NEWS STORY 20 - Afleet Alex blows out Arky Derby. Sun King Disappoints in Blue Grass...
The big $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby proved to be a coronation for Afleet Alex. His victory was powerful and incredible. This may be the next KY Derby winner out of the Arky Derby. Bandini won in the Blue Grass, and Consolidator, Sun King were both flat.

Story by MC_Excelsior "The Stick"

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4/18/05-Arkansas Derby and Blue Grass wrap up.

*ARKANSAS DERBY* Oaklawn - This race stamped a new Kentucky Derby contender. Afleet Alex ran the most powerful race we have seen outside of the Wood Memorial. Tim Ritchey and Jeremy Rose must be very happy about their prospects on the first Saturday in May.

Afleet Alex sat off the early pace in fifth place, and closed powerfully to win drawing off. The powerful strides and the smooth fluid motion of this horse in the stretch were very impressive. This field was completely dominated and has stamped Afleet Alex a major player in the Triple Crown hunt this year.

Flower Alley($5.20 Chavez) took second over a fast closing Andromeda's Hero($6 Nakatani) who was third. Trainer's Todd Pletcher, and Nick Zito already have solid hopes in other horses, but its not a bad thing to finish 2nd or 3rd in a $1 million race.

Final Time of 1:48 4/5 was a very solid time for Oaklawn, and this race should be considered a better race then the Santa Anita Derby, and on par with the Wood Memorial.

The Exacta was $36, and the Tri returned $283.20.

Second choice, Greater Good, finished a disappointing 5th after making a middle move.

*BLUE GRASS* Keeneland - Well, in the battle of the trainer's...Pletcher scored a big win, Lukas and Zito came up empty, and Frankel is still in the hunt.

Bandini came home in a great race for Johnny V. This race came down to jockey's strategy. No jockey can strategize better then John Velasquez. Sitting off the speed of High Limit and Spanish Chestnut, Bandini was held in reserve until the field turned for home. This son of Fusaichi Pegasus is maturing and developing into a top level race horse. While this win was not as dominating as other races we have seen such as the Wood or Florida Derby, it still shows Bandini will have something to say about the finish in the Kentucky Derby.

Second place finisher, High Limit($4.20 Dominguez) was really not being followed by the media or the fans. This one is a Bobby Frankel trained 3 yr old, and you have to think he wants to upset the Kentucky Derby. This one may improve off this race, and we might catch a big price on Derby Day if this one goes.

Closing Argument(3rd, $4.40 Cornelio Velasquez) ran a decent race off layoff, and will definately improve off this start. A more aggressive middle move and a determined run from this one might prove to surprise everyone at the Kentucky Derby.

The Exacta was $34.80, Triple $217.80, Super $662.20.

The D.Wayne Lukas trained, Consolidator ran 5th place at 3-1, and may have clouded his derby hopes.

Zito trained, Sun King ran well off the pace and that is against the bias at Keeneland. The day played for closers all day, but front runners traditionally do well at Keeneland. Sitting way back in last Sun King made a strong late move but was too far back and had to settle for fourth place. Certainly, this moves Bellamy Road up to being the #1 horse in Nick Zito's barn.

Unlike the previous Saturday, today's races helped us to figure out which horses are on track for a solid run.

Afleet Alex has to be looked at as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby. His Arkansas Derby win was very impressive. It looked like Afleet Alex wanted to run much farther, and he came under the wire in full power.

Bandini, and High Limit will look to step up off their strong finishes in the Blue Grass.

Is Nick Zito's barn vulnerable in the KY Derby ? Yeah...right... I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn. Zito still controls the Kentucky Derby with High Fly and Bellamy Road.

This years Derby will be a really good one Stick Fans...Stay Tuned.

Best Regards and Racing, MC_Excelsior

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