Date: 04/13/02

Harlan's Holiday (outside) draws even with Booklet as they head into the final turn of the Blue Grass Stakes before drawing off to win.

This weekend was the Big Three prep weekend and the make or break point for many Derby contenders. First up was the Wood Memorial where the bettors had trouble deciding the favorite, with five horses going off between 9-2 and 3-1. Medaglia d'Oro and Buddha broke on top and duelled the entire distance. Medaglia d'Oro led much of the way, but Buddha got his head in front in the stretch and held on for the win. Sunday Break, who ran much straighter than in his last start, finished third while Saarland rallied much too late and could only get fourth.

Next up at Keeneland was the Blue Grass Stakes where leading contender Harlan's Holiday faced five horses, including his old Florida rival Booklet. Longshot Bob's Image led for a while with Booklet tracking him, but going into the far turn Booklet took over and Harlan's Holiday moved up to challenge soon after. In the stretch, Harlan took over and drew away to a convincing 4 1/2 length win while Booklet held second over Ocean Sound by a neck. This victory probably clinches Harlan's Holiday as the Kentucky Derby post time favorite despite the slow running time of 1:51.51.

At Oaklawn, a field of eleven hopefuls were trying one last time to earn a trip to Kentucky with Mr. Mellon as the lukewarm favorite. Longshot Outstander led the first 6 furlongs and then a cavalry charge overtook him. Private Emblem came out of the turn with the most momentum and started to draw away, eventually winning by 4 1/2 lengths. Wild Horses was the best of the rest with a dead heat between Windward Passage and Bay Monster a length behind him in third.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 1   Buddha             Day              8.20    4.20  3.60
 4   Medaglia d'Oro     Pincay                   3.60  3.20
 3   Sunday Break       Stevens                        4.70

Close finish in the Wood Memorial with Buddha on the inside just holding Medaglia d'Oro off while Sunday Break was not far back in third.
Winning Time:  1:48.61

$2 Exacta 1-4            23.60
$2 Trifecta 1-4-3       144.00

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 3   Harlan's Holiday   Prado            3.40    2.20  2.10
 6   Booklet            Chavez                   3.00  2.40
 1   Ocean Sound        Delahoussaye                   2.80

Harlan's Holiday starts to draw away from Booklet while farther back Ocean Sound is about to take third from Straight Gin.
Winning Time:  1:51.51

$2 Exacta 3-6             8 40
$2 Quinella 3-6           5.20
$2 Trifecta 3-6-1        45.40
$2 Superfecta 3-6-1-2   161.80

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
11   Private Emblem     Meche           10.40    6.00  3.80
 6   Wild Horses        Douglas                 12.20  6.60
 8DH Windward Passage   McCarron                       2.60
 9DH Bay Monster        Lovato                         5.60

Private Emblem was an easy winner in the Arkansas Derby.
Winning Time:  1:50.20

$2 Exacta 11-6             145.00
$2 Trifecta 11-6-8         399.00
$2 Trifecta 11-6-9       2,042.00
$2 Big Three Pick Three    128.00

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