Derby contenders square off at four different tracks

Afleet Alex will get his first major test of the year on Saturday (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) Oaklawn Park’s $250,000 Rebel S. (G3) highlights a quartet of stakes for Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls on Saturday. The $250,000 San Felipe S. (G2) features a field of eight at Santa Anita, including Grade 1 winners WILKO (Awesome Again) and CONSOLIDATOR (Storm Cat); while GALLOPING GROCER (A. P Jet) takes on eight rivals in the $150,000 Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct; and the Nick Zito-trained SUN KING (Charismatic) is the top draw of eight in the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3). The Rebel brings together three leading Kentucky Derby prospects in AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet), ROCKPORT HARBOR (Unbridled’s Song) and GREATER GOOD (Intidab). Grade 1 winner Afleet Alex opened his sophomore campaign with a victory in the March 5 Mountain Valley S., and Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) victor Greater Good won the Southwest S. at Oaklawn in mid-February. The unbeaten Rockport Harbor, who is trained by John Servis of Smarty Jones fame, will make his first appearance of 2005 in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel. The complete field, from the rail with riders and weights, is Afleet Alex, John Velazquez, 117; Rockport Harbor, Stewart Elliott, 119; COPY MY NOTES (Souvenir Copy), Tim Doocy, 117; JAZZY GALLOP (Victory Gallop), Donnie Meche, 117; BATSON CHALLENGE (Ide), Calvin Borel, 117; and Greater Good, John McKee, 122. Multiple Grade 2 hero ROMAN RULER (Fusaichi Pegasus) missed his first scheduled appearance this year due to a quarter crack, but he’s now recovered and will pick up a new rider in Gary Stevens for Saturday’s San Felipe. The 1 1/16-mile event marks the seasonal bow for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Wilko, and Consolidator will attempt to bounce back from a fourth in the seven-furlong San Vicente S. (G2).

San Vicente runner-up DON’T GET MAD (Stephen Got Even), who will be a
sentimental choice following the injury to stablemate Declan’s Moon (Malibu
Moon), breaks from the rail in the San Felipe under Tyler Baze. Next in the starting gate comes LUCKY J. H. (Cee’s Tizzy),
Jon Court; IN EXCELSIS (Fusaichi Pegasus), Alex Solis; GIACOMO (Holy
Bull), Mike Smith; Roman Ruler; Wilko, Corey Nakatani; GOLDEN
SHINE (Touch Gold), Rene Douglas; and Consolidator, Rafael Bejarano.

All starters in the San Felipe will carry 116 pounds.

Galloping Grocer reeled off three straight impressive wins before concluding
his juvenile campaign with a game second to Rockport Harbor in the Remsen S.
(G2), but the gelding weakened slightly in the late stages to finish a close
fourth when making his 2005 bow in the Whirlaway S. in mid-February. Trainer
Dominick Schettino hopes for an improved performance from the likely favorite in
Saturday’s one-mile Gotham, which will be held around one turn on the Big A’s
main track.

Other contenders include Whirlaway runner-up NAUGHTY NEW YORKER (Quiet
American), John Battaglia Memorial S. runner-up PAVO (Marquetry) and SURVIVALIST
(Danzig), who will make his stakes debut following a runner-up finish to Sun
King in a Gulfstream Park allowance.

DISTINCTIVE TRICK (Distinctive Pro), who totes 120 pounds, leads the post
parade with jockey Jozbin Santana and will be followed by MR. CONGENIALITY
(Chester House), Shaun Bridgmohan, 116; Galloping Grocer, Mike Luzzi, 120;
BYANOSEJOE (Cherokee Run), Aaron Gryder, 116; MADDY’S LION (Lion Hearted), Pablo
Fragoso, 120; Naughty New Yorker, Jean-Luc Samyn, 120; LIEUTENANT DANZ (Gold
Fever), Jose Espinoza, 116; Survivalist, Richard Migliore, 116; and Pavo, Alan
Garcia, 116.

Sun King recorded third-place finishes in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and
Champagne S. (G1) last year and opened his sophomore campaign with an impressive
5 3/4-length romp over allowance foes. Edgar Prado retains the mount on the
likely odds-on favorite, who will break from the rail in the Tampa Bay Derby. Next, in post
position order, comes MEDIGATING (Fr) (Dolphin Street), Brice Blanc; MIGHTY
MECKE (Mecke), no rider; NICANDRO (Rizzi), Jesse Garcia; COYOTESHIGHESTCALL
(Regal Humor), Huber Villa-Gomez; GLOBAL TRADER (Slew Gin Fizz), Eddie Castro;
CRIMINAL MIND (Cryptoclearance), Cornelio Velasquez; and FOREVER WILD (Jules),
Derek Bell.

All starters in the Tampa Bay Derby will carry 116 pounds.