Field balanced at Derby

Ralph Siraco

Friday, April 30, 1999 | 10:50 a.m.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The final Kentucky Derby of the 20th century will take place Saturday, and it may well be among the most contentious, well-balanced and competitive Derbies ever run. So much so that the track had to exercise the rule limiting the field to 20 entries -- something that hasn't been done since Swale won in 1984.

There were, however, just as many sitting on the fence waiting for a chance of a lifetime.

No standout and plenty of storylines make this 125th renewal truly a race for all seasons -- and for all fans.

Everybody -- from housewives to wiseguys -- has an opinion, and a reason to back their bobtail nag in this race. And during Derby Week in this little corner of Americana, the weather has certainly spanned all seasons, ranging from downpours and hail to sunshine and humidity in the space of one day.

But that's the Derby and this is Louisville. Saturday the sun is expected to shine on the old Kentucky home and this little river town on the banks of the Ohio will be the place to be for America's most famous horse race.

This year, the Derby may well be the world's most famous horse race, given the Dubai desert invasion of a pair of contenders owned by Arabian royalty. Also, the race will be simulcast live to England, France, Dubai and Australia.

The storylines include a pair of fillies who will try to emulate three past damsel winners, a charismatic silver-haired trainer trying to make Derby history with a third straight Derby victory, and a horse trying to prove his shocking maiden victory in the Arkansas Derby was not a result of chicanery.

How wide open is this Derby?

Well, track linesmaker Mike Battaglia, who has hung the opening numbers for more than two decades of Derbies, posted Answer Lively, the sport's latest juvenile champion, at 50-1. Those steep odds were set even though his Breeders' Cup Juvenile victory last fall came over this same Churchill Downs oval.

Adding to Battaglia's tough task was Wednesday's post-position draw that sent many of the race's top contenders to undesirable outside stalls.

A pair of contenders coupled in a single betting entry -- General Challenge and the filly Excellent Meeting -- emerged as the Derby morning-line favorite.

Bob Baffert, who trains both, surprised many in the overflow crowd at the Derby Museum on Wednesday when he announced the cross-entry of Excellent Meeting in both the Derby and today's Kentucky Oaks. Baffert decided today Excellent Meeting will forego today's race and instead run for the roses Saturday.

Excellent Meeting and Three Ring -- part-owned by Las Vegan Earnie Dalman -- will form the two-horse filly contingent in the Derby field. Silverbulletday, Excellent Meeting's more famous stablemate, will start in the Oaks today as a heavy favorite.

Of course, what would the Derby be without a controversy?

Valhol finally was awarded the $300,000 winner's share of the Arkansas Derby purse by an Arkansas court late Tuesday, giving him enough earnings to re-enter the Derby field. It is alleged that his Arkansas Derby rider, Billy Patin, carried an illegal buzzer during that victory, so the horse was denied the purse monies until Tuesday's just-in-the-nick-of-time ruling.

Trainer Dallas Keen can now eat a meal again. Apparently, so can Patin, although he has been replaced in the Kentucky Derby.

And then there are the Derby trainers of the '90s. Nick Zito, who won in 1991 with Strike the Gold and three years later with Go for Gin, is back with a pair of contenders. So is three-time winner D. Wayne Lukas, who holds the record for most Derby starters at 33 and will add two more this year.

But the main man in this Derby is Baffert. He has won the past two runnings, and hopes to become the first trainer to win three consecutive blankets of roses when he saddles three horses on Saturday.

Santa Anita Derby runner-up Prime Timber and winner General Challenge -- coupled in the entry with Excellent Meeting -- will try to join 1997 winner Silver Charm and last year's winner Real Quiet, giving Baffert his place in Derby history.

So, here are the 20th century's final Derby 20 (in post-position order with morning-line odds and jockey):

* 1. Adonis (Jorge Chavez, 30-1): Won New York's premiere Derby prep, the Wood Memorial, in his last start after jockey Chavez convinced trainer Zito to add blinkers. He is owned by Ernie Paragallo, who raced 1996 Derby favorite and fifth-place finisher Unbridled's Song.

* 2. Three Ring (John Velazquez, 20-1): Has won two of three races this year, including her last two by a combined 20 lengths. Her trainer, Eddie Plesa Jr., surprised many at the Derby draw by selecting post 2 when more desirable positions were left. This signals that his filly may be the Derby pace setter.

* 3. Ecton Park (Robbie Davis, 12-1 as part of the field): This long shot is trained by Elliot Walden, who grew up in Midway, Ky., and witnessed his first Derby in 1979 at age 16. Part of the five-horse mutuel field wagering option.

* 4. Stephen Got Even (Chris McCarron, 12-1): The "other" Zito trainee comes off a powerful victory in the Gallery Furniture.com Stakes at Turfway Park. Although he is lightly raced -- 3-for-4 lifetime -- this jockey/trainer combination turned the Derby trick in 1994, and McCarron is known as a "money rider."

* 5. Aljabr (Daragh O' Donahue, 12-1 as half of the Godolphin entry): One of the two Dubai shippers. Won the Prix de la Salamandre in his last start. His nervous demeanor will not play well with the massive Churchill Downs crowd. Traveling companion for Worldly Manner.

* 6. Excellent Meeting (Kent Desormeaux, 3-1 as half of the John and Betty Mabee-owned entry): May still wind up with stablemate Silverbulletday in Oaks. She is the highest earner in the field with more than $1.19 mil. and is 3-for-3 this year. Her trainer says she deserves the shot. Desormeaux looks for back-to-back Derby trophies.

* 7. Desert Hero (Corey Nakatani, 15-1): Promising young prospect bred in the purple. Showed brilliance in overcoming bad trip to win the San Rafael at Santa Anita. Has changed trainers since then, but Richard Mandella is no stranger to big horses and big races, having won five consecutive Southern California million-dollar races.

* 8. Answer Lively (Craig Perret, 50-1): 1998 juvenile champ gets no respect. Equipment change for the Derby may return him to his championship form. Biggest career win came over this track, but he must break the Breeders' Cup Juvenile-Kentucky Derby parlay jinx. No horse in history has won both events.

* 9. Valhol (Willie Martinez, 12-1 as part of the field): Celebrated "buzzer" incident should not overshadow this gelding's ability. Troubled trip in the Louisiana Derby where he finished fourth may indicate an ability to win Arkansas Derby without electronic assistance. His new rider knows the track well and is respected on the circuit.

* 10. K One King (Alex Solis, 12-1 as part of the field): Hard-knocking colt has finished in the quinella in all seven lifetime starts, and has four wins. Bought after Turfway stakes victory by the Paulsons (Cigar) for undisclosed seven-figure sum. Trainer Akiko Gothard tries to become the first female trainer to win the roses.

* 11. Cat Thief (Mike Smith, 8-1): Consistency is his hallmark. Fountain of Youth and Blue Grass runner-up has good tactical speed. Trainer Lukas' main contender gets Smith, who has failed in eight prior Derbies with many favorites.

* 12. Worldly Manner (Jerry Bailey, 12-1 as half of Godolphin entry): Striking colt bought for $5 million by Godolphin Racing, Inc. (Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum) after winning Del Mar Futurity last summer. Arabian royalty wants Derby trophy and he has been training in Dubai for this race since then. Rider has won two Derbies this decade.

* 13. Kimberlite Pipe (Robby Albarado, 12-1 as part of the field): Attractive long shot won the Louisiana Derby and is training well. Albarado consistently finishes toward the top of the Churchill jockey standings and is a solid rider.

* 14. Prime Timber (David Flores, 7-2): Considered Baffert's prime Derby contender by many. Runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby after a bruised foot almost kept him from running. He also lost a shoe in the race. Won San Felipe before that and jockey Flores is riding at the crest of his career, having just won the Santa Anita title.

* 15. General Challenge (Gary Stevens, 3-1 as half of the Mabee entry): Baffert's No. 1 rider picked this one and promptly won the Santa Anita Derby with him. Big gangly sort doesn't ship well as evidenced by his lackluster performance in the Louisiana Derby. Needs to behave himself with big Derby day crowd as well. Team won '97 renewal though.

* 16. First American (Eddie Delahoussaye, 50-1): Won the Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah in last. Delahoussaye is one of only four jockeys in history to win consecutive Derbies (1982 Gato Del Sol, 1983 Sunny's Halo) and sees enough to ride. Works are good since arriving at Churchill Downs.

* 17. Charismatic (Chis Antley, 20-1): Gained entry into Derby with a victory in the Lexington Stakes. "Other" Lukas trainee is owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, who campaigned Silver Charm in 1997. Turnabout fair play for Lukas now? Antley won 1991 Derby on Strike the Gold.

* 18. Vicar (Shane Sellers, 6-1): Won the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park this winter. Dull effort in recent Blue Grass (third) didn't damper trainer Carl Nafzger's faith in this colt. Trainer won only other Derby start with Unbridled in 1990. Rider is looking for first Derby win in 10th try here after passing on Stephen Got Even.

* 19. Menifee (Pat Day, 5-1): Put it all together to win the Blue Grass Stakes in last. Trainer finished second last year with Victory Gallop and this one is his main hope this year. Day is Churchill Downs' all-time leading rider and won the Derby in 1992 with Lil E. Tee. Luck of the draw and the fact that Day will be overbet here are drawbacks.

* 20. Lemon Drop Kid (Jose Santos, 12-1 as part of the field): Futurity winner at Belmont last year would be only the second horse in history to win the Derby from post 20. Clyde Van Dusen did it in 1929. Although Hall of Fame trainer Scotty Schulhofer has him as ready as he can get him, Kid doesn't look like Clyde here.

I like Stephen Got Even and Vicar, with Answer Lively as my long shot.

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