First the passed, then the passer

PHOENIX - You don't often hear jockeys sounding relieved when their horse is passed in the lane, but that was exactly how rider Scott Stevens felt as his mount Hey Slick got passed by favorite Corporal Tillman in midstretch of Saturday's $57,600 Arizona Breeders' Derby.

"I'm just glad that other horse passed us because my horse stopped when he got the lead at the head of the lane," said Stevens. "He needs somebody to run at."

That's just what he got, and Hey Slick rerallied to edge Corporal Tillman by a head at the end of the 1 1/16-mile event.

Trainer Kory Owens said Hey Slick would be shipped to Hollywood Park for a summer campaign.

Stevens followed his derby victory by skimming the rail with Mydak ($6.80) to win the $40,000 Dwight D. Patterson Handicap by two lengths over favorite Overland Road. The derby and the Patterson were two of the five stakes on Arizona Breeders Day.

Mydak had been claimed 14 days earlier by David Wolochuk for $25,000 at Sunland Park.

"First-time Wolochuk is a big plus," said Stevens. "I had a lot of horse."

Indeed, first-time Wolochuk off the claim has been a sensational angle - he's now 4 for his last 8 (50 percent) - and he's at almost 50 percent for the entire meet.

A few Arizona Breeders Day notes:

* Four of the day's 12 winners were bred by Triple AAA Ranch (Hey Slick, Komax, and Mydak). Sarival Farms won two races, with Fast Force and Restride

* Apprentice Lori Keith, 23, of Epsom, England, brought home the highest-priced Breeders Day winner when she guided Hollywood Payday ($53) to victory in the day's sixth race.

* Vince Guerra won three races, with Lil Easy, Restride and It'slonelyatthetop.