Topped by four 3-year-olds on the classics trail so far this year, New York-breds overall have performed well in open stakes races through April.

Nearly 30 New York-breds have won or placed in 40 open stakes events.

At this writing, Big Truck and Z Fortune were scheduled to run in the May 3 Kentucky Derby, while Icabad Crane and Giant Moon are preparing for the Preakness Stakes on May 17.

Big Truck, by state sire Hook and Ladder, won the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby, while Z Fortune captured the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds on the road to Louisville.

Icabad Crane is the latest New York-bred 3-year-old open stakes winner of 2008, with his victory in the $100,000 Tesio Stakes on April 19 at Pimlico Race Course.

The group also includes Big Truck, winner of the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby; Z Fortune, winner of the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes; and Giant Moon, winner of the Count Fleet Stakes.

Bred and foaled at Marlene Brody's Gallagher's Stud in Ghent, N.Y., Icabad Crane is owned by Earle I. Mack.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - This year's leading Kentucky Derby candidate from California, Colonel John has done more than race impressively in the state. The bay colt has immediate ties to California breeding in his pedigree.

It's far from a rarity when a horse bred by Robert E. Meyerhoff wins a stakes at Pimlico.

But Sheeler strayed from the familiar story line when he rallied to a 1 1/2-length victory - at better than 15-1 -in the Star de Naskra Stakes for Maryland-bred 3-year-olds on April 17, opening day of the Pimlico meet.

Sheeler was born and raised at Meyerhoff's Fitzhugh Farm, the Phoenix, Md., establishment that has been the birthplace of many outstanding runners, including millionaire and leading sire Broad Brush and his top-class sons Include and Concern.

There were concerns among many of the consignors to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, held Monday-Thursday. There were concerns over the general economy and the purse contract dispute between the Florida horsemen and Calder Race Course. The sale got off to a slow start when five of the first six horses through the ring were led away unsold. But, it did not take long for the bulls to run, and run they did.

When Serena's Rose charged from the back of the field to finish a close second at 40-1 in a maiden race at Woodbine on April 12, Darlene Hunderup let out a holler.

Despite a spring cold that made her voice very raspy, Hunderup could not help contain the excitement of her homebred filly racing so well in her second start, and first outing of 2008.

Weathered, who won the Lizzy Cool Stakes in open company on April 12 at Aqueduct, is the product of connections with deep roots in the Empire State.

Bred and owned by Edward L. Shapoff, she has won three starts in a row and 4 of 5 in her career, with earnings of $102,440.

Shapoff is the son of the late New York trainer Stanley Shapoff, who trained Weathered's dam, Thunder Stand, and other top statebreds such as Liver Stand, winner of the Evan Shipman.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The victory of Monba in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland was the first in the historic track's signature race for breeders Mill Ridge Farm (owned by Alice and John Chandler) and JAMM Ltd. (Audrey Otto).

The victory for the gray son of Maria's Mon was especially sweet for Alice Chandler because, she said, "It's daddy's foundation family."

Her father, Hal Price Headley, was one of the founders of the Keeneland Association and its president from 1935 to 1951,

Nearly a dozen stallions entered stud in Maryland in 2005, and their first foals reach the races this year. Of that group, Domestic Dispute, Great Notion, and Bowman's Band are represented by more than 25 2-year-olds.

Domestic Dispute and Great Notion stand at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City. Bowman's Band entered stud at Maryland Stallion Station in Glyndon, where he stood two seasons before moving to Lane's End in Versailles, Ky., for 2007.

Bob Bone will have an interesting perspective on the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes at Hollywood Park next Sunday.

When he stands in the paddock, Bone will be focused on Overland, a Harlan's Holiday colt that will be his starter in the race for 3-year-old California-breds.

Do not be surprised if Bone peeks across the paddock occasionally to check on Bamaha Breeze, a colt he bred and saw claimed away for $20,000 in January.

Bamaha Breeze is unbeaten in four starts, three of which have come for trainer Steve Miyadi, who took him from Bone.