Columnist Ralph Siraco: Seven days enough to shake up a Derby year

Ralph Siraco

Monday, March 14, 2005 | 9:58 a.m.

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

What a difference a week makes. When it comes to the Kentucky Derby, the March Madness of the equine set can drive even the most avid racing fan nuts.

Just last week at this time, Kentucky Derby favorite Declan's Moon returned to the races and won the Grade II Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita in solid fashion. The sophomore debut victory gave credence to his No. 1 ranking on the Daily Racing Form top 25 Derby Watch list. Undefeated in five lifetime starts, the Ron Ellis trainee was heading for Louisville on a roll.

Now, the only roll he will be attempting is on the bedding in his stall, while he recovers from a bone chip in a knee that has him off the Derby trail.

Just last week, Rockport Harbor was all-systems-go for this Saturday's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Rated third on the Derby Watch list, Rockport Harbor re-aggravated a foot bruise he suffered Feb. 20, leaving his sophomore debut in doubt. Trainer John Servis, who trained last year's Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones, indicated that Rockport Harbor may still put his undefeated four-race record on the line with a Rebel start if no more complications set in.

Just last week, the "X-factor" horse of this year's Run for the Roses had not started yet. High Limit, who had won both his career starts as a juvenile by a combined 18-plus lengths, was getting ready for his sophomore debut in the Grade II Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds. Turned over to trainer Bobby Frankel after his 2-year-old season, High Limit was trying to follow in the footsteps of the Frankel-trained Peace Rules, who used a Louisiana Derby victory to finish third in the 2003 Kentucky Derby, won by Funny Cide.

High Limit not only won the Louisiana Derby on Saturday, but catapulted right into the thick of the Derby picture with a solid gate-to-wire tally.

Last week no one knew the degree of talent that sophomore Bellamy Road possessed. Trainer Nick Zito already has the embarrassment of Derby-hopeful riches with a foursome of contenders. But when Bellamy Road ran away with an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Zito found himself with yet another Derby-bound runner.

Owned by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Bellamy Road thrashed his competition by almost 16 lengths and now Zito must search for another Derby-prep spot. While Bellamy Road may show up in the April 9 Wood Memorial in the Big Apple, his Tampa Bay stakes winner Andromeda's Hero is scheduled next for the Lane's End Spiral Stakes on March 26, while recent allowance winner Sun King is off to the March 19 Tampa Bay Derby.

Zito has a duo ready for the April 2 Florida Derby in Fountain of Youth winner High Fly and allowance race winner Noble Causeway.

And, although just last week Sweet Catomine was still on target for Sunday's Santa Anita Oaks, it was her overwhelming victory in that race which prompted yet another query about taking on the boys for this year's Derby instead of taking a role as odds-on favorite in the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Derby.

Sweet Catomine extended her career victory total to five wins -- all graded stakes races that included the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies -- in six lifetime starts. Now with back-to-back 2005 victories, trainer Julio Canani plans a decision early in the week on whether she will take on the boys next in the April 9 Santa Anita Derby. If she pulls it off, as 1988 Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors did, then she will try to become only the fourth filly in history to win the Kentucky Derby.

What a difference a week makes.