Colonial Glitter romps in Bourbonette

FLORENCE, Ky. - When Will Wolford and his friends from Louisville attended the Kentucky Derby during high school and college, they always were part of the rowdy crowd in what is known as the third turn in the Churchill Downs infield.

Some 20 years later, Wolford and several others who race Colonial Glitter for their Third Turn Stable hope to be part of the glitterati on Kentucky Derby eve. That's because Colonial Glitter might have earned a berth in the May 3 Kentucky Oaks by romping to a 10 1/2-length victory Saturday in the $150,000 Bourbonette Breeders' Cup Stakes, the richest of four stakes on the Lane's End Spiral Stakes undercard at Turfway Park.

Colonial Glitter, ridden by Pat Day, returned $5.40 as favorite in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies after finishing the one-mile Bourbonette in 1:37.06. Southey rallied to be second, a half-length before front-running Madame X Ski.

"We'll sure have to think about the Oaks," said Mark Tillett, one of five partners in a syndicate headed by Wolford, a former All-Pro offensive lineman in the National Football League.

Colonial Glitter, by Glitterman, finished second in the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream in her previous start. Trained by Paul McGee, she earned $93,000 with her third win from seven starts.

Mr. Mellon comes through for Walden

Under different circumstances, Elliott Walden might have waited to run Mr. Mellon in an allowance race next month. But just in case Mr. Mellon ran powerfully in the $98,000 Rushaway Stakes, Walden wanted to be able to run the colt once more in a Derby prep at Keeneland.

"We thought we'd stick our toe in the water," said Walden.

Now Mr. Mellon, a terrific-looking Red Ransom colt, is headed for the Blue Grass or Lexington after drawing off to win the 1 1/16-mile Rushaway by 2 1/4 lengths over Wild Horses. It was another 5 1/2 lengths back to Derby Drive in a field of eight 3-year-olds.

Day rode Mr. Mellon, who in his previous start was an impressive maiden winner at Gulfstream. The winning time was 1:42.90.

Mr. Mellon is named for the late Paul Mellon, who raced 1993 Derby winner Sea Hero.

Storm Commander takes Hansel

Like Walden, D. Wayne Lukas might have found a Derby prospect. Storm Commander, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, rallied to defeat front-running World Champion by a neck in the $58,000 Hansel Stakes, perhaps earning a spot in one of Keeneland's Derby preps.

"He's eligible for all of them," said assistant Mike Maker, who saddled Storm Commander for Lukas, who remained in California.

Storm Commander, a homebred Storm Cat colt owned by Overbrook Farm, raced in third for most of the six-furlong Hansel before angling out and catching World Champion, who had led from the start. Storm Commander, who was 1 for 11 entering the race, returned $22.60 as the second-longest shot in a field of six.

World Champion finished 2 1/2 lengths ahead of World Trade, the 7-5 favorite. Still Be Smokin', the 9-5 second choice, was fourth.

Senorita Ziggy upsets Queen Stakes

When front-running Senorita Ziggy held off a gang of challengers to post a $20.80 upset in the $53,500 Queen Stakes, she gave her trainer, Marty Rouck, an incredible 8-for-13 record at Turfway's winter-spring meet.

Not too bad for a man whose day job is punching mutuel tickets.

Rouck, a longtime mutuel clerk on the Kentucky circuit, trains a small stable at Trackside in Louisville. He already had sent out Senorita Ziggy, owned by Elliott Phillips, to three wins at the current meet. "She's a good little filly," he said. "We raised her at home in the backyard."

Senorita Ziggy, an Indiana-bred 4-year-old by Senor Speedy, finished six furlongs in 1:10.78. Enchanted Woods finished second by a nose over City Fair, who was just a head in front of Lil Bit of Country in a field of 10 fillies and mares.