Bailey gets Repent mount

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey is the new rider of Repent, the colt who is regarded by many as the favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

Bailey replaces Tony D'Amico, who has ridden Repent in all six of his previous starts. Bailey will be aboard Repent in the colt's next start, the March 10 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds, but Bailey and McPeek agreed not to commit beyond that.

In making the move, trainer Ken McPeek said Monday that he believes D'Amico is a "very good jockey and a great person. But Jerry has been in these situations before. When you've got a chance to throw your best pitcher in the last game of the World Series, that's what you do."

Repent, owned by the Select Stable of Jerry and Feye Bach of Cincinnati, has won four of six starts. He finished second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at 2 and was a convincing winner of the

Feb. 17 Risen Star Stakes in his lone start this year.

Bailey, 44, also is the regular rider of another Derby favorite, Siphonic, whose next scheduled start is Saturday's San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. "The two horses are on separate schedules, so there are no conflicts right now," said Bailey's agent, Ron Anderson. "There's no need to make any long-term commitments. We've all been down this road too many times before."

For D'Amico, the loss of the mount came just three days after McPeek replaced D'Amico on the trainer's other Kentucky Derby prospect, Harlan's Holiday. Edgar Prado will ride Harlan's Holiday in his next start, the March 16 Florida Derby.

D'Amico, 46, normally rides at Turfway Park during this time of year, but he ventured to Gulfstream with the singular purpose of maintaining close ties with his two Derby prospects.

"It's disappointing, but I don't have sore feelings toward anyone," said D'Amico. "I really wanted to ride the colt at least in the Louisiana Derby, but that's the way it goes. I'm sure I'll ride a lot of winners for Kenny later this year."

Bailey has a successful history with McPeek, having ridden McPeek's best previous runner, Tejano Run, in 1994 and 1995, including a runner-up finish in the 1995 Kentucky Derby. Bailey is scheduled to work Repent at Gulfstream on Wednesday morning.