Columnist Ralph Siraco: Action heats up as Derby draws closer

Ralph Siraco

Monday, April 7, 2003 | 9:28 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

There was plenty of action on the tracks and in the race books this weekend. The most exciting race went to last year's Horse of the Year, Azeri, as she and the most clinical weekend winner, Medaglia d'Oro, kicked off the Racing Festival of the South in flamboyant fashion.

The Kentucky Oaks, run the day before the Derby at Churchill Downs, gained a bona fide challenger to sophomore leading lady Storm Flag Flying with Elloluv's victory at Keeneland.

Also, the biggest handicapping tournament in racing renewed at The Orleans. Add to that a Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks pari-mutuel future book pool, and you've got a busy weekend in racing.

A national NTRA spring pick 3 linked Kentucky Derby prep races from coast to coast Saturday.

The $250,000 Aventura Stakes at Gulfstream Park was the first and featured an ambitious bunch of "catch-up" horses at 1 1/16th miles. Dynever disposed of his competition but did not punch a ticket to Louisville. His connections are taking their time and Dynever could join the Triple Crown trail later.

The $500,000 Grade II Illinois Derby filled the middle slot from Hawthorne Race Course. The 1 1/8th-mile race was the springboard for last year's Derby winner, War Emblem. This year that hope lands on the shoulders of Ten Most Wanted, who ran down a nondescript field.

The granddaddy of the three was the 66th Santa Anita Derby. This year's Rodney Dangerfield of equines, Buddy Gil, raced from an opportunistic runner to Kentucky contender with a solid-but-slow victory in the 1 1/8th-mile Grade I $750,000 event. Jockey Gary Stevens notched a record ninth Santa Anita Derby win aboard the son of Eastern Echo.

That only sets the stage for the flurry of Kentucky Derby prep races this weekend.

No fewer than six stakes races for 3-year-olds are scheduled for Saturday. Although the 1-mile Northern Spur at Oaklawn Park and the 7- furlong Bay Shore at Aqueduct provide consolation races on their undercards, each track will host a major Derby prep on the same day.

The Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, Grade II Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park and the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland will form a national pick 3 of Derby preps. Each race will be a furlong shorter than the Kentucky Derby, at 1 1/8th miles, and boast six-figure purses.

The California Derby, also at 1 1/8th miles, at Bay Meadows should serve as a passing Derby dream for the victor's connections.

Kentucky Derby future book favorite Empire Maker will try to extend his powerful Florida Derby win into a big Wood Memorial memory while facing Florida Derby third-place finisher Indy Dancer, Lane's End winner New York Hero and Louisiana Derby third-place horse Funny Cide.