Liberty Bull got a terrific stalking trip under Gerard Melancon when he surged past a pair of dueling front-runners, then drew clear to capture the $600,000 WinStar Derby on Sunday at Sunland Park.

Owned by Ken Maier and trained by Tom Amoss, Liberty Bull returned $8 as second choice in a field of nine 3-year-olds. Screen to Screen held well to finish second, two lengths behind the winner and a neck before late-running Ablaze With Spirit. No Jepordy finished fourth, another length back, while Winsome Charm, the 8-5 favorite, faded to last after tracking the pace.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Georgie Boy was not the biggest winner at Santa Anita on Saturday. John Placzankis won $1 million by throwing a ringer in the track's St. Pat's Pitch, a horseshoe throwing contest in which five fans are randomly selected in a drawing and get a single toss at throwing a ringer.

Placzankis, 41, looked stunned when his toss wrapped around the stake, then said, "The drinks are on me," when Santa Anita’s in-house television department interviewed him.

ARCADIA, Calif. - There were 15 older fillies and mares nominated to the Grade 2, $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap on turf March 23 at Santa Anita, but one name was conspicuous by its absence. Wait a While, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2006 and an accomplished turf horse, was being pointed to the Santa Ana, but was not nominated. And you might have to wait a while to see her.

ARCADIA, Calif. - On a day when favorites failed miserably in two other Kentucky Derby preps in Florida and Arkansas, Georgie Boy prevented a shutout when he successfully stretched out around two turns to capture the Grade 2, $200,000 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Georgie Boy ($4.80) roared past Gayego with a breathtaking rush and won going away by three-quarters of a length. Bob Black Jack was another length back in third. The first three finishers all were sprint stakes winners trying two turns for the first time.

Sierra Sunset appeared to be sitting on a breakout race heading into the Grade 2,$300,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, and he delivered with a three-length win in the final local prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby. King’s Silver Son closed from well back for second, finishing 2 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Isabull.

Z Fortune, the 4-5 favorite off a runner-up finish to Pyro in the Grade 3 Risen Star at Fair Grounds, finished fifth.

OLDSMAR, Fla. - The often-bumpy road to the Kentucky Derby claimed another victim on Saturday after the previously undefeated division leader War Pass finished seventh and last in the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby before a record ontrack crowd of 12,746. Big Truck took advantage of the 1-20 favorite's disappointing performance to post a neck victory over Atoned in the Grade 3 event, which last winter served as a stepping-stone for Street Sense's eventual victory in the Kentucky Derby.

All Giving took advantage of a major class drop and a wayward pacesetter to win the $60,000 Conniver at Laurel Park.

Coming into the race off a seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap last month at Laurel, All Giving was in the second tier of horses as Now It Begins led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.94 seconds in the seven-furlong Conniver. Unchallenged on that lead under Julian Pimentel, Now It Begins bore out drastically on the backstretch and effectively forfeited the race, with Pimentel pulling her up.

High Blues couldn't catch Self Made Man when they met in the one-mile Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway Park on Feb. 16, rallying for third, beaten a length. But aided by a quick pace and an extra furlong with which to race, he turned the tables in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile, $50,000 Tejano Run Stakes at Turfway.

With Self Made Man somewhat headstrong in the early stages, setting opening splits of 24.03 seconds and 47.89, the race set up for the late-running High Blues.

It was like old times Saturday at Fair Grounds in the Allen Lacombe Memorial Handicap. Sure, trainer Steve Asmussen winning a stakes race in New Orleans is no new thing: Asmussen set a record for stakes wins by a trainer at a Fair Grounds meeting a couple months ago. But aboard Storm Treasure for his victory in the $60,000 Lacombe was Donnie Meche, who used to pilot much of Asmussen's top stock, but has long since been relegated to a more minor role in the operation.

Gottcha Gold showed his class by running second to Corinthian in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile last year. Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Skip Away Handicap at Gulfstream Park, his class, as well as his versatility, was displayed.

Normally a horse who goes immediately to the lead, establishing quick splits, Gottcha Gold changed tactics in the Skip Away, mostly out of necessity. When stretch-out sprinter Mr. Umphrey broke alertly and set blazing splits, Gottcha Gold had little option but to rate off the lead.