The Bumpy Road to the Triple Crown

Vindication, Toccet, Soto, and Bull Market were all top 2-year-olds and thought to be on their way to the 2003 Kentucky Derby. Now all four 3-year-olds are either out or very doubtful to run on the first Saturday in May. With the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager open across the country this week through Sunday, it's time to start identifying new contenders and a good place to start is with trainer Todd Pletcher, a former D. Wayne Lukas assistant who has 28 thoroughbreds nominated to the Triple Crown. Pletcher will send out Lion Tamer in the seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., and then he will ship Indy Dancer to the Fair Grounds in New Orleans for Sunday's Risen Star Stakes. At this point Indy Dancer would appear to be the further along of the two. "Indy Dancer is a true stayer," said Pletcher Tuesday on an NTRA teleconference. "He has a tremendous pedigree (by A.P. Indy). Lion Tamer has a less attractive pedigree, but he has the raw ability and an explosive turn of foot. Lion Tamer has to prove he can get two turns." Indy Dancer didn't make his first start until Jan. 4, which knocks him out of Derby consideration for many as no Derby winner has not started as a 2-year-old in more than 100 years. "Some times I think people analyze too much," said Pletcher. "If he had started five days earlier, no one would be saying anything. Horses are more lightly raced now. The only rules you see in this game any more is there are no rules. "It was clear early on that he didn't want to go five or six furlongs so there was no reason to rush him into the program. He had a few minor setbacks like a temperature and muscle strains. The A.P. Indys I've been around haven't wanted to get started early in the year. "I had the option of starting him late in the year at Aqueduct, but then it started snowing and stuff and I just decided to ship him to Florida to get him ready." Pletcher thought about keeping Indy Dancer in South Florida for the Fountain of Youth Stakes Saturday (ESPN, 2 p.m.) after he lost Bahm (our four to six weeks), but Gulfstream's main track has been playing to speed. "My original plan was to go to the Risen Star," said Pletcher. "I wanted a more gradual step into stakes competition and the longer stretch will favor him. "He as good as anything I've had at this point (of their careers). Our confidence level is solid with this horse." More Risen Star - Looking to take on Indy Dancer is the Dallas Stewart-trained Saintly Look, which already has a stakes win over the Fair Grounds oval. Stewart is another former Lukas assistant. "We think our colt is ready," said Stewart. "He's on the same scale as Dollar Bill (2001 Risen Star winner). In the Lecomte, he showed speed, but that was dictated by a bad post (outside). We wanted to use him a little, but he relaxed down the backside. He came home strong. Hopefully, he'll be a two-turn horse." Stewart thinks he might have a secret weapon in jockey Shane Sellers, who returned this winter from serious injury. "Shane has been there before," said Stewart. "He's fired up. He wants to get back on the map. We have no reservations. A good rider who's hungry makes him dangerous." The Risen Star has a pedigree for getting horses to the Derby. In addition to Dollar Bill two years ago, War Emblem, last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, finished sixth in the Risen Star. More Fountain of Youth - An interesting horse in the Gulfstream race is Trust N Luck, who is making his 3-year-old debut. Trust N Luck, trained by Ralph Ziadie, won four of eight starts at two, all at Calder. His most impressive effort came in his final start of 2002 when he won the one mile and one sixteenth What A Pleasure Stakes by 11 lengths, earning a 110 Beyer Figure. "It's going to be difficult to beat that 110," said Ziadie. "He's matured and he's coming into his own." Ziadie said he hasn't been impressed with any 3-year-olds in Florida this winter and he will allow jockey Cornelio Velasquez to ride the race as it comes up despite the fact Trust N Luck seems to like to be on the front end. "I will leave that completely up to Cornelio. He knows the horse," said Ziadie. "I still say Trust N Luck doesn't have to be in front (to win)." Finishing lines - If every thing goes right, 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri's 2003 debut could come in the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., in early April. However, the Laura de Seroux-trained 5-year-old mare has yet to begin serious training awaiting the final disposition of the court case involving the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust. . . . Speaking of de Seroux, she has lost top assistant Alex Hassinger who is going to work for Godolphin Stable and Eoin Harty's West Coast 2-year-old stable, which will arrive in April from Dubai. . . California is losing another good trainer as Christopher Paasch has announced he is moving to Kentucky next month. Paasch is one of the best at getting 2-year-olds ready to race as witness his $91. winner last year at Del Mar with a filly making her debut. by Jeffrey Michaels Next Article Copyright © 2003 - Hi2winners.com - All Rights Reserved