Date: 03/16/02

The finish of the San Felipe with Medaglia d'Oro drawing away from U S S Tinosa and Siphonic.

The first round of this weekend's preps is over and Harlan's Holiday came out the winner in a very contentious Florida Derby while Ethan Man dominated the Swale Stakes.

In the Swale, Ethan Man was the heavy favorite and stalked the early pacesetters before drawing away in the stretch to win by 3 lengths. The son of sprinter Glitterman appears to be better suited to shorter distances with his 8.00 dosage index, but you never know what may happen if Derby Fever strikes the connections.

In the Florida Derby, trainer Todd Pletcher threw in rabbit Smooth Jazz to try and knock out front running Booklet. While that part of his strategy worked as the pair zoomed through the first half in 45.36 and six furlongs in 1:10.32, his entrymate Nokoma never fired and finished seventh. Instead it was Booklet's favored rival Harlan's Holiday who blew past the tired speedsters and drew off to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Blue Burner, who had picked up third in the Fountain of Youth, got up for second this time while longshot Peekskill rallied for third, and the tired Booklet held on for fourth.

In the Gotham, Mayakovsky and Saarland made their debuts for the year as the favorites with Mayakovsky the more favored of the pair. Mayakovsky went straight to the lead shortly after the start and never looked back, although he must have gotten quite tired as he drifted badly in the stretch. Saarland stalked the early pace and rallied up for second, beaten 3 3/4 lengths by Mayakovsky but 2 1/2 lengths clear of third place longshot Parade of Music.

In the Tampa Bay Derby, favored Bunk N Ted never fired finishing fifth. Political Attack took the lead with Equality right behind for the early pace. Equality got the better of the duel after six furlongs, taking the lead and drawing off to win by 2 1/4. Political Attack held second until mid stretch when Tails of the Crypt rallied up to take the place spot away from him.

The biggest disappointment of the weekend came in the San Felipe when odds-on favorite Siphonic faltered in the stretch to finish third. Bobby Frankel's Medaglia d'Oro took the lead early and duelled with Siphonic for a half then faded a bit to third before coming back in the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths. U S S Tinosa stalked the lead pair and passed the tiring Siphonic in deep stretch to take second 3 1/2 lengths in front of Siphonic. No excuses this time for Siphonic.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 5   Ethan Man          Day              3.40    2.40  2.10
 4   Listen Here        Bailey                   2.80  2.10
 1   Governor Hickel    Stevens                        2.10

The finish of the Swale Stakes with Ethan Man beginning to draw off.
Winning Time:  1:22.29

$2 Exacta 5-4                 6.40
$2 Trifecta 5-4-1            10.60

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 3   Harlan's Holiday   Prado            5.40    3.40  2.80
10   Blue Burner        Bailey                   6.40  4.60
 5   Peekskill          Santos                        18.20

Harlan's Holiday all alone at the finish of the Florida Derby.
Winning Time:  1:48.80

$2 Exacta 3-10               44 80
$2 Trifecta 3-10-5        1,355.00
$2 Superfecta 3-10-5-4    6,133.80

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 2   Mayakovsky         Prado            3.50    2.60  2.30
 7   Saarland           Velazquez                3.10  2.70
 6   Parade of Music    Migliore                       4.90


Mayakovsky, winner of the Gotham Stakes.
Courtesy of Deborah Kral.
Winning Time:  1:34.90

$2 Exacta 2-7                 7.50
$2 Trifecta 2-7-6            67.00

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
10   Equality           Dominguez       10.20    5.20  4.40
 5   Tails of the Crypt Ramsammy                 7.40  4.40
 9   Political Attack   Guidry                         3.60


Equality, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby.
Winning Time:  1:43.66

$2 Exacta 10-5               81.20
$2 Quinella 5-10             50.80
$2 Trifecta 10-5-9          441.20
$2 Superfecta 10-5-9-1    2,681.60

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 3   Medaglia d'Oro     Pincay          19.00    8.20  2.10
 7   U S S Tinosa       Desormeaux               4.40  2.10
 4   Siphonic           Bailey                         2.10


Medaglia d'Oro, winner of the San Felipe Stakes.
Winning Time:  1:41.95

$1 Exacta 3-7                33.60
$2 Quinella 3-7              28.40
$1 Trifecta 3-7-4            67.40

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