Sunday, Thoroughbred Daily News May 5, 2002 TDN For information, call (732) 747-8060. HEADLINE NEWS LAST LAUGH FOR WAR EMBLEM Give and Take... He was given little chance by the 145,033 fans at War Emblem’s victory was a measure of consolation Churchill Downs yesterday afternoon, but GII Illinois for owner Prince Ahmed Salman and trainer Bob Derby winner War Emblem (Our Em- Baffert, who came in with favored Point Given last blem) stole the show, leading nearly year, only to see the 2001 Horse of the Year suffer his every step en route to a four-length only loss of the campaign, finishing fifth. “I told the victory in the 128th running of the Prince that, after last year, I owed him a Derby,” GI Kentucky Derby. “That horse had Baffert said. The two went looking for a Triple Crown his way the whole way and he just contender when it became clear that last year’s star kept on going,” jockey Eddie juvenile Officer would not fill the bill, and found one in Delahoussaye, third aboard Perfect War Emblem. The speedy colt Drift (Dynaformer), said. Completely had finished up the track be- underestimated by the connections hind Repent in the GIII Risen of his 17 rivals, the 20-1 shot was Star S. in February, but allowed to set an uncontested pace, turned it around to win an with GII Coolmore Lexington S. hero allowance race at Sports- War Emblem Proud Citizen (Gone West) sitting man’s Park a month later and Horsephotos second and Perfect Drift an unex- completely dominated the pectedly close third. That was the field in the Apr. 6 Illinois order as they raced around the first turn, travelled the Derby, handing Repent a backstretch and came out of the final bend. Proud 6 1/4-length defeat. Owner Citizen and Perfect Drift tried to make a race of it, but Russell Reineman announced War Emblem simply opened it up in the final furlong. after that race that he would KENTUCKY DERBY-GI, $2,175,000, CDX, 5-4, 3yo, not be heading to Churchill War Emblem Takes Derby 1 1/4m, 2:01, ft. Downs, but the Prince made Horsephotos 1--sWAR EMBLEM, 126, c, 3, by Our Emblem him an offer he couldn’t re- 1st Dam: Sweetest Lady, by Lord At War (Arg) fuse (reportedly in the neighborhood of $1 million) and 2nd Dam: Sweetest Roman, by The Pruner The Thoroughbred Corporation had its Derby horse. 3rd Dam: I Also, by *Sky High 2nd “I’m just grateful that we were able to purchase this ($20,000 yrl '00 KEESEP). O-The Thoroughbred Corp; horse,” Baffert said. “We are always looking for horses, B-C Nuckols, Jr & Sons (KY); T-B Baffert; J-V Espinoza; and we loved his race in the Illinois Derby. When they $1,875,000. Lifetime Record: 8-5-0-0, $2,241,000. said after the race that he wasn’t going to run in the *1/2 to Pretty Gale (Mountain Cat), SW, $204,826. Derby, the Prince told me, ‘if you can get him, get 2--Proud Citizen, 126, c, 3, Gone West--Drums of him.’” Added the Prince, “I’ve been dreaming of this Freedom, by Green Forest. ($425,000 yrl '00 race for 25 years or more--maybe 30. It is such a thrill.” KEESEP). O-Baker, Cornstein & Mack; B-E J Loder It was also the first Kentucky Derby score for jockey (KY); T-D W Lukas; J-M Smith; $170,000. Victor Espinoza. “Turning for home, I knew I had much 3--Perfect Drift, 126, g, 3, Dynaformer--Nice Gal, by Naskra. O-Stonecrest Farm; B-Dr W Reed & Stonecrest the best horse,” Espinoza said. “He was going very Farm (KY); T-M Johnson; J-E Delahoussaye; $85,000. easily.” Click here for the brisnet.com chart. Margins: 4, 3/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 20.50, 23.30, 7.90. Also Ran: Medaglia D'Oro, Request for Parole, Came Home, Harlan's Holiday, Johannesburg, Essence of Dubai, “ROCK” SOLID FINISH IN 2000 GUINEAS............p2 Saarland, Blue Burner, Castle Gandolfo, Easy Grades, Private QUEEN’S LOGIC GUINEAS START IN DOUBT....p3 Emblem, Lusty Latin, It'sallinthechase, Ocean Sound (Ire), MORE ON THE KENTUCKY DERBY......................p4 Wild Horses. Scratched: Buddha, Danthebluegrassman. TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 5/5/02 • PAGE 2 of 9 2 0 0 0 G U I N E A S Fulfilling His Promise... P P The “Rock,” as honest and consistent a performer as has won this Classic, started his career in a maiden at ONE-TWO FOR ROCK SOLID CREW The Curragh last April and, in his third appearance, beat Rock of Gibraltar (Ire) (Danehill) was sent off a gener- Hawk Wing in the G3 Railway S. in July. That success ous 9-1 shot, but outlasted stablemate and 6-4 favour- meant he was burdened with a penalty in both the G2 ite Hawk Wing (Woodman) to give Team Ballydoyle the Gimcrack S. at York in August and G2 Champagne S. one-two finish in the G1 at Doncaster the following month, but it hardly stopped Sagitta 2000 Guineas at him as he took the former impressively before finishing Newmarket yesterday af- a length runner-up to Dubai Destination in the latter. ternoon. Separated by Testing ground caused him no problem in the G1 Grand almost the width of the Criterium at Longchamp on Arc day, where he burst track as the field split into clear for a facile success, and he used all his customary two groups, the duo as- toughness to take a three-way photo in the G1 serted their dominance Dewhurst S. at Newmarket 13 days later. As for the over their rivals on both future, O’Brien said, “Rock of Gibraltar could go to sides of the course, with Royal Ascot now [for the G1 St James’ Palace S. June the far side draw, which 18] and Hawk Wing was always a possible for the Rock Of Gibraltar at Newmarket put him on the better Epsom Derby [June 8]; we’ll see how he is. Hawk Wing Julian Herbert/Getty Images ground, favouring the is a beautifully balanced horse, so I’d say he’ll act on “Rock.” Jockey Johnny Murtagh, who had taken up the the track.” Coral Eurobet reacted by cutting him from running from Redback (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}) at 5-1 to 2-1 as favourite for that Classic. the furlong pole, was on top at the finish after a few anxious glances across the track. “He was pulling up a Saturday, Newmarket, Britain bit in front and [Jamie Spencer, aboard Hawk Wing], SAGITTA 2000 GUINEAS S.-G1, £300,000, was flying, but I think he won a bit smug in the end,” Newmarket, 5-4, 3yo, c/f, 1mT, 1:36.50, gd/fm. Murtagh said. Rock Of Gibraltar was held up on the rail 1--ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Danehill in mid-division of the far side group early as Redback 1st Dam: Offshore Boom (Ire) (SP-Ire), by Be My Guest took them along. He found running room between 2nd Dam: Push A Button (Ire), by Bold Lad (Ire) horses inside the final quarter of a mile and, quickening 3rd Dam: River Lady, by Prince John through, he took over with a furlong remaining before O-Sir Alex Ferguson & Susan Magnier; B-Joe Crowley being driven out to claim the victory. “I had plenty of & Mr & Mrs A P O'Brien; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Johnny cover and I kicked a bit early because the gap was Murtagh; £174,000. Lifetime Record: 8-6-1-0, closing, but when I kicked he really accelerated,” £546,580. *1/2 to Darticleshore (Ire) (Definite Article Murtagh said. {GB}), MSW-Tur. 2--Hawk Wing, 126, c, 3, Woodman--La Lorgnette, by No Shame for the Favourite... Val De L’Orne (Fr). ($225,000 wnlg ‘99 KEENOV; Hawk Wing, settled towards the rear of the stands’ $300,000 yrl ‘00 FTSAUG). O-Susan Magnier; B-Hill side clan that was headed by Naheef (Ire) (Marju {Ire}), 'N' Dale Farm; T-A O’Brien; J-J Spencer; £66,000. quickened brilliantly entering the dip and accelerated 3--Redback (GB), 126, c, 3, Mark Of Esteem (Ire)--Patsy clear, but it was all too late. Trainer Aidan O’Brien, Western (GB), by Precocious (GB). (40,000gns yrl ‘00 while pleased with his one-two result, expects even TATOCT). O-The Waney Racing Group Inc; B-Chipp- more from his Classic colts in the future. “It was their enham Lodge Stud Ltd; T-R Hannon; J-D Holland; first run so they will improve,” he said. “I thought it £33,000. was a serious run from the two of them and they are Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 9-1, 6-4, 25-1. both obviously top-class colts. It was very difficult to Also ran: Zipping (Ire), Twilight Blues (Ire), Aramram, know what was going to happen, but it worked out Compton Dragon, Massalani (Fr), King Of Happiness, great--there was always a danger that they would go Steenberg (Ire), Where Or When (Ire), Ho Choi (GB), head-to-head and end up mentally scarred. By racing Love Regardless, Naheef (Ire), Coshocton, Parasol (Ire), apart it was great for them--they both thought they’d Bragadino (GB), Sholokhov (Ire), Meshaheer, Tendulkar, won and mentally they’ll be super after it.” Rapscallion (Ger), Sweet Band. Broodmare sire of SADOWA, winner of Wednesday’s classic Italian 1000 Guineas-G2.