JAMAICA, N.Y. - When they left New York last fall after finishing first and second in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes, Saarland and Nokoma were at the top of most handicappers' lists for the 2002 Kentucky Derby.
Four and a half months later, neither has done much to enhance his credentials for the 128th Derby, which will be held May 4 at Churchill Downs.
GROVE CITY, Ohio - Royal Nurse C ($55.80) turned in a dramatic form reversal and scored an easy five-length upset victory in the $40,000 six-furlong Royal North Stakes for Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies at Beulah Park.
For Royal Nurse C ($55.80), trained by Lewis Green, it was her third career victory and her first stakes score. Saratoga Set finished second, a nose in front of Ya Lateefah.
VINTON, La. - Knight of the Mt. avoided the traffic problems that plagued many of his rivals and captured the $101,430 Jean Lafitte Futurity. Odds-on favorite Pancho's Karma, forced to check into the turn and then to alter course in deep stretch, had to settle for second, beaten a length in the 4 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-olds. Amazing Glaze was another head back in third, followed by Uriah's Begining. Kate's Halo took up sharply when jammed up in the late going and reported home fifth.
Knight of the Mt. ($22), was ridden by Jerri Nichols for trainer Bret Thomas.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - We'll Sea Ya, 30-1, rallied from just off the pace to run down dueling front-runners Maddie May and Dat You Miz Blue in deep stretch and win the $82,650 Broadway Handicap by a length at Aqueduct.
Maddie May finished second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of 3-2 favorite Dat You Miz Blue. Filiberto Leon rode We'll Sea Ya ($62.50) for trainer Sal Iorio Jr.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Azeri, who beat a blockbuster field Saturday in the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap in just her sixth career start, has done so much so fast, it begs the question: What's her ceiling?
"I don't know," said trainer Laura de Seroux. "I think she's one in a lifetime."
De Seroux has the frame of reference to make such a statement. She came up under Charlie Whitting-ham, first going to work for the legendary trainer as an exercise rider in 1974, and later seeking out racing prospects for him in Europe.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The five horses that finished worse than third in Saturday's Santa Anita Derby are not expected to start in the Kentucky Derby on May 4.
Race plans for a few of those colts have yet to be finalized, but several of their trainers were realistic in their assessment of Saturday's race. The horses finished four lengths to 11 lengths behind Came Home.
So far, only the first three - Came Home, Easy Grades and Lusty Latin - will move on the Kentucky Derby. Plans for the othes range from races at Hollywood Park to races throughout the Midwest.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jockey Jose Arriaga, who underwent three hours of brain surgery after being injured in a Thursday fall, was moved from the intensive care unit at nearby Stanford Hosptial.
Bay Meadows track physician Dr. David Seftel said Arriaga was "remarkably improved."
"He continues to do well," Dr. Seftel said. "He recognizes more friends and family members. His speech has improved, and he is moving all his extremities symmetrically."
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Crazy Ensign ($7.40) sat behind Queen of Wilshire's slow pace and pulled away down the lane to score her first U.S. stakes victory by two lengths in the $100,000 Miss America Handicap at Bay Meadows.
Crazy Ensign, a Grade 1 winner in her native Argentina, got a ground-saving trip from jockey Jason Lumpkins as Queen of Wilshire set fractions of 24.25, 47.89 and 1:11.44 in the one-mile turf race.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Cashel Castle got a perfect trip to maintain his perfect record while also giving Pat Day his 800th career triumph at Keeneland when easily defeating five other 3-year-olds Sunday in the $111,300 .
Cashel Castle, trained by Chris Block, won by 4 1/4 lengths over Governor Hickel, returning $3.20 as the heavy favorite. The victory was his fifth without a defeat.
ARCADIA, Calif. - In a performance reminiscent of his eye-catching wins last summer and fall, Officer scored an easy win in Sunday's $106,800 Zany Tactics Stakes at Santa Anita.
The winner of the 2001 Del Mar Futurity and Champagne Stakes, Officer outclassed five other California-bred 3-year-olds in the Zany Tactics to score his fifth career stakes win. After the race, trainer Bob Baffert mentioned the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 20 as a possible goal for Officer. Another option is the Preakness Stakes on May 18.
