Derby Camps Buzzin’ Tuneup Wins By Top Horses Promise Competitive Race

Trainer Wayne Catalano probably summed up the emotions of all the trainers, owners and jockeys of the winners of Saturday’s three major steppingstones to the Kentucky Derby.

After Louisiana Derby winner Crypto Star won the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, Catalano said, “I got excited in the Louisiana Derby and I’m more excited today. I’ll get even more excited in Kentucky.”

“It feels absolutely fantastic, great,” Barry Irwin, manager of the syndicate that owns Captain Bodgit, crowed after the Captain followed his Florida Derby upset of Pulpit with a victory in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

After Pulpit’s win in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, Shane Sellers said he has long wanted to ride a champion for trainer Frank Brothers, “and I think this is the horse.”

All three winners will tangle May 3 at Churchill Downs in what promises to be a very interesting Derby.

Other possible Derby starters running Saturday were Accelerator, second in the Wood Memorial; Acceptable, second, and Stolen Gold, third, in the Blue Grass; and Phantom On Tour, second, and Pacificbounty, third, in the Arkansas Derby.

Also headed for the Derby are Free House, Silver Charm and Hello, the first three finishers in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5, and Jim Beam winner Concerto, who will prep in the Federico Tessio next Saturday at Pimlico.

On a rainy day in the New York, Captain Bodgit, sixth about five lengths off the pace after three-quarters of a mile, splashed through the slop in the stretch and won the Wood Memorial by two lengths over Accelerator.

“I don’t think we know how good he is,” Irwin said. “He’s an awesome physical specimen. You can’t put anything past him.”

Pulpit stalked pace-setter Jules to the top of the stretch, then drew off for a 3-1/2-length victory over Acceptable in the Blue Grass as he rebounded from his only loss in five starts, all of them this year.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet,” Brothers said.

Crypto Star, from 11-1/2 lengths off the lead, charged past Phantom On Tour in deep stretch for a half-length victory in the Arkansas Derby. He was ridden by Pat Day.