Columnist Ralph Siraco: 6 Derby contenders still to make 3-year-old debuts

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Feb. 28, 2005 | 10:34 a.m.

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

What do Eclipse Award-winner Declan's Moon, undefeated Rockport Harbor, Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko, runner-up Afleet Alex and fifth-place finisher Roman Ruler along with the promising High Limit have in common?

Not one has started his 3-year-old campaign. Six of the top 25 on the Daily Racing Form "Derby Watch" list have yet to step onto the racetrack in competition as a sophomore but they still top the Kentucky Derby list, a race that is run on the first Saturday in May. That is in less than 10 weeks.

Although in this new day and age of training horses up to big race engagements rather than racing them into top shape, there is something to be said for at least prepping the horses in the traditional prep races. There were times in the old days when trainers would actually prep horses for the big race a week before that big race. The Derby Trial, run on the Saturday before the Kentucky Derby, was a race that used to really live up to its name. Now, the Derby Trial is a Derby consolation race for those horses who don't quite make the grade for the big event.

But even with the lighter schedule trainers are employing for the Kentucky Derby, time is wasting for the top contenders. There hasn't been a Kentucky Derby winner since Sunny's Halo turned the trick in 1983 that had less than at least two preps before the Run for the Roses.

With that in mind, Round 1 of racing's March Madness tips off Saturday.

Three significant Derby prep races will be run March 5 -- the Fountain of Youth and Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park and the Santa Catalina Stakes on the Santa Anita Handicap Day card at Santa Anita.

Although only Declan's Moon of the Derby Watch top five will start this weekend, a total of nine on the list of 25 will be in action.

Sham Stakes winner Going Wild, San Rafael Stakes winner Spanish Chestnut and San Vicente Stakes winner Fusaichi Rock Star will challenge last year's juvenile Eclipse winner in the Santa Catalina Stakes. Although Declan's Moon worked a snappy seven furlongs in 1:25:4 at Hollywood Park in preparation for his sophomore debut, it would be wise to remember that his main objective is not Saturday but the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs. Spanish Chestnut, likewise, registered a breezing seven-panel workout in 1:26-flat for Saturday's showdown.

At Gulfstream Park, the Fountain of Youth is the final prep for the Florida Derby on April 2 at the same South Florida racing emporium.

The Fountain of Youth features the Holy Bull Stakes winner Closing Argument and the allowance winner Bandini. Trainer Nick Zito, who lives and breathes the Kentucky Derby, will start Aventura winner High Fly. Zito, who had two sophomore winners this weekend in Sun King and Andromeda's Hero, will start High Fly for the first time since taking over as trainer of the promising 3-year-old. Sun King, by the way, also made his sophomore debut with a smashing victory Saturday.

On the Fountain of Youth undercard is the 7-furlong Swale Stakes. The shorter sophomore outing offers a valuable springboard for those 3-year-olds who may need the one-turn tightener first. However, the Swale will pit a pair of contrasting potential stars. Lost In The Fog, who arguably is the fastest 3-year-old in training, was not an early nomination to the Kentucky Derby even though he blazed through a sizzling victory in the Sunshine Millions in late January. His connections maintain they have not caught Derby fever, but another lopsided victory may pitch a bluegrass temperature.

The intriguing Swale entrant is High Limit. He outclassed his classmates in his two races at Delaware Park by a combined 18-plus lengths in October and was quickly transferred to Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. Although Frankel has been coy about his new trainee, a solid effort in the Swale punches a ticket to Louisville.

Rockport Harbor and Afleet Alex are scheduled to start in the March 19 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park -- a race that Smarty Jones won on the way to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes last year. Wilko makes his long-awaited sophomore debut in the San Felipe Stakes the same day while Roman Ruler is set for the Gotham at Aqueduct, also on March 19, in Round 2 of racing's March Madness.