Sunday, Thoroughbred Daily News May 19, 2002 TDN For information, call (732) 747-8060. HEADLINE NEWS THE SPOILS OF WAR Third Time’s the Charm? Proving that the Kentucky Derby was no fluke, War Bob Baffert has been down this road before, guiding Emblem (Our Emblem) stormed down the stretch at both Silver Charm (1997) and Real Pimlico yesterday afternoon to win the GI Preakness S. Quiet (1998) to victory in two- by 3/4 lengths, moving one step closer to Triple Crown thirds of the Triple Crown, only to glory. “We found out today that this horse is for real,” see both colts shot down at trainer Bob Baffert said. Belmont Park. But he is optimistic The colt has come a long about his chances at the Belmont way. Sent off an uncon- S. this time. “I think the experi- sidered 38-1 in the Feb. ence is going to help,” he said. 17 GIII Risen Star S. at “We’ve gone through this before. Fair Grounds, he lived up The main thing is to keep the to his odds, finishing sixth horse healthy and keep Victor behind Repent. But some- [Espinoza] healthy--he has this thing happened over the horse figured out. The pressure is next month. War Emblem on now, and I’m sure there will be came back to take a War Emblem Horsephotos new shooter and new rabbits, but War Emblem (right) takes Preakness Sportsman’s allowance we’ll be ready for them.” The third Horsephotos race by 10 3/4 lengths leg of the Triple Crown will be run June 8. Mar. 17 and cruised to a 6 1/4-length score over Re- pent in the Apr. 6 GII Illinois Derby. Everyone expected Saturday, Pimlico the ebony three-year-old to flash his speed on Derby PREAKNESS S.-GI, $1,000,000, PIM, 5-18, 3yo, Day--very few believed he could carry it 1 1/4 miles. 1 3/16m, 1:56 1/5, ft. But carry it he did, leading through moderate fractions 1--WAR EMBLEM, 126, c, 3, by Our Emblem and finishing full of run to win by four lengths. The 1st Dam: Sweetest Lady, by Lord At War (Arg) effort was enough to make him the favorite in the 2nd Dam: Sweetest Roman, by The Pruner second leg of the Triple Crown. Sent off at 5-2, the 3rd Dam: I Also, by *Sky High II $20,000 Keeneland September yearling broke well and ($20,000 yrl '00 KEESEP). O-The Thoroughbred settled in second as Menacing Dennis (Star de Naskra) Corporation; B-Charles Nuckols Jr & Sons (KY); T-Bob zipped to the front. Jockey Victor Espinoza had his feet Baffert; J-V Espinoza; $650,000. Lifetime Record: on the dashboard down the backstretch, holding War 9-6-0-0, $2,891,000. *1/2 to Pretty Gale (Mountain Emblem at the pacesetter’s flank, but he let out a notch Cat), SW, $204,826. as they hit the far turn and the Derby winner was in 2--Magic Weisner, 126, c, 3, Ameri Valay--Jazema, by front for good. As he had at Churchill Downs, Proud Bold Forbes. O/T/B-Nancy H Alberts (MD); J-R Citizen (Gone West) went after the leader at the top of Migliore; $200,000. the stretch, but it was almost instant replay. The Team 3--Proud Citizen, 126, c, 3, Gone West--Drums of Free- Lukas runner could not get by, and it was only the dom, by Green Forest. ($425,000 yrl '00 KEESEP). surprising late charge of 45-1 shot Magic Weisner O-Robert C Baker, David Cornstein & William L Mack; (Ameri Valay) that prevented a repeat of the one-two B-Edmund J Loder (KY); T-D Wayne Lukas; J-M E Derby finish. “He so professional,” Espinoza said. “He Smith. $100,000. was the best of the field and he’s always going to be Margins: 3/4, 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 2.80, 45.70, 7.40. the best.” Added Baffert, “We’ve been trying to get Also Ran: Harlan's Holiday, Easyfromthegitgo, U S S this horse to relax. We knew somebody might get stu- Tinosa, Crimson Hero, Medaglia D'Oro, Straight Gin, pid today and we had to be prepared. He still wants to Menacing Dennis, Table Limit, Booklet, Equality. get up on the bit, but he learned a lot today.” For the brisnet.com chart, click here. TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 5/19/02 • PAGE 2 of 10 P P R E A K N E S S P P R E S U L T S P The Magic Touch... Saturday, Newbury, Britain Adding a touch of excitement to the finish of the JUDDMONTE LOCKINGE S.-G1, £172,000, Newbury, Preakness, Magic Weisner (Ameri Valay) came flying in 5-18, 4yo/up, 1mT, 1:38.69, gd/fm. the final 100 yards and just fell short. First or second in 1--sKELTOS (FR), 126, c, 4, by Kendor (Fr) eight of his 10 career starts, the bay was making his 1st Dam: Loxandra (GB), by Last Tycoon (Ire) graded-stakes debut after finishing second in the Apr. 2nd Dam: Northshiel (GB), by Northfields 20 Federico Tesio S. for owner/breeder/trainer Nancy 3rd Dam: Coryana (Ire), by Sassafras (Fr) Alberts. “[Nancy Alberts] told me he was game, that he O-Gary A Tanaka; B-Stilvi Compania Financiera SA; didn’t know the meaning of the word quit,” jockey T-C Laffon-Parias; J-O Peslier; £99,760. Lifetime Richie Migliore said. “It’s just a shame we ran out of Record: 10-6-1-0, £198,497. *1/2 to Iridanos (GB) racetrack. He was getting to War Emblem pretty quick. (Sabrehill), MSW & MGSP-Fr, $153,235. My horse was really putting in a pretty good run and 2--Noverre, 126, c, 4, Rahy--Danseur Fabuleux, by they were weakening up front. I can’t say enough nice Northern Dancer. O-Godolphin; B-Darley Stud Man- things about this little horse.” Added Alberts, “I’m not agement Inc; £37,840. planning on going to the Belmont, because there could 3--Olden Times (GB), 126, c, 4, Darshaan (GB)--Garah be some better spots here.” (GB), by Ajdal. O-Prince A A Faisal; B-Nawara Stud Company Ltd; £18,920. Tough Trip for Proud Citizen... Margins: 3HF, 1HF, HD. Odds: 9-1, 5-6, 8-1. Kentucky Derby runner-up Proud Citizen (Gone West) Also ran: No Excuse Needed (GB), Swallow Flight (Ire), Umistim (GB), Atavus (GB), Cape Town (Ire), did not have the best of trips at Pimlico. Bumped at the Warningford (GB), Summoner (GB). break, the powerful bay was caught very wide on the Keltos, a £12,000 supplement, was held up with only first turn and raced on the outside while tracking the one behind early as Atavus (GB) (Distant Relative {Ire}) leaders down the backstretch. The colt began his bid as led, but was allowed to creep closer passing the half- they raced out of the final bend and gave it all he had way, tracking Noverre. As that colt hit the front in the down the lane, but had to settle for third. “Two things final quarter, Keltos was hampered to his left by Olden cost me,” jockey Mike Smith said. “The break cost me Times, but he shrugged off that attention and drew about a half-length and then we ended up about seven- alongside with 250 yards remaining. Noverre hung into wide on the first turn. That’s hard to make up. I really his challenger slightly while attempting to bite him but, believe he had a legitimate excuse today. He got to War undeterred, Keltos ran away from that rival to win by Emblem’s hip, but it was just too much to overcome.” daylight. Gary Tanaka purchased the colt from Leonidas Harlan’s Holiday (Harlan) raced wide most of the way Marinopoulos before last year’s G1 Poule d’Essai des as well, but lacked a late kick and finished fourth. “He Poulains (French 2000 Guineas), where he finished ran a solid race,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “He only got sixth, but was promoted to fifth when winner Noverre beat two lengths. It’s too early to tell where we are was subsequently disqualified. The colt captured the going next. We just have to see how he comes out of Listed Prix Pontarme at Chantilly later in the month, but the race.” Second choice Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado finished sixth in the St. James S. at Ascot in July and {Ire}) pressed the pace, but faded to finish eighth. “We was given a lengthy break. Keltos came back to take were in the perfect spot early, the horse just backed the G3 Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud Nov. 3. This season, up,” trainer Bobby Frankel said. “The horse is going to he was eighth in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 23 New York tonight. I will give him a month or so off, before winning the G2 Prix du Muguet May 1. “We then try the turf.” Straight Gin (Go for Gin), well back were looking at the G2 Queen Anne S. [June 18], but early, came six wide into the stretch but couldn’t he will get a penalty for winning a Group 1, so we mount a rally and was pulled up in distress after the could have a re-think,” Tanaka said. “Ultimately, we race. The early diagnosis was a bowed tendon. “He’s will be looking at the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile at Arlington fine, but obviously his racing career is over,” trainer and the GI Atto Mile at Woodbine.” Noverre will now Nick Zito said.