Santa Anita Derby may help sort out Derby picture

By RICHARD ROSENBLATT
AP Racing Writer

Final rehearsals for the Kentucky Derby begin Saturday, and it looks as though the Santa Anita Derby could have the best cast of 3-year-olds in a prep race this season.

Trainer Bob Baffert has three horses in the 1 1/8-mile race: Domestic Dispute, Kafwain and Indian Express.

Also entered Wednesday were Buddy Gil and Atswhatimtalknbout, the 1-2 finishers in the San Felipe on March 16, and Ocean Terrace and Ministers Wild Cat, 1-2 in the El Camino Real Derby on March 8.

Domestic Dispute, winner of the Santa Catalina on Jan. 18, was fifth in the San Felipe but only three lengths behind the winner. The son of Unbridled's Song gets a new rider in Corey Nakatani.

Kafwain, also with a new rider in Patrick Valenzuela, finished second in the Louisiana Derby but was DQ'd recently after a postrace test revealed too much clenbuterol in his system. Owned by The Thoroughbred Corp., the bay colt has three stakes wins, including the San Vicente on Feb. 1.

Indian Express is a son of '98 Santa Anita Derby winner Indian Charlie.

Baffert has saddled three of the last six Kentucky Derby winners Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002).

The Illinois Derby, won last year by War Emblem, will be run at Hawthorne Park. Among the Derby prospects in the 1 1/8-mile race are Gotham Stakes winner Alysweep, Maryland shipper Cherokee's Boy and Lone Star Sky, fourth in the Louisiana Derby.

Empire Maker, winner of the Florida Derby, was made the 3-1 morning line favorite for the third and final pool of the Kentucky Derby future wager. Betting ends Sunday.

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The prospects:

1. Empire Maker (trainer: Bobby Frankel; jockey: Jerry Bailey) Worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 at Hollywood Park on Saturday ... Won Florida Derby by 9} lengths on March 16 with blinkers on for the first time ... Next start, Wood Memorial (April 12) ... Derby future wager odds: 3-1.

2. Peace Rules (Frankel; Edgar Prado) Worked four furlongs in :47 at Hollywood Park on Saturday, and arrived earlier this week in Kentucky to train for next start in Blue Grass (April 12) at Keeneland ... Won Louisiana Derby (March 9) in last start ... Odds: 12-1.

3. Kafwain (Bob Baffert; Patrick Valenzuela) Valenzuela replaces Victor Espinoza, who rode War Emblem for Baffert last year ... Won 3-year-old debut in San Vicente ... Worked five furlongs in 59.60 at Santa Anita on Monday ... Next start, Santa Anita Derby ... Odds: 12-1.

4. Atswhatimtalknbout (Ron Ellis; David Flores) With Flores up, worked five furlongs in 58.80 at Santa Anita on Monday ... Lost by a nose in San Felipe ... Purchased as 2-year-old in training by majority owner Wayne Hughes for $900,000 ... Next start, Santa Anita Derby ... Odds: 6-1.

5. Region of Merit (Christophe Clement; Eibar Coa) Worked three furlongs in 36.60 at Keeneland on Tuesday ... Takes four-race win streak into next start, the Blue Grass ... Odds: 50-1.

6. Indy Dancer (Todd Pletcher, trainer; John Velazquez, jockey) Longer races may improve chances ... Third in 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby after poor start ... Next start, 1 1/8-mile Wood ... Odds: 15-1.

7. Domestic Dispute (Baffert; Corey Nakatani) Nakatani is the new rider ... Worked five furlongs in 58.60 at Santa Anita on Monday, fastest of 48 others at same distance ... Owned by Gary Garber, head of L.A.-based plastics manufacturing firm ... Next start, Santa Anita Derby. ... Odds: 20-1.

8. Badge of Silver (Ronny Werner; Robby Albarado) Won three in a row before sixth-place finish in Louisiana Derby ... Breathing problem corrected ... Next start, the Blue Grass ... Odds: 15-1.

9. Trust N Luck (Ralph Ziadie; Cornelio Velasquez) Derby in question because colt missed week of training with cough after second-place finish in Florida Derby ... Now being pointed to Lexington Stakes (April 19), followed by Preakness (May 17) ... Odds: 30-1.

10. Senor Swinger (Baffert; Edgar Prado) In first workout for Baffert, colt went six furlongs in 1:12.20 at Santa Anita on Saturday, third quickest of 16 going same distance ... Won first two starts before fifth-place finish in Florida Derby ... Next start, Arkansas Derby, Blue Grass or Wood ... Odds: 10-1 (mutuel field).

Keep in mind: Buddy Gil, Funny Cide, Lion Tamer, Ministers Wild Cat, Ocean Terrace.

Weekend races: Santa Anita Derby (Santa Anita), Illinois Derby (Hawthorne), Aventura Stakes (Gulfstream), Saturday; Lafayette Stakes (Keeneland), Sunday.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)