Monday, April 8, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
IT'S THAT TIME of year again.
March Madness has come and gone, baseball season is under way and there's a mad rush for that tax-time Tylenol as the witching hour approaches on the 15th of the month.
While party time is on for the sophomores on spring break, it's crunch time for the equine sophomores looking to make the grade on the first Saturday in May.
All of the signs of spring can mean only one thing in the racing world -- it's Derby fever time.
As we sprung ahead to Daylight Savings Time over the Easter weekend, there was a daylight winner springing right into the Kentucky Derby picture, as Santa Anita presented the richest prep for the spring classic with its $1 million Derby in Arcadia, Calif., on Saturday.
But with less than four weeks to this year's run for the roses, there are more horses in the Kentucky Derby sick bay than are ready for the Churchill Downs showcase.
Song's foes fall
Unbridled's Song is still sitting firmly in the favorite's role as his main rivals continue to fall by the wayside, thinning the contenders and swelling the pretenders. And with just two more Saturdays of Derby prep races to be run around the country, Unbridled's Song could be the first Derby favorite to win since Spectacular Bid did at 60 cents on the dollar in 1979.
If, however, the Derby-favorite jinx continues, the winner may very well test Donerail's $184 record of 1913 or Ferdinand's $37.40 win 10 years ago.
Unbridled's Song's Derby-rival exodus began with last year's 2-year-old champion Maria's Mon. The 1995 freshman Eclipse Award winner had been sidelined before the Breeders' Cup Juvenile won by Unbridled's Song, but he beat the Derby choice in the Champagne in his last race to date. Maria's Mon also beat other Derby contenders Diligence, Honour And Glory and Louis Quatorze.
So the big one was the first to go. Then came the top gun in the D. Wayne Lukas arsenal with the defection of Hennessy. That Grade I winner was sidelined after nine races as a juvenile. Another bullet dodged. Next came Cobra King, who had won the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream then came up empty in Unbridled's Song's Florida Derby. No cobra bite here, the king is gone. Among other developing challengers who have bitten the dust are Seacliff, Ayrton S. and Gold Fever.
More defections
The past week has been by far the worst casualty count on this Derby, though, with additional worthy defections. Charlie Whittingham's promising Smithfield will miss my Old Kentucky Home for the bald eagle.
Odyle, who was stakes-placed before an impressive maiden-breaker and a following San Felipe Stakes victory, was just starting to put it all together and will now miss the Derby dance. The big blow came with the Tuesday training injury of Ide. A winner of five from seven starts last year -- and an important win over the Churchill surface, Ide had been victorious in both outings this year and was certain to be the favorite for this weekend's Arkansas Derby. So, while he fanned the Ides of March, he couldn't weather the April storms.
As in years past, the Kentucky Derby is never without a multitude of horses waiting for the chance of a lifetime, even if it's not the cream of the crop, and this year is no exception. So, for every loss, there is a gain.
The 59th running of the Santa Anita Derby produced at least two more candidates for Kentucky. The 1-1/8-mile West Coast stepping stone gave the Golden State not only a race representative at Louisville but also a home-bred for the event.
In a race that had plenty of excuse lines, it was the California-bred Cavonnier with Chris McCarron who got clearance and rolled to the Southern California Derby win and a trip to the commonwealth. Although Cavonnier will try and become the first Cal-bred Kentucky Derby winner since Decidedly in 1962, it was the runner-up that provided the most excitement. Alyrob, a son of 1987 winner Alysheba, bullied his way through traffic and came rolling at Cavonnier through the stretch under the meet's leading rider, Corey Nakatani, only to be disqualified for interference.
Nakatani, who is currently serving days for another riding infraction, may get more days for his part aboard the Wally Dollace-trained charge. Dollace, the meet's leading stakes trainer and Nakatani's father-in-law, had to be pleased with Alyrob's performance and should be booking for Louisville next.
Winning trainer Bob Baffert may have two starters if his Semoran runs well this weekend in the Bluegrass Stakes. Others getting ready for the Keeneland centerpiece are Editor's Note, Diligence, Draw and Louis Quatorze.
Lukas' horses fade
D. Wayne Lukas, who is looking to win his sixth straight Triple Crown race in this Derby, had as many as seven pointing for the 122nd renewal. His Santa Anita Derby favorite, Honour and Glory, fell short to finish a fading third before the disqualification, and Prince Of Thieves reportedly bled some as he finished a no-threat fifth in the Grade I event.
Both of these Team Lukas colorbearers are expected to go as well as Grindstone, who is favored to win this weekend's Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. Halo Sunshine, Blow Out and Pugnacious are also expected in Hot Springs.
Of course, the spotlight will be shining on Unbridled's Song as he goes into the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Saturday in his final prep for the Derby.
Should Unbridled's Song not win in New York this weekend, then the only sure thing at Churchill on the first Saturday in May could be the mint juleps.
RALPH SIRACO is turf editor of the SUN. His column appears Mondays and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Friday.
archive
