Major prep races leading up the the May 4 Kentucky Derby:
Jan. 1
--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 set out another winner -- POPULAR. The Sait Ballado colt dueled with ROMAN DANCER through most of the race, then put a nose in front under the wire.
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.
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
Feb. 17
Risen Star Stakes (Gr. III), Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 mile
Feb. 23
Best Turn Stakes, Aqueduct, 6 furlongs
March 2
--San Rafael Stakes (Gr. II), Santa Anita, 1 mile
--Southwest Stakes, Oaklawn Park, 1 mile
--John Battaglia Memorial, Turfway Park, 1 1/16 mile
March 9
El Camino Real Derby (Gr. III), Golden Gate Fields, 1 1/16 mile
March 10
Louisiana Derby (Gr. II), Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 mile
March 16
Florida Derby (Gr. I), Gulfstream Park, 1 1/8 mile
Swale Stakes (Gr. III), Gulfstream Park, 7 furlongs
March 17
Gotham Stakes (Gr. III), Aqueduct, 1 mile
San Felipe Stakes (Gr. II), 1 1/16 mile
Tampa Bay Derby (Gr. III), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 mile
March 23
Lane's End Spiral Stakes (Gr. II), Turfway Park, 1 1/8 mile
Rebel Stakes (Gr. III), Oaklawn Park, 1 1/16 mile
UAE Derby (Group II), Nad Al Sheeba, Dubai, 1 ¼ mile
April 6
Santa Anita Derby (Gr. 1), Santa Anita, 1 1/8 mile
Illinois Derby (Gr. II), Sportsman's Park, 1 1/8 mile
April 7
Lafayette Stakes (Gr. III), Keeneland, 7 furlongs
April 13
Wood Memorial Stakes (Gr. I), Aqueduct, 1 1/8 mile
Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Gr. I), Keeneland, 1 1/8 mile
Arkansas Derby (Gr. II), Oaklawn Park, 1 1/8 mile
California Derby, Bay Meadows, 1 1/8 mile
Bay Shore Stakes (Gr. III), Aqueduct, 7 furlongs
April 20
Coolmore Lexington Stakes (Gr. II), Keeneland, 1 1/16 mile
Federico Tessio Stakes, Pimlico Race Course, 1 1/8 mile
