Nancy Alberts isn't caught up in Derby fever.
But Alberts, the trainer of Magic Weisner, the likely favorite in Saturday's $125,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico, is up for giving the Preakness a whirl.
Magic Weisner, a winner of his last five races at Laurel Park, including four stakes, could earn a berth to the May 18 Preakness, depending upon his performance in the 1 1/8-mile Tesio, which drew six runners.
CHICAGO - To a national audience with only a passing knowledge of Midwestern racing, it may seem like Larry Sterling popped out of nowhere. Actually, he has been around his whole life.
The 32-year-old Sterling, the son of a trainer, essentially grew up at Santa Anita. He has been a jockey for 16 years, but this spring is having the meet of his career at Sportsman's Park. Sterling leads the rider standings with 39 wins, 13 more than his closest pursuer. Two weeks ago, Sterling won the Grade 2, $500,000 Illinois Derby with War Emblem, giving him a taste of national exposure.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Three horses who raced in the Arkansas Derby last Saturday could start next in the Grade 3, $500,000 Lone Star Derby on May 11. They are Bay Monster, who finished in a dead heat for third with Windward Passage; Holdthehelm, who finished fifth; and Dusty Spike, who finished seventh.
Bay Monster, who had missed the Grade 3 Rebel at Oaklawn because of a cold, came back from a six-week layoff in the Arkansas Derby.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Gilded Wings, who finished a troubled second at 2-5 in the $50,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park in February, makes her first start since that race Saturday in the $75,000 Wafare Farm Stakes at Lone Star Park.
A six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies the Wafare Farm has drawn six, and could produce starters for the $150,000 Stonerside Stakes over seven furlongs here May 25.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Saturday's $55,000 San Jose Stakes at Bay Meadows could be a stepping-stone to bigger and better things for the six 3-year-old fillies entered in the one-mile race on the main track.
"I think there are a lot in the field with talent, but there are question marks about them," said trainer Jeff Bonde, who entered Genteel World in the San Jose.
Genteel World enters Saturday's race off two wins, but both of those victories came on the turf.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Saturday's $40,000 Angenora will be Thistledown's first stakes of the year. The six-furlong race has drawn a competitive field of 11 Ohio-breds, including three stable couplings.
The Angenora brings out Ohio's 2001 champion 3-year-old filly, Ashwood CC, who will be co-highweighted with Paige's Boo at 120 pounds.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - A wide-open field of eight has been entered for Saturday's $25,000 Tondi-Budweiser Handicap at six furlongs.
Abbi's Choice is topweighted at 122 pounds off a solid third-place finish to Rub and Leaping Plum in the Pepsi Sprint on March 23 in his local debut. Abbi's Choice, a front-runner, is still in search of his first win this year. Perry Compton has the ride for owner Gary McDonald and trainer Kelly Von Hemel from post 3.
PHOENIX - For Singin N D Shower, procrastinating is a good thing.
A 7-year-old gelding, he does his best work when he sits back, waits till the last second, and then blasts home. He didn't follow that tack last time and paid the price, but a return to that style would make him the horse to beat in Saturday's $14,200 feature at Turf Paradise. The $25,000 optional claimer at a mile on the turf has lured a field of seven.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - His name won't be found among the leaders in the jockey standings for the 2002 Gulfstream Park session. But ask Joe Bravo how he feels about the meet so far and he will answer with just one word - ecstatic.
Bravo did not join the local jockey colony until March 23 after spending nine months on the sidelines recuperating from a broken fibia and tibia in his left leg suffered last summer at Monmouth Park. In the three weeks since his return, however, Bravo has already won 12 races, including three on Thursday.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.- With less than a week remaining in the meet, most of the New York- and Kentucky-based outfits have departed south Florida. But trainer Mark Hennig remains and will send out the two top contenders, Final Table and Gygistar, in Saturday's $75,000 Hallandale Beach Handicap.
Final Table will share highweight of 120 pounds along with Juggernaut in the six-furlong Hallandale Beach. Gygistar gets in a pound lighter at 119. Danielles Magic, Barnacle Steve, Capture the Silver, and All Line round out the lineup.