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2003 Kentucky Derby Preps
Lane's End, Rushaway, Rebel, and San Pedro Stakes

Dateline: 03/22/03

Saturday March 22 was a busy weekend for connections with horses prepping for the Triple Crown, with four races having potential implications on this year's Derby field.

The main event of the day was the Grade 2, $500,000 Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park (formerly the Spiral Stakes). Nine three year olds faced the starter including Hutcheson Stakes winner and 4-5 favorite Lion Tamer and 3-1 local hero Champali coming off a win in the John Battaglia Stakes. Early on, Lecomte Stakes winner Saintly Look led the pack on a ground-saving trip through fractions of 22.98, 46.60, and 1:11.11 for the first 3/4 mile. 14-1 shot New York Hero stalked him three wide the whole way. Turning for home, New York Hero inherited the lead as the speed tired late then down the stretch held off the late run


New York Hero holds off Eugene's Third Son to win the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway.
of 7-1 chance Eugene's Third Son to win by a neck in a final time of 1:50.68 for the 1 1/8 mile feature. Champali stumbled at the start but was hustled to keep up with the early pace, which cost him later as he weakened in the stretch run and finished third. Highly regarded Lion Tamer was slow out of the gate, got into striking position on the far turn but hung and finished fourth. Winning trainer Jennifer Pedersen said, "I knew this horse was improving and last time out he waited on the other horse, so I added blinkers. He is powerful and good looking like a New York Hero ought to be. Obviously, I'm excited now." Winning jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr., riding New York Hero for the first time, said, "He saw that other horse coming and dug in. I thought if this horse got his way, he would keep on going, and he did." Lion Tamer's trainer Todd Pletcher said, "We were a little farther back than we wanted to be. Obviously this was not the result we wanted, but we are not discouraged. The Derby is still in our thoughts. The question is whether or not he needs another start before then." Chart

On the undercard of the Lane's End was the $100,000 Rushaway Stakes. In this event, 6-5 favorite Private Gold did not disappoint his backers, coming from well off the pace early to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 5-1 third choice Acceptable Venture. The final time was 1:45.43 for 1 1/16 miles. It was jockey Pat Day's fifth win on the card. Second choice Grand, imported from England by Team Valor last fall, was never in contention and finished last. Chart


Crowned King winner of the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.
Over at Oaklawn Park, seven horses faced the starter in the $125,000 Rebel Stakes, the main prep for the Arkansas Derby. 3-5 favorite Great Notion made all the early pace, but could not hold off the late-running Crowned King, second longest shot on the board at 37-1. He used a ground-saving trip and broke clear on the outside to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:44.00 for the 1 1/16-mile feature. Owned and trained by Billy McKeever Jr., Crowned King won for the first time since the Oct. 6th Minstrel Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Crowned King lost the Risen Star on Feb. 16 by 37 lengths. Overall, it was his third win in 10 starts. Chart

Finally, Santa Anita featured the $75,000 San Pedro Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs. 5-2 second choice King Robyn led from gate to wire in a final time of 1:15.21. 11-10 favorite Rojo Toro stayed in contention early but grew weary through the drive, fading in the final furlong to fifth. Winning jockey Alex Solis said, "I knew this was a good horse and it made him look even better when Buddy Gil won (the March 16 San Felipe) since he finished right behind him the last time they ran against each other. My horse ran perfect and finished perfect. It was an easy ride." Bob Baffert, who trained three of the six horses including the favorite, said, "They all ran good. Rojo Toro ran hard last time. He probably bounced. He ran too hard (winning the San Rafael)." Chart

Photos courtesy of Turfway Park and Oaklawn Park. Derby logo courtesy of Churchill Downs.

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