Earlier this year, Buzzards Bay has won the Golden Gate Derby, finished a lousy 10th in the Risen Star, then bled when finishing third in the El Camino Real Derby. He is a son of Marco Bay. Lastly, at Hawthorne, Greeley's Galaxy, who had never run in a stakes race, took the 1 1/8 mile Illinois Derby in convincing fashion, using a powerful stretch run to win by 9 1/2 lenghts. Owner B. Wayne Hughes will have to put up $200,000 to nominate his colt for the Triple Crown, and it appears that Hughes is going to pull the trigger, especially since his Don't Get Mad is off the Derby trail after a poor showing in the Santa Anita Derby. Greeley's Galaxy has now won three in a row, though he was making a jump in class in this one. The winner, with Kent Desormeaux aboard, broke from post 1, and made his first move along the backstretch after his jockey had to hold him up a bit in the first turn. But at the far turn, the winner turned on the heat, and then was all class from the eighth pole to the finish. Monarch Lane took second, just holding off Magna Graduate. Can the winner repeat his peformance in the Derby while taking another step up in class?   April 3 With a month to go until Derby Day, the city of Louisville had a major sports distraction on the day of one of the biggest Derby preps, the Florida Derby. The Louisville Cardinals saw their magical NCAA tourney run come to an end at the Final Four in St. Louis. But with the end of the college basketball season comes more attention to the first Saturday in May, and speaking of, we now have a major favorite moving forward. High Fly won the $1 million, 1 1/8 mile race, giving trainer Nick Zito his first ever Florida Derby win. Zito, in fact, did even better than that, as his Noble Causeway finished second, making Zito the first trainer in 30 years to finish 1-2 in this race. However, Zito said both horses would work up to the Kentucky Derby, with each trying to become the first horse in 50 years to win the Derby off of a five-week layoff. High Fly, the 8-5 favorite with Jerry Bailey aboard, has won five of six career starts, including the Aventura Stakes, the Fountain of Youth and now the Florida Derby. Noble Causeway was ridden by Edgar Prado. B.B. Best had Jorge Chavez on top and finished third. Noble Causeway was making his takes debut after two allowance races this year. B.B. Best set the pace throughout the race, but gave way to a strong High Fly, while Noble Causeway found his stride to close firmly at the end. High Fly was moved to Zito's barn by his owner after losing in the Holy Bull Stakes, but has certainly found his stride now.   Mar. 27 In the $500,000, 1 1/8 mile Lane's End Stakes at Turfway, trainer Todd Pletcher got a pleasant surprise when Flower Alley, with Jorge Chavez aboard, upset a nine-horse field in only his third career start. Flower Alley is a Kentucky-bred colt out of Distorted Humor. Flower Alley challenged the 2-1 favorite Spanish Chestnut for the early lead, before relaxing off the pace through the opening quarter and half-mile. After falling back to fifth, the winner made his move on the outside around the home turn. Flower Alley came on strong in late stretch, passing Mr Sword at the sixteenth pole and just witholding a late charge by second place finisher Wild Desert. Mr Sword hung on for third. Spanish Chestnut, ridden by Gary Stevens, led through the first six furlongs, while Mr Sword was able to rally from the back of the pack to just get in front at the top of the turn. Spanish Chestnut's trainer, Patrick Biancone, was undecided on the future of his colt, but it looks unlikely he will remain on the Derby trail. The winner, however, will now point to the Arkansas Derby or Blue Grass Stakes.   Mar. 20 There were several big prep races this weekend, all over the country, so let's get started. At Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., Greater Good took over previously unbeaten Rockport Harbor deep in the home stretch to win the $250,000, 1 1/16 mile Rebel Stakes by a half-length. Greater Good, now winner of five of his past six races, broke quickly from the outside under John McKee, and was in the middle of the field when Rockport Harbor took the lead. The favorite, Afleet Alex, tried to move toward the lead on the final turn, but faded badly in the stretch. His poor finish was credited to a lung infection, but his connections after the race that Afleet Alex, ridden by John Velazquez, would still point to the Arkansas Derby. Greater Good and Rockport Harbor fought for the lead in the final eighth mile, with Greater Good taking charge at the sixteenth pole. Rockport Harbor was making his first start since the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct last November, a race in which he suffured an injury to his right rear leg. A subsequent bruised foot led trainer John Servis to claim Rockport Harbor was runnint at either 75 or 80%. Stewart Elliott rode Rockport Harbor, while Calvin Borel rode 60-1 shot Batson Challenge, who surprised with a third-place finish. Out in California, in the 1 1/16 mile, $250,000 San Felipe Stakes, trainer D. Wayne Lukas had Consolidator in strong enough shape to handle a wet-fast track to come from the off pace and close with a strong, confident kick under jockey Rafael Bejarano to win by 6 1/2 lengths over Giacomo. Don't Get Mad came in third, while highly touted Wilko was fourth, and even more highly touted Roman Ruler was last in the field of eight. More on him in a moment. Rainfall on Friday and early Saturday led to a super fast track, and caused havoc on closers. Consolidator was able to set a stakes record in time (1:40.11) and margin of victory. The winner was held off just off the pace for the first six furlongs, and he, Giacomo, Wilko and Don't Get Mad all closed in on the leader, Lucky J.H., until he faded out of contention. Consolidator, though, was the only horse able to turn on the jets in the stretch. Consolidator, winner of three races in nine starts, is owned by Bob and Beverly lewis, is out of Storm Cat and was purchased as a yearling for $1.25 million. Consolidator last won at Keeneland in the Breeders' Futurity, and will now point towards the Blue Grass Stakes. Roman Ruler, meanwhile, has now dropped off the Kentucky Derby trail. Roman Ruler was making his 2005 debut, and trainer Bob Baffert had high hopes. But an injury, and missed training time due to bad weather, clearly left Roman Ruler behind with too much to make up. The Tampa Bay Derby has not traditionally been known as a major Derby prep, but this year may prove different as more attention is shined upon Sun King. Sung King was the heavy favorite in the 1 1/16 mile, $250,000 race, and this colt, trained by Nick Zito, improved to 2-2 on the year by taking control of this race early. Sun King is the son of 1999 Derby winner Charismatic and was ridden by Edgar Prado. Sun King was challenged in the stretch after setting the pace for the first six furlongs, but with a little urging, pulled away to win by over three lengths, narrowly missing the track record. Sun King will now point towards the Blue Grass Stakes. Forever Wild finished second, while Global Trader was third. And finally, up in New York, it was Survivalist taking the 1-mile Gotham Stakes at Aquedct despite a steward's inquiry. Pavo finished second in the race but was disqualified to fourth after it was ruled his jockey, Alan Garcia, unintentionally hit Naughty New Yorker in the face with his whip during a frantic stretch run. In the revised order of finish, Galloping Grocer was moved to second from third, and Naughty New Yorker, whose jockey Jean-Luc Samyn claimed the foul, was moved up from third from fourth. Survivalist is trained by Shug McGaughey and had Richard Migliore aboard. Galloping Grocer, with Mike Luzzi aboard, was in third and poised to take the lead. But it was an entertaining five-horse battle to the finish. The first five finishers were less than two lengths apart. Galloping Grocer, trained by Dominick Schettino, will point towards the Wood Memorial, as, most likely, will the winner Sruvivalist, a son of Danzig. Naughty New Yorker, who had finished second in the Whirlaway and Count Fleet, will also point toward the Wood. Finally, it was announced this week that jockey Pat Day will undergo hip surgery, and will most likely miss the Kentucky Derby for the first time in over two decades. Day will rehab from four to 12 weeks, and considered a return in time for the Derby to be a "longshot."   Mar. 13 We'll get to the prep races in a moment, but the biggest news of the weekend was the removal of Declans' Moon from the Kentucky Derby trail. The highly-touted favorite for the Derby was diagnosed with a knee chip that will keep Declan's Moon sidelined through the summer, but not end his career. Declan's Moon is trained by Ron Ellis and owned by Jay Em Ess Stable of Mace and Samantha Siegel. He is out for at least 60 days. Declan's Moon had been the second choice in the second pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Declan's Moon, a Maryland-bred, has won all five of his races, including last weekend's Santa Catlina Stakes at Santa Anita in his three-year-old debut. It is thought Declan's Moon sustained the injury during that race. The weekend's biggest Derby prep took place down South in New Orleans at Fair Grounds, in the $600,000, 1 1/16 mile Louisiana Derby. High Limit established himself as a major Derby contender by winning the Louisiana Derby nearly wire-to-wire. Trained by Bobby Frankel, High Limit was making his first race in 138 days, and had no problem in the nine-horse field. High Limit took the lead early from Storm Surge, and was a comfortable four lenghts in front of second-place finisher Vicarage, who is trained by Todd Pletcher. Owned by Gary and Mary West, High Limit was moved to Frankel's barn last November. The winner went off as the 5-2 favorite and had jockey Ramon Dominguez aboard. Storm Surge, who was third in the Risen Star, came in third once again. High Limit will now point to either the Wood Memorial or Blue Grass Stakes. In the other major prep race of the weekend, the $200,000, 1 1/16 mile El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows, it was Uncle Denny entering himself onto the Derby trail with his fourth victory if five career starts; he will probably be nominated for the Triple Crown with a $6,000 supplemental feel. Trained by Rafael Becerra and ridden by Russell Baze, Uncle Denny let loose early and was just off the leader until taking charge in the stretch. Uncle Denny took the lead at around the six furlong mark, and held on for a 1 1/4 length marging over Wannawinemall, who was second, and Buzzards Bay, who was third. Uncle Denny will now point to either the Santa Anita Derby or Wood Memorial.   Mar. 6 In his first race as a three-year-old, Declan's Moon solidified his place on top of the Derby favorite list with a two-length win in the $200,00 Santa Catlina stakes. Although rambcunctious in the paddock, Declan's Moon settled down on the outside of a six-horse field, taking the lead for good just past the eighth pole under jockey Victor Espinoza. Ron Ellis is the trainer of this Eclipse Award winner as best two-year-old male, who won all four of his starts last year. Declan's Moon was running in his first race since the Hollywood Futurity last December 18. Going Wild took second with Rafael Bejarano aboard, while was another three lengths back to third-place finisher Spanish Chestnut. Declan's Moon will now be pointed toward the Santa Anita Derby, as will Going Wild, who is trained by D. Wayne Lukas. There was tragedy in the race, as Snack broke his right front ankle along the second turn and had to be euthanized. Declan's Moon, a gelding, is aiming to be the first Maryland-bred Derby winner since Kauai King in 1966. Down in Florida, trainer Nick Zito took a giant step towards Louisville. In the 1 1/8 mile Fountain of Youth Stakes, High Fly took the lead on the turn for home and held off second-place finisher Bandini to put himself squarely in the Derby contender mix. High Fly was making his first start under Zito, and won for the fourth time in five starts. He came in third in last month's Holy Bull Stakes. High Fly had Jerry Bailey aboard for the first time, and was content to lay off the pace early. High Fly, the even money favorite, moved into the lead and pulled away on the turn for home. Bandini, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez made a solid closing stretch run, but couldn't catch the winner was three-quarters of a length short. B.B. Best came in third. Earlier in the day at Gulfstream, another colt stamped himself as wise-guy favorite. Lost in the Fog took the $150,000 Swale Stakes by 4 3/4 lenghts by coming off the pace and then cruising in the stretch to hold off the pacesetting More Smoke. Around the Cape passed More Smoke to take second by less than a length. The winner is trained by Greg Gilchrist. After the race, Lost in the Fog's owner, Harry Aleo, posted the $6,000 to nominate his horse for the Triple Crown, though the connections remained uncommitted to the Run for the Roses. Lost in the Fog has now won all four career starts, with the Swale being his first grades stakes and first race beyond six furlongs. Russell Baze rode Lost in the Fog, who took command the quarter pole. The winner will now be pointed toward either the Florida Derby or Santa Anita Derby.   Feb. 13 In the key Derby prep race on Saturday, the 1 1/16 mile, $150,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in Louisiana, Scipion showed a closing kick and strong stretch run that immediately puts him on the road to Louisville. Scipion was at the back of the pack turning for home, but under the guidance of Gary Stevens, took off, found and passed the leaders, and won by a confident 1 1/4 lengths. Scipion, not even listed in the fisrt Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool, will now point to the Louisiana Derby on March 2. The winner is trained by Patrick Biancone, and is a son of A.P. Indy. Real Dandy, who also closed strongly, finished just a neck in front of third-place finisher Storm Surge. The favorite, Harlington, finished sixth, and never threatened. At Turf Paraside, General John B withsood all challengers, and a sloppy track, to prevail in the $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby. General John B went to the lead quickly, and had a four-length lead at the top of the stretch under rider Jon Court before finally finishing ahead by six lengths in front of Quiet Money, a Kentucky-bred son Seattle Slew. Lead for Speed was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third. General John B has now won three of five career starts. Up in New York, the next coming of Funny Cide was put on hold, as Sort It Out came up with a surprise win in the $75,000 Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct over the heavily favored Galloping Grocer. The winner, with Timothy Thornton aboard, held off Naughty New Yorker by a neck, with Scrappy T 1 1/4 lengths back for third. The favorite finished fourth, and came out of the race with a gash in his leg. It is not known if the injury will keep Galloping Grocer off the Derby trail. Sort It Out, now 3-3 for the year, had the second-fastest time in stakes history. In other news, High Fly, who suffered his first career defeat last week when finishing third as the favorite in the Holy Bull Stakes, was moved to trainer Nick Zito's barn in place of Bill White. High Fly is owned by Charlotte Webber's Live Oak Plantation. At this point, the next race for High Fly is undetermined. The favorites continue to fall, and the unheralded continue to push themselves to the forefront of Derby contenders. In the final Derby prep of the weekend, the 7-furlong, $150,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita, Fusaichi Rock Star went wire-to-wire and just held off the fast-closing Don't Get Mad. The winner was making his first start since last Oct. 17 under jockey David Flores. Don't Get Mad, who was last in mid-stretch in the field of only four horses, flew down the rail to get second, just a neck in front of Kirkendahl. The favored Consolidator finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Kirkendahl to finish in last. The winner, a son of Wild Wonder, is trained by Bob Baffert and owned by Fusao Sekiguchi, who owned 2000 Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. He underwent an operation over the winter to fix a breathing problem, and seems to be in top shape. Don't Get Mad, according to trainer Ron Ellis, will now point to the San Felipe Stakes on March 19, and Fusaichi Rock Star most likely will as well.   Feb. 6 In the 1 1/8 mile , $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream, Closing Argument stamped himself as one of the strongest Derby contenders in Florida by winning from off the pace. Running in his first race since coming in second in the Dec. Delta Downs Jackpot last Dec. 4, Closing Argument was running second again on the inside until the far turn. He took a slight lead turning for home, then like his name, issued a final closing to win in the final furlong by 1 1/2 lengths. The winner had jockey Cornelio Velasquez aboard, and was the third-choice in a field of eight. Kansas City Boy finished second, one half-length in front of the 3-5 favorite, High Fly, who was running for the first time around two turns. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Closing Argument is a seasoned 3-2-1 in six career starts. In another Derby prep at Gulfstream, the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes, Proud Accolade won by 4 1/2 lengths after rallying from being in last place at the half-mile mark. With John Velazquez riding, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt won as the favorite over Park Avenue Ball, who was two lengths in front of Vicarage, who was third. Proud Accolade, now 4-0-0 in six starts, won last year's Champagne Stakes at Belmont, and was making his first start since finishing sixth in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Out on the West Coast, at Santa Anita, Going Wild won the 1 1/8 mile, $100,000 Sham Stakes wire-to-wire by hodling off Papi Chullo by one length. The 7-5 favorite Giacomo was just a neck further behind for third. The winner, trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Victor Espinoza, was making his sixth career start, none longer than seven furlongs. Going Wild, who won the San Miguel Stakes in his last start, is 3-2-1 in six starts and is owned by Bob and Beverly Lewish. He will now point to the Santa Catalina Stakes on March, a 1 1/16 race highly anticipated due to the 2005 debut of 2004 2-year-old champion Declan's Moon.