LOUISVILLE, Ky. - War Emblem, allowed to coast alone on the lead, led from start to finish to capture the 128th at 20-1 on Saturday at Churchill Downs, giving trainer Bob Baffert his third Derby victory.
War Emblem was purchased less than a month ago by Baffert on behalf of Prince Ahmed Salman's The Thoroughbred Corporation. None of the dozens of 2-year-olds that Baffert began with one year ago panned out, forcing Baffert and Salman to buy their way into the Derby.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Danthebluegrassman, whose controversial late entry denied Windward Passage a spot in the starting gate, on Saturday morning was scratched from the 128th Kentucky Derby.
Churchill Downs's publicity staff reported that Danthebluegrassman "tied up" after a morning gallop.
His defection leaves the Derby with 18 runners. Buddha was scratched on Friday.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - More than six months and two season changes after it opened, Aqueduct closes it doors on Sunday, but not before the $100,000-added Beaugay, featuring Grade 1 winner Voodoo Dancer, is run.
Twelve fillies and mares entered the Grade 3 Beaugay, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Pleasant County is entered main track only.
CHICAGO - Blink, and you might miss the spring meeting at Hawthorne Race Course.
The Illinois Racing Board shook up the local racing calendar last year and assigned Hawthorne a split season, a slightly longer meet in the fall and winter and a shorter one in the spring. This spring, the emphasis is on short. Hawthorne's meet that begins Sunday includes only 23 racing days, seven fewer than last spring.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - All eyes will be on Ginger Gold, last year's Sovereign Award-winning champion 2-year-old filly, when she launches her 2002 campaign in Sunday's $163,500 Fury Stakes at Woodbine.
A field of seven Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies was drawn for the seven-furlong Fury, which has been the definitive prep for the Labatt Woodbine Oaks in recent years.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The 2001 Jack Diamond Futurity winner Long Rifle makes his 3-year-old debut in the $35,000 City of Vancouver Stakes at Hastings Park Sunday but will face stern opposition in what appears to be a well-matched field. The 6 1/2-furlong feature drew seven horses including Cruising Kat, who won an entry-level allowance race at Golden Gate and finished fifth to Danthebluegrassman in the Golden Gate Derby.
CALGARY, Alberta - Little Lolitta, Alberta's champion 3-year-old filly of 2001, heads a solid field of seven older fillies and mares in the $40,000 M.R. Jenkins Memorial Handicap here Sunday.
Trainer Don Gilkyson sent out Little Lolitta to five victories last year, for earnings of $115,911 to claim her division title.
A daughter of Regal Remark, Little Lolitta comes into Sunday's feature without benefit of a tightener, but Gilkyson has prepared her with a series of strong works including a pair of bullet five-furlong moves.
Spain now the richest of all
By DAVID GRENING
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Spain put away the early challenges of Forest Secrets and Maltese Superb, then held off the late charge of Mystic Lady to win Saturday's $334,200, Grade 2 Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap and move into the record books as North America's all-time leading female money-earner.
