ARCADIA, Calif. - It is not a stretch to label the Santa Catalina Stakes as Santa Anita's first serious step along a road that could lead to the Kentucky Derby. Certainly, history bears this out.

Even when the race was restricted to non-stakes winners, from 1963 through 1995, the Santa Catalina proved to be fertile ground. Unconscious, the winner in 1971, went favored in the Kentucky Derby. Sham scored his first stakes win in the 1973 Santa Catalina, won the Santa Anita Derby, and everything was going fine . . . until he ran into that big red horse.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Eddie Delahoussaye is a humble man, sincere in his appreciation of the life he has enjoyed. He meant it when he said that he wants absolutely no fuss made over his retirement, no ceremonies, no parades, no victory lap around the stadium. Given a choice, he would prefer to slip quietly into the background, surround himself with his family and close friends, and let the game roll on without him.

Sorry, Eddie. Can't do it.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The drive for the Kentucky Derby gets under way in earnest Saturday with some of the East's better 3-year-old prospects engaged in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream while those in the West start in the Santa Catalina at Santa Anita.

TUCSON, Ariz. - Experience has taught that there is far more sentiment for the animals than for the humans in horse racing.

Women turn weepy at news of the death or injury of a horse, and men argue endlessly over runners' relative merits, but misfortune to the people who train or ride them often is dismissed in short order. This is said with full realization of generous outpourings from time to time for the truly unfortunate, but with short shrift and shorter memories displayed for others who stumble on hard times.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Here is a partial list of the things Neil Drysdale did not do following the impressive win by 3-year-old Ministers Wild Cat last Saturday at Santa Anita Park:

* He did not call numbers maven Dick Jerardi in Philadelphia to get a read on the overnight Beyer Speed Figure on the race.

* He did not plot a course that would choose among such Triple Crown preps as the Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial, and Blue Grass Stakes.

* He did not check to make sure that he still had his lucky Fusaichi Pegasus tie and jacket from the first Saturday in May of 2000.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - To cope with disappointment.

Occasionally, things go right for a horse from the outset. He is on a smooth path to success. More often than not, however, it is just the opposite. Events are constantly occurring to throw a horse off schedule and frustrate his connections.

NEW YORK - For all the annual hand-wringing and public debate about how the Eclipse Awards are decided and administered, you would think that unworthy champions are routinely crowned. The truth is that while the electoral-college system involving three voting blocs (including Daily Racing Form) may be arcane and confusing, it works.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bosque Redondo waited until Hector Lopez had fluffed and carefully arranged the deep straw bedding into a perfect duvet, then pawed at the pile, lowered himself carefully, and eased slowly onto his right side.

Once situated, the red horse rested his head against the back wall of the large, airy stall. His front feet wore thick, protective bandages - one in blue, the other in white. His red coat was dull, but neatly brushed, and his left eye stared upward at the metal rafters of the high ceiling.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - New kid in town.

Interest is running high in the $3.6 million dollar Sunshine Millions, a fresh new approach to creating a special day for racing on Jan. 25. Essentially it is a program of eight races for horses bred in Florida and California. The competition between the two states will be played out in four races at Gulfstream and four at Santa Anita, topped by the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic for 4-year-olds and up at nine furlongs at Gulfstream.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Tizbud was at it again, doing his best impression of big brother. On his way to the training track for a simple morning gallop, he managed to stop and look around long enough to grow a winter coat. Once he emerged from the tunnel, led by Larry Benaviedes, Tizbud again paused to reflect, staring back toward the big, empty grandstand.

After a few minutes more, Benaviedes unsnapped the shank. Tizbud glanced around, considered his options, and jogged off. Up in the stands, John Sadler smiled and shook his head.

"There he goes," said the trainer. "Finally."