Derby man likes his N.Y-bred

JAMAICA, N.Y. - In two weeks, trainer James Bond takes his first swing at racing's ultimate prize when he runs Buddha in the Kentucky Derby. Sunday, Bond returns to his roots when he saddles Princess Dixie and Bo Bo's Thunder in the Park Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes at Aqueduct.

The Park Avenue, run for 3-year-old fillies, and the Times Square Division, for 3-year-old colts and geldings, are restricted to progeny of New York-based stallions. Both races, run at one mile, are worth $100,000.

Before bursting onto the national scene with Grade 1 winners Behrens and Will's Way, Bond was one of the top trainers of New York-breds. He still excels with statebreds, Princess Dixie being his latest success story.

As a 2-year-old, Princess Dixie was 3-3-0 in six starts including victories in the Maid of the Mist and Fifth Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes last November. The only horse to defeat Princess Dixie is Shesastonecoldfox.

Princess Dixie has not been out since Nov. 11, but Bond has trained her steadily at Payson Park, and is confident she is fit enough to get the mile in her first start of the season.

"I got a very good bottom under her,' Bond said. "She's pretty strong."

Princess Dixie will be coupled in the wagering with Bo Bo's Thunder, who comes back just one week after romping to an eight-length allowance win at this distance last Sunday.

The Flying Zee Stables entry of Seeyouinmydreams and Brianna Grace and recent allowance winner Multiple Wins head the list of potential upsetters.

Trial Prep looms a short-priced favorite in the Times Square Division for 3-year-old colts and geldings. A son of Ormsby, Trial Prep has won two of three starts, including a 5 3/4-length score in a preliminary allowance condition on March 28. In his previous race, at the same condition, Trial Prep stumbled badly at the break and fell about 15 lengths off the pace before rallying to be third, beaten one-half length.

Trial Prep stretches out in distance from six furlongs to a mile, but trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. is confident. "It looks like he wants to go further,' Dutrow said. "He's built like that. The time he fell down coming out of the gate didn't bother him at all; he made a big run.'

The horse with the best chance to upset is the Beyond Chance, who ran a decent second at a mile in an allowance April 5. Levendis, Mischief Boy, and Lost In the Woods complete the field.

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