Derby contender High Limit pays off in first race for Frankel

Bobby Frankel now knows what kind of horse he has in High Limit: a Kentucky Derby contender.

High Limit took the lead early and cruised to a four-length victory in Saturday’s $600,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, a major accomplishment for a lightly raced horse coming off a long layoff and moving up in class.

A winner in his first two starts at Delaware Park, High Limit was racing for the first time since Oct. 24, and for the first time since Frankel took over as the colt’s trainer.

With regular rider Ramon Dominguez aboard, High Limit was never challenged by eight rivals in the 11/16-mile Grade 2 race, a key prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

High Limit, the 5-2 favorite despite only two previous starts, shot past Storm Surge a few strides out of the gate and was never challenged.

High Limit covered the 11/16-miles in a swift 1:42.74 — just 0.14 off the stakes record and fourth fastest for the race — and returned $7.20, $6.20 and $4.40.

Vicarage, trained by Todd Pletcher, was a surprise runner-up and paid $16.80 and $9.80. Storm Surge, third in the Risen Star on Feb. 15, was third and returned $4.80.

Steinbrenner horse has Derby potential

Trainer Nick Zito added to his list of Kentucky Derby candidates.

Bellamy Road, a 3-year-old owned by New York Yankees boss George Steinbrenner, won a $35,000 allowance race at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., by 15 3/4 lengths.

The performance was so good that Zito might point Bellamy Road toward the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 9 — a key Derby prep race.

Zito already has four strong Derby hopefuls — High Fly, Noble Causeway, Sun King and Andromeda’s Hope. He assumed the training responsibilities for Bellamy Road in January.

Uncle Denny wins El Camino Real Derby

Uncle Denny won for the fourth time in five starts, beating Wannawinemall in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at San Mateo, Calif.

Ridden by Russell Baze, Uncle Denny covered 1 1/16th miles in 1:42.22 and paid $6.20, $3.80 and $3.20 in Northern California’s top Kentucky Derby prep race.

Wannawinemall returned $4.80 and $4.40, and Golden Gate Derby winner Buzzards Bay paid $6.40 to show.

Tarlow by a nose at Santa Anita

Tarlow moved to the lead early and held on to beat Dream of Summer by a nose in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Tarlow’s first Grade 1 victory was worth $180,000, boosting her career earnings to $439,740.