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Yahoo! Sports - Horse Racing - This Week In Harness Racing History - April 11-17

"Courtesy Harness Racing Communications - www.ustrotting.com

April 11, 1986 - Bree's Brief, driven by John Campbell, wins the Overbid final in 1:56.1 at The Meadowlands in New Jersey.

April 12, 1933 - Jack 'The Ripper' Bailey, the all-time leading driver at Vernon Downs in New York, is born in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He wins more than 3,300 career races.

April 14, 1990 - Mark Johnathan, driven by Mike Lachance, wins the Berry's Creek in 1:54 at The Meadowlands.

April 14, 1991 - Ed Huntbach becomes the sixth driver in history to win eight races on a single program, accomplishing the feat at Kingston Park Raceway in Ontario.

April 15, 1997 - Dave Palone wins his 5,000th race, driving Know How to victory at The Meadows in Pennsylvania.

April 16, 1994 - Arrive At Five, driven by John Campbell, wins the Freehold Cup Invitational in 1:52.3 at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey.

April 17, 1988 - Mack Lobell wins the Coors Silver Bullet Invitational Trot in 1:57.3 at Raceway Park in Ohio.

Kentucky Derby Prep Races 2005 - Longshot Buzzard’s Bay Redeemed as Santa Anita Derby Champion, Hopes Lost for Sweet Catomine

09 April 2005 - Who would’ve thought? Buzzard’s Bay, a 30-1 longshot, marched to victory by a half-length at the 2005 Santa Anita Derby (G1) stakes race on Saturday, April 9, handing trainer Jeff Mullins an unprecedented third straight win in this $750,000 major prep race to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Meanwhile, heavily favored Sweet Catomine finished a disappointing fifth, putting the filly's run for the roses to an unexpected halt before it ever got started.

Ridden by Mark Guidry, 2005 Santa Anita Derby champion Buzzard's Bay scored a stunning upset for Mullins, who had also won the race in 2004 with Castledale and in 2003 with Buddy Gil. The triumphant longshot ran near the lead in the 11-horse field before going to the front at the top of the stretch and winning by a half-length over runnerup General John B.

Florida-bred Buzzard's Bay's longshot victory is actually a repeat for Jeff Mullins, who had bagged the 2004 Santa Anita Derby championship win with another 30-1 shot, Castledale. Last year's champ paid $62 to win, the sixth highest in the Santa Anita Derby's 68-year history. In 2003, Mullins had also won with 6-1 shot Buddy Gil. He is the only trainer to win the Santa Anita Derby, the West Coast's last major prep race before the Kentucky Derby, thrice in a row.

Kentucky-bred Wilko, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, placed third by a nose. The most experienced horse in the field with 13 starts, Wilko, who had been trained on the turf tracks of England, has been plagued by persistent quarter cracks since making the transition to harder tracks.

Sweet Catomine, 2004 champion filly and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner, hoped to beat the boys for the first time after manhandling fillies in five straight victories. Unbeaten in three Santa Anita starts, 4-5 favorite Sweet Catomine broke from the No. 2 post and got trapped in heavy traffic in the inside. As jockey Corey Nakatani moved her to the outside, the favorite filly came out flat and placed a mere fifth behind Giacomo.

Saturday's second choice, Don't Get Mad, turned in a similarly lackluster performance. The Kentucky Derby hopeful trained by Ron Ellis placed sixth behind Sweet Catomine.

Covering the Santa Anita Derby's distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) in a plodding 1:49.18, champion Buzzard's Bay paid $62.20, $21.80, and $10.80. Second place finisher General John B, a 60-1 longshot, triggered an exacta payoff of $751.40.

Yahoo News: Bellamy Road: Zito's latest star ascends to No. 1 Derby contender

NEW YORK (AP) -- In a record-setting 1 minute, 47.16 seconds, the Kentucky Derby picture underwent a dramatic change.

That's all the time Bellamy Road needed to produce one of the more remarkable victories by a 3-year-old on the road to the Derby. Trainer Nick Zito's colt won Saturday's Wood Memorial by an astonishing 17 1/2 lengths, and in the process broke the stakes record and equaled the Aqueduct Racetrack mark for 1 1-8 miles.

``It was a brilliant performance, a beautiful thing,'' Zito said Sunday morning at his Belmont Park barn before leaving for Kentucky. ``We'll see what we can do from here.''

Bellamy Road, now 2-for-2 by a combined 33 1/4 lengths since Zito took over as trainer from Michael Dickinson, ascended to No. 1 in this week's Run to the Roses' Top 10.

Sweet Catomine, a badly beaten fifth in Saturday's Santa Anita Derby, dropped out of the rankings after owner Martin Wygod said his filly was off the Derby trail.

Zito also trains the second- and third-rated horses, Florida Derby winner High Fly and Sun King, set to run his final Derby prep Saturday in the Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Owned by Yankees boss George Steinbrenner, Bellamy Road takes a 4-for-5 career record to Louisville, Ky., where he will train leading to the Derby on May 7.

And don't be surprised if this colt winds up as the Derby favorite, although any of Zito's five Derby hotshots could fill that role. The others are Noble Causeway, the Florida Derby runner-up, and Andromeda's Hero, set for Saturday's Arkansas Derby.

One horse who won't be in the Arkansas Derby is Rockport Harbor, who has had a series of ailments, including a blood clot in his neck.

After a lackluster workout Sunday, trainer John Servis declared the colt out of the race, and instead will point him to the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 23.

As for the Derby, Servis said: ``It all depends on the Lexington. If Rocky runs the way we expect, he'll go on to the Kentucky Derby. If not, we'll regroup, and maybe point for the Preakness.''

While 2-year-old filly champion Sweet Catomine failed in her first test against the boy, 30-1 long shot Buzzards Bay won the Santa Anita Derby and is Derby bound.

Wygod said Sweet Catomine was far from healthy for Saturday's race, and even considered pulling her earlier in the week.

``I made a mistake here. I should've listened to my intuition,'' Wygod said. ``She had no run at all. She was totally empty.''

Also, Greeley's Galaxy won Saturday's Illinois Derby, and owner B. Wayne Hughes plans to pay a $200,000 supplemental fee if his horse qualifies for the Derby field.

The Blue Grass is shaping up as a dandy. Besides Sun King, the field most likely will include Bandini, Consolidator and High Limit. In addition to Andromeda's Hero, the Arkansas Derby also features Afleet Alex and Greater Good.

In each of the last three weeks, a colt trained by Zito has been ranked No. 1. Sun King was first, followed by High Fly. Now it's Bellamy Road, but who knows what will happen after Zito's final two contenders run.

Bellamy Road and High Fly were sent to Zito's barn this year, and are a combined 4-for-4 under his care. Sun King is 2-for-2 this year.

This week's top 10, with Derby future wager odds (through April 9):

1. Bellamy Road (Nick Zito, trainer; Javier Castellano, jockey): Wow! 2-for-2 under Zito by a combined 33 1/4 lengths. Who can argue with that? ... And what a team -- Boss Steinbrenner and Derby-driven Zito. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby (May 7). ... Odds: 4-1.

2. High Fly (Zito, Jerry Bailey): Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby winner training up to Derby in Kentucky. ... Boasts career mark of five wins in six races. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby ... Odds: 12-1.

3. Sun King (Zito, Edgar Prado): Started out as Zito's top prospect and still could be with big effort in final prep. ... Next start: Blue Grass (Saturday). ... Odds: 11-1.

4. Consolidator (D. Wayne Lukas, Rafael Bejarano): Lukas' lone Derby hope after Going Wild finished seventh in the Wood. ... San Felipe winner worked 5 furlongs in 59.60 Sunday at Churchill Downs. ... Next start: Blue Grass. ... Odds: 11-1.

5. High Limit (Bobby Frankel, Ramon Dominguez): Undefeated in three career starts, colt worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.60 last week in early tuneup for next race. ... Last Derby winner off four starts was Exterminator in 1918. ... Next start: Blue Grass. ... Odds: 11-1.

6. Noble Causeway (Zito, Prado): Another Zito colt built for 1 1/4 -mile Derby distance. ... Two wins and three seconds in five career starts. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 15-1.

7. Greater Good (Bob Holthus, John McKee): Worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.60 Saturday at Oaklawn Park. ... Comes into next race off wins in the Southwest and Rebel stakes. ... Next start: Arkansas Derby. ... Odds: 15-1.

8. Bandini (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez): Pletcher's top Derby hope finished second to High Fly in Fountain of Youth on March 5 in last race. ... Bruised hoof is healed. ... Next start: Blue Grass. ... Odds: 14-1.

9. Rockport Harbor (John Servis, Stewart Elliott): Leg injuries, blood clot, poor workout Sunday -- what else can go wrong? ... Arkansas Derby is out. ... Next start: Lexington Stakes (April 23). ... Odds: 19-1.

10. Buzzards Bay (Jeff Mullins, Mark Guidry): Won Santa Anita Derby by a half-length at odds of 30-1. ... Moves into Top 10 for first time. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 18-1 (mutuel field).

KEEP AN EYE ON: Afleet Alex, Giacomo, Survivalist, Wild Desert, Wilko.

Yahoo! Sports - Horse Racing - Rockport Harbor to miss Arkansas Derby

Yahoo! Sports - Horse Racing - Rockport Harbor to miss Arkansas Derby: "HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas (Ticker) - Rockport Harbor will not participate in Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby, one of the final preparatory races for next month's Kentucky Derby.

The 3-year-old Rockport Harbor, who has been hampered by a series of ailments, including foot problems and a blood clot in his neck, completed a 7/8-mile run in 1:25.6 at Oaklawn Park on Sunday before the decision was made by trainer John Servis.

Rockport Harbor instead will start the $325,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Race Track on April 23.

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'Rocky's work was fine, it was pretty much what we wanted,' Servis said. 'But it's clear he got tired at the end. He didn't gallop out the way he usually does and he was blowing pretty hard when he got back to the barn. He's just not ready for a tough race like the Arkansas Derby.'

Rockport Harbor, who won his four starts as a 2-year-old, could not hold onto a sizable lead in his first start after turning three, finishing runner-up to Greater Good in the Rebel Stakes here on March 19.

There still is optimism that Rockport Harbor will start the Kentucky Derby, which is scheduled for May 7. 'It all depends on the Lexington,' Servis said. 'If Rocky runs the way we expect, he'll go on to the Kentucky Derby. If not, we'll regroup and maybe point for the Preakness.'"

$4,000K Superfecta HIT by Harness Racing Tips

Proof that our harness racing tip sheets are FOR REAL! What a major score, a $4K Superfecta on a major track like the Meadownlands! WOW!

Race # 4
Post Time 8:33 * 1 Mile PACE * Purse: $17000
--------------------------------------------------
3 WILL STRUT 6/1 (Sears, Brian; Laterza, Dennis J)
9 ART'S TIGER 15/1 (Pierce, Ron; Czermann, Julius)
1 FAROUK HANOVER 3/1 (Campbell, John; Pelling, Brett)
7 GOZO HERITAGE A 15/1 (Berry, Patrick; Daley, Noel)

Hot Trainer: 9 Czermann, Julius
Hot Driver: 6 Manzi, Catello

Results:
P# Horse Win Place Show
9 ART'S TIGER 14.20 7.60 3.40
7 GOZO HERITAGE A 18.60 5.20
1 FAROUK HANOVER 2.80
3 WILL STRUT

$2 Exacta 9-7 $134.20

$2 Trifecta 9-7-1 $875.40

$2 Superfecta 9-7-1-3 $4075.60

Harness Racing Results a HIT

Initial reaction to harness racing results added to our tip sheets is a huge success.

We are wrapping up development on the subscription system. Counting the days of free access, we will start charging for access soon.

Yahoo News: High Fly soars to No. 1 in Derby Top 10 list

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- The winner's circle routine for Nick Zito features smiles, leaps, handshakes, hugs and kisses. And then he pours on the praise, thanking everyone and everything that had anything to do with his most recent success.

The trainer was at it again after High Fly won Saturday's Florida Derby and stablemate Noble Causeway finished second in their final preps before the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

``I had a lot of help this week,'' Zito said Sunday morning outside his barn at Gulfstream Park. ``Look at the weather. Last week it was 94 degrees -- that's too hot for Florida in March. I've said High Fly's tough in cooler weather, and I'm really proud of the way Noble Causeway ran in his first stakes race.''

A cool, breezy day arrived just in time for the $1 million Florida Derby, allowing High Fly to soar to a 1 1/2 -length victory and move to No. 1 in this week's Run to the Roses Top 10.

``The horses came out of it great,'' Zito said.

High Fly and Noble Causeway were off to Keenelend in Lexington, Ky., on Sunday, and Zito hopes to move them to Churchill Downs later in the week.

Tests for the contagious strangles infection are ongoing, and horses leaving Florida still need medical clearance before arriving at certain tracks, including Aqueduct and Belmont in New York and Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Zito's three other Derby hopefuls already are at Churchill Downs preparing for their final preps. Tampa Bay Derby winner Sun King, who drops to No. 2 this week, is set for the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 16, and Andromeda's Hero will run in either the Arkansas Derby on April 16 or the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland a week later. Bellamy Road is scheduled to run in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on Saturday, pending test results.

Although High Fly did not beat a stellar field, the chestnut colt won his second straight 1 1/8-mile race with authority under Jerry Bailey. With five wins in six starts, including three stakes victories at Gulfstream, High Fly is likely to be among the Derby favorites.

The prep season heats up Saturday with the Santa Anita Derby and the Wood.

-- The filly Sweet Catomine could face as many as 11 male rivals in the Santa Anita Derby, including Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko, Don't Get Mad and Giacomo.

-- Trainer D. Wayne Lukas sends San Miguel Stakes and Sham Stakes winner Going Wild to meet New York's best in the Wood, including Gotham winner Survivalist.

-- Trainer Ken McPeek said Sunday he plans to run Kansas City Boy -- seventh in the Louisiana Derby -- in Saturday's Illinois Derby.

Also:

-- Thor's Echo beat Southern Africa in the $500,000 WinStar Derby on Saturday. Both horses, as well as third-place finisher Sort It Out -- trained by Bob Baffert -- are nominated for the Triple Crown races.

This week's top 10, with Derby future wager odds (set March 12):

1. High Fly (Nick Zito, trainer; Jerry Bailey, jockey): Moves to head of the class after Florida Derby win ... Will train up to the Derby after fifth win in six races ... Next start: Kentucky Derby (May 7) ... Odds: 21-1.

2. Sun King (Zito, Edgar Prado): Needs to beat strong field to regain top billing ... Next start: Blue Grass (April 16) ... Odds: 10-1.

3. Rockport Harbor (John Servis, Stewart Elliott): Skipped workout Saturday with undisclosed ailment that has nothing to do with now healthy right rear hoof ... Racing status is shaky .... Next start: Arkansas Derby (April 16) ... Odds: 14-1.

4. Sweet Catomine (Julio Canani, Corey Nakatani): Tuning up for first test against the boys ... Had sharp five-furlong workout (59.60) last Monday ... Next start: Santa Anita Derby (Saturday) ... Odds: 16-1.

5. Consolidator (D. Wayne Lukas, Rafael Bejarano): Out to prove San Felipe win was no fluke ... Worked five furlongs in 1:00.00 at Churchill Downs on Sunday ... Next start: Blue Grass ... Odds: 44-1.

6. High Limit (Bobby Frankel, Ramon Dominguez): Settled in at Churchill Downs ... Worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 ... Will have just four races going into Derby ... Next start: Blue Grass ... Odds: 9-1.

7. Noble Causeway (Zito, Prado): Moves in after superb runner-up finish in Florida Derby in stakes debut ... Could be really tough in 1 1/4 -mile Derby ... Next start: Kentucky Derby ... Odds: 18-1.

8. Greater Good (Bob Holthus, John McKee): Worked five furlongs at Oaklawn Park in leisurely 1:04.40 ... Looking for Southwest-Rebel-Arkansas Derby sweep, just like Smarty Jones ... Next start: Arkansas Derby ... Odds: 28-1.

9. Survivalist (Shug McGaughey, Richard Migliore): Worked four furlongs in 51.82 at Belmont Park last week ... Needs solid effort to stay on Derby trail ... Next start: Wood Memorial (Saturday) ... Odds: 6-1 (mutuel field).

10. Bandini (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez): Missed Florida Derby with bruised hoof, but a two-week wait won't hurt ... Next start: Blue Grass ... Odds: 14-1.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Afleet Alex, Bellamy Road, Don't Get Mad, Galloping Grocer, Going Wild.

Kentucky Derby Prep Races 2005 - High Fly and Noble Causeway win first 1-2 for Nick Zito at Florida Derby

02 April 2005 - When High Fly beat stablemate Noble Causeway by 1 1/2 lengths on April 2, Sunday, at Gulfstream Park, no one could have been happier than Nick Zito, who prepped both contenders to the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) stakes race, one of the major prep races to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The newly triumphant trainer not only ended a 0-for-16 run in his history at Florida Derby races, he also became the first trainer in 30 years to finish 1-2 in this popular Derby prep race.

Florida Derby victory no doubt came sweetest for Nick Zito on this cool, breezy Saturday at Gulfstream Park. It was, after all, Zito's first ever Florida Derby win - this, after winning his first Belmont Stakes and his first Travers Stakes with Birdstone only last year. Considering his enviable luck, the trainer is hoping that the next streak to fall is his 11-year drought without a Kentucky Derby winner. Zito last won the Kentucky Derby in 1994 with Go for Gin and, previous to that, in 1991 with Strike the Gold.

With Hall-of-famer jockey Jerry Bailey aboard, High Fly won in a time of 1:49.43, and earned $600,000 at the race, raising his total career earnings to $897,300 thus far. A son of Atticus bred in Kentucky, High Fly has won five of six career starts and took three stakes races at Gulfstream Park: the Aventura, the Fountain of Youth, and the 1 1/8 mile (9 furlong) Florida Derby.

2005 Florida Derby champion High Fly, the 8-5 favorite, returned $4.40, $2.60, and $2.60. Runnerup Noble Causeway, ridden by Edgar Prado, paid $3.60 and $2.80. B.B. Best, ridden by Jorge Chavez, placed third and paid $3.80. As he had done at the Fountain of Youth stakes race on March 5, B.B. Best set the pace before giving way to High Fly, with Noble Causeway coming on strong in the end.

Park Avenue Ball placed fourth at Saturday's Florida Derby, followed by Mighty Mecke, Vicarage, Papi Chullo, Evil Minister, and Wallstreet Scandal. Although Vicarage came in at sixth, trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez teamed up to win three of the four stakes on the undercard.

Honey Ryder edged Ellieonthemarch in the $150,000 Orchid Handicap; Value Plus pulled away in the stretch for an easy victory in the $100,000 Artax Handicap; and Navesink River took the lead in the stretch to beat Quest Star in the $150,000 Pan American Handicap. Eurosilver won the $100,000 Skip Away Handicap.

Florida Derby's 1-2 winners High Fly and Noble Causeway are now both headed to Churchill Downs to prepare for the 2005 Kentucky Derby on May 7. Should either of Nick Zito's 3-year-olds win the Kentucky Derby, it would be the first time in close to 50 years that a horse wins the run for the roses off a layoff of at least five weeks. Also, the victorious trainer has three more hopefuls ready to run in the next few weeks: Andromeda's Hero, Bellamy Road, and Sun King.