Road to Derby heats up
NEW YORK — It’s shuffle time on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
On a day full of Derby preps, some surprising results elevated Tampa Bay Derby winner Sun King to No. 1 in this week’s Run to the Roses’ Top 10.
Trained by two-time Derby winner Nick Zito, Sun King was the lone winner of five 3-year-olds ranked in last week’s Top 10 who ran Saturday. Among the losers were Afleet Alex and Rockport Harbor, rated 1-2 entering the weekend.
Zito is the star of this year’s Derby chase with no less than five contenders. Sun King, 2 for 2 this year, pulled away effortlessly when roused by jockey Edgar Prado and won by 3 1/4 lengths.
The son of 1999 Derby winner Charismatic covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.98, just off the track record of 1:43.40.
“I was riding with confidence every step of the way,” Prado said. “And when he felt the company of another horse coming he caught another gear.”
With the Derby seven weeks away, Sun King’s final prep will be the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 16.
Four-time Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas returned to the thick of things after Consolidator’s victory in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Wilko was fourth; Bob Baffert’s top Derby prospect Roman Ruler was last, and was taken off the Derby trail to allow a minor foot injury to heal.
A son of Storm Cat, Consolidator won in record fashion, setting stakes records for time (1:40.11 for 1 1/16 miles) and margin of victory (6 1/2 lengths over Giacomo). Lukas’ colt moves into the rankings at No. 5.
“It’s mighty exciting to be back (on the Derby trail) again,” said Bob Lewis, the two-time Derby winning owner of Consolidator. “Wayne said he was a different horse, and he was right on the button.”
Said Lukas: “Consolidator went right to the head of the class.”
Meanwhile, Greater Good surged into the Top 10 at No. 6 with a victory over Rockport Harbor and Afleet Alex in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Winning his third straight race, Greater Good covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.92.
Survivalist moved onto the Derby trail with a three-quarters of a length victory over Pavo in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Pavo was disqualified to fourth after his rider, Alan Garcia, mistakenly whipped Naughty New Yorker in the face. Favorite Galloping Grocer was moved up to second from third.
Zito’s other Derby hopefuls are High Fly, No. 3 off his win in the Fountain of Youth on March 5, No. 10 Bellamy Road, Andromeda’s Hero and Noble Causeway.
Lost in the Fog, the unbeaten winner of the Swale Stakes, was pulled off the Derby trail by trainer Greg Gilchrist. Also dropping out of the Top 10 were Afleet Alex, Roman Ruler, Wilko and Bandini.
Here’s the top five for this week, with Derby future wager odds (set March 12):
1. Sun King (Nick Zito, trainer; Edgar Prado, jockey): Won Tampa Bay Derby with ease … Now 2 for 2 this year for owner Tracy Farmer … Next start: Blue Grass (April 16) … Odds: 10-1.
2. Rockport Harbor (John Servis, Stewart Elliott): Good effort despite first loss … This colt is no Smarty Jones … Next start: Arkansas Derby (April 16) … Odds: 14-1.
3. High Fly (Zito, Jerry Bailey): No. 2 on Zito’s hit parade … Worked five furlongs in 1:02 at Palm Meadows on Saturday … Next start: Florida Derby (April 2) … Odds: 21-1.
4. Sweet Catomine (Julio Canani, Corey Nakatani): May be best 3-year-old on West Coast — male or female … First race against boys looms … Next start: Santa Anita Derby (April 9) … Odds: 16-1.
5. Consolidator (D. Wayne Lukas, Rafael Bejarano): Dusted off supposedly strong San Felipe field … Could Lukas have a fifth Derby winner? … Next start: Santa Anita Derby or Blue Grass … Odds: 44-1.