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Road to the Roses

By United Press International

Major prep races leading up the the May 4 Kentucky Derby:

Jan. 1

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--Tropical Park Derby, Calder, 1 1/8 mile (off turf): "Nice to know he can run on the dirt," said trainer John Hennig after POLITICAL ATTACK survived the surface switch to win by 4 ½ lengths.

Jan 3

--Spectacular Bid Stakes (Gr. III), Gulfstream Park, 6 furlongs: MAYBRY'S BOY rallied from last to win by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:12. Trainer Shug McGaughey said Mabry's Boy "is still a little green."

Jan. 12

--Golden Gate Derby (Gr. III), Golden Gate Fields, 1 1/16 mile: DANTHEBLUEGRASSMAN edged CAPPUCHINO at the wire. The winner is by Pioneering. Owner Mike Pegram and trainer Bob Baffert handled Real Quiet.

Jan. 13

San Miguel Stakes (Gr. III), Santa Anita, 6 furlongs: Baffert sent out another winner -- POPULAR. The Saint Ballado colt dueled with ROMAN DANCER through most of the race, then put a nose in front under the wire.

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Jan. 19

--Santa Catalina Stakes (Gr. II), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 mile: LABAMTA BABE rallied from off the pace to win by 5 ½ lengths in 1:42 2/5. But the winner benefited from a horrible, stumbling start by SIPHONIC, who challenged on the turn but came up short. COTTONWOOD COWBOY was third.

--Holy Bull Stakes (Gr. III), Gulfstream Park, 1 1/16 mile: BOOKLET broke in front and held on to beat favorite HARLAN'S HOLIDAY by ¾ length. THISCANNONSLOADED was a distant third.

Feb. 2

Hutcheson Stakes (Gr. II), Gulfstream Park, 7 furlongs: SHOWMEITALL got a clear lead in the stretch, then just did hold off MONTHIR, winning by a nose. ROYAL LAD was third. The time, over a "good" track, was a slow 1:26.07. MAYBRY'S BOY, winner of the Spectacular Bid on Jan. 3, finished fourth.

Feb. 2

San Vicente Stakes (Gr. II), Santa Anita, 7 furlongs: CAME HOME, making his first start since finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, drew off in the stretch to win by 4 lengths over JACK'S SILVER. WERBLIN was third. The 7 furlongs took 1:21.92.

Feb. 8

Sham Stakes (restricted), Santa Anita, 1 1/8 mile: U S S TINOSA drew off in the stretch to win by 4 ½ lengths. The Ohio-bred son of Foxhound finished in 1:49.11.

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Feb. 9

Whirlaway Stakes, Aqueduct, 1 1/16 mile: SARATOGA BLUES stayed close to the leader, took command in the stretch and won by 2 lengths over D' COACH, who was set down to third behind SMOKED EM for interference. The winner, by Twining, was timed in 1:44.93.

Feb. 10

Golden State Mile, Golden Gate Fields, 1 mile: CAPPUCHINO took the lead nearing the far turn without being asked for much, won by 2 ½ lengths under a hand ride over stablemate YOUGOTTAWANNA. ARSEN was third. The time was 1:36.57.

Feb. 16

Fountain of Youth Stakes (Gr. I), Gulfstream Park, 1 1/16 mile: BOOKLET led from the early going and doggedly held off HARLAN'S HOLIDAY in the stretch to win by a nose. BLUE BURNER was 3 lengths back in third. Time was 1:44.49.

Feb. 17

Risen Star Stakes (Gr. III), Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 mile: Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up REPENT, making his season debut, came from near last to win by 2 ¼ lengths over BOB'S IMAGE after going eight-wide on the turn. EASYFROMTHEGITGO was third. The 1 1/16 mile was timed in 1:43.

Feb. 23

Best Turn Stakes, Aqueduct, 6 furlongs: SMOOTH JAZZ was bumped at the start and had to rally three-wide but still won by 2 ¾ lengths over TANK'S EXPECTATION, in 1:10.76. Trainer Tony Dutrow said the Storm Boot colt might stretch out to a mile in the Gotham on 3/17.

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March 2

--San Rafael Stakes (Gr. II), Santa Anita, 1 mile: CAME HOME, in his first try around two turns, finished well to win by 3 lengths over EASY GRADES, with WERBLIN third. The time was 1:36.24, with the final furlong in just over 13 seconds.

--Southwest Stakes, Oaklawn Park, 1 mile: Split into two divisions, with PRIVATE EMBLEM, by Our Emblem taking the first by ¾ length over DUSTY SPIKE with a good stretch move, finishing in 1:40.29 on a muddy track. In the second division, PALOMA PARILLA dueled down the stretch with COPE WITH AN IMAGE before winning by a neck. Paloma Parilla, by Dove Hunt, with second-time Lasix, was clocked in 1:41.70.

--John Battaglia Memorial, Turfway Park, 1 1/16 mile: REQUEST FOR PAROLE edged PERFECT DRIFT for the second straight race, holding off the challenger by a nose under the wire. Time was 1:43 on a muddy track. Request For Parole is by Judge T C, who twice ran second in the Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway.

March 9

El Camino Real Derby (Gr. III), Golden Gate Fields, 1 1/16 mile: YOUGOTTAWANNA caught DANTHEBLUGRASSMAN in the stretch run and went on to win by ¾ length, finishing in 1:43.48. LUSTY LATIN was third with a late run from far back.

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March 10

Louisiana Derby (Gr. II), Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 mile: REPENT overcame a slow pace and just caught EASYFROMTHEGITGO at the wire for a nose victory. Despite the win, new rider Jerry Bailey had difficulty making REPENT switch leads in the stretch and added the colt needs that skill to run at Churchill Downs. Time: 1:43 4/5.

March 16

--Florida Derby (Gr. I), Gulfstream Park, 1 1/8 mile: HARLAN'S HOLIDAY came from behind a fast pace, took charge in the stretch and won by 3 ½ lengths in 1:48.80. BLUE BURNER ran well from last to take second with PEEKSKILL third and BOOKLET fourth after the speed duel.

--Swale Stakes (Gr. III), Gulfstream Park, 7 furlongs: ETHAN MAN tracked the pace and drew off in the stretch to win by 3 lengths over LISTEN HERE. The time was 1:22.29.

March 17

--Gotham Stakes (Gr. III), Aqueduct, 1 mile: MAYAKOVSKY led all the way, winning by 3 ¾ lengths over SAARLAND, both making their 3-year-old debut. PARADE OF MUSIC was third. Time for the one-turn mile was 1:34.90.

--San Felipe Stakes (Gr. II), 1 1/16 mile: A longshot, coming off a maiden win, MEDAGLIA D'ORO led, gave up the lead and came again to win by 2 ½ lengths over U S S TINOSA. The heavy favorite, SIPHONIC, led but faded to finish third. Time: 1:41.95.

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--Tampa Bay Derby (Gr. III), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 mile: EQUALITY posted a minor upset, beating TAILS OF THE CRYPT by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:43.66. POLITICAL ATTACK was third.

March 23

--Lane's End Spiral Stakes (Gr. II), Turfway Park, 1 1/8 mile: PERFECT DRIFT sat well back of a quick early pace, then outran AZILLION in the final furlong to win by a neck. REQUEST FOR PAROLE was a nose back in third. Time: 1:48.83.

--Rebel Stakes (Gr. III), Oaklawn Park, 1 1/16 mile: WINDWARD PASSAGE tracked the pace, got by OCEAN SOUND on the turn and won by 1 length with DUSTY SPIKE third. The time was 1:45.06.

--UAE Derby (Group II), Nad Al Sheeba, Dubai, 1 ¼ mile: ESSENCE OF DUBAI came from last to first to beat TOTAL IMPACT by ½ length with a powerful stretch move. IBN AL HAITHAM was third, giving Godolphin a 1-3 finish. Time: 2:02.90

April 6

--Santa Anita Derby (Gr. 1), Santa Anita, 1 1/8 mile: CAME HOME stalked the early pace, took command under strong handling and got home first, 2 ¼ lengths ahead of EASY GRADES. LUSTY LATIN finished quickly on the outside to take third from MAYAKOVSKY, who set the pace. Final time was 1:50.02.

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--Illinois Derby (Gr. II), Sportsman's Park, 1 1/8 mile: WAR EMBLEM got an easy lead and coasted home first, 6 ¼ lengths in front of REPENT, with FONZ'S third. WAR EMBLEM finished in 1:49.92.

April 13

--Wood Memorial Stakes (Gr. I), Aqueduct, 1 1/8 mile: BUDDHA, a son of Unbridled's Song, dueled on the inside through most of the race with MEDAGLIA D'ORO before winning by a head under the wire in 1:48.61. SUNDAY BREAK, a Japanese-bred, was close throughout and finished ½ length farther back in third.

--Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Gr. I), Keeneland, 1 1/8 mile: HARLAN'S HOLIDAY dominated five rivals, roaring off in the stretch to win by 4 ½ lengths over BOOKLET in a slow 1:51.51. OCEAN SOUND was third.

--Arkansas Derby (Gr. II), Oaklawn Park, 1 1/8 mile: PRIVATE EMBLEM drew off in the stretch after stalking the early pace and won by 4 ½ lengths over WILD HORSES. WINDWARD PASSAGE and BAY MONSTER dead-heated for third. Time was 1:50.20.

--California Derby, Bay Meadows, 1 1/8 mile: TRACEMARK was just up at the wire to beat pace-setting CAPPUCHINO by a neck in 1:47.93 with CAPTAIN SQUIRE third.

April 20

--Coolmore Lexington Stakes (Gr. II), Keeneland, 1 1/16 mile

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--Federico Tessio Stakes, Pimlico Race Course, 1 1/8 mile

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