Horse Racing Roundup : Vernon Castle Earns Kentucky Trip With Win

Vernon Castle, a son of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, won going away Saturday in the $246,900 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif., earning a trip to the Kentucky Derby.

The winning time of 1:48 was the best of the day in the four 1 1/8-mile major stakes races in the country for 3-year-olds.

Immediately after Vernon Castle’s victory by four lengths over Imperious Spirit, the horse’s trainer, John Sullivan, announced that Vernon Castle would run in the Kentucky Derby.

Eddie Delahoussaye took Vernon Castle to the lead in the stretch. Damon’s Game, with Gary Baze up, was the leader most of the way, until the final turn. Prince Bobby B. moved ahead by as much as two lengths at the top of the stretch before Vernon Castle took control.

Vernon Castle carried 112 pounds and paid $4.80, $3.60 and $2.80. Imperious Spirit paid $4 and $3.40, and third-place Prince Bobby B. returned $4.40. Circus Prince was fourth among the 10 horses who started.

Vernon Castle, who won a maiden race at Santa Anita by 8 1/2 lengths last month, earned $140,025 for his win. The start was only the fourth of the horse’s career.

GARDEN STATE STAKES

Fobby Forbes outraced favored Zabaleta in the home stretch to win not only the $233,800 Garden State Stakes but also a trip to the Kentucky Derby, at Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, N.J.

Fobby Forbes made his move from fourth place, rounding the second turn into the stretch and passing Miracle Wood and Zabaleta to win by a length and a half.

Owned by Robert Brennan, chairman of Garden State Park, Fobby Forbes raced 1 1/8 miles in 1:51 to earn $149,280. It paid $7.20, $3.20 and $2.60.

Zabaleta, ridden by Darrel McHargue, earned $40,760 and paid $3 and $2.60. Miracle Wood earned $22,418 and paid $3.

Fobby Forbes has a shot at a $1-million bonus if it wins the Kentucky Derby and the $1-million Jersey Derby at Garden State on Memorial Day.

ARKANSAS DERBY

Rampage, purchased for only $18,000 as a yearling, ran down Wheatly Hall in the final sixteenth to win the $500,000 Arkansas Derby by 1 1/2 lengths at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark..

Rampage, owned by Nancy and H.J. Reed of Memphis and trained by Gary Thomas, was ridden by Pat Day. He covered the 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy track in 1:48 1/5, second fastest time in the 50-year history of the race. Rampage earned $300,000. In his seven previous starts he had won $40,086.

Rampage returned $10.60, $4.80 and $3.20, and may have earned a spot in the Kentucky Derby, Thomas said.

Wheatly Hall, the 5-2 favorite, paid $4.20 and $3.20. Family Style, the Eclipse award-winning filly of 1985, was third. As part of a Wayne Lukas-trained entry with Clear Choice, Family Style returned $2.80. Clear Choice was fourth.

OTHER RACES

Classy Cathy caught favored Patricia J.K. in the stretch and then survived a foul claim to win the $181,500 Ashland Stakes by 2 lengths at Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, Ky.

Longshot She’s A Mystery edged Patricia J.K. at the finish for second. She’s a Mystery, a 54-1 outsider, returned $32.60 and $9.60. Patricia J.K. paid $4.80.

She’s A Mystery jockey Don Brumfield filed an objection against Classy Cathy and jockey Earlie Fires for alleged interference at the quarter pole, but the stewards disallowed Brumfield’s claim.

The filly, owned by Edward A. Cox, ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44 on a fast track and earned $116,512.50. She paid $17.60, $8.80 and $5.20 in winning her second stakes of the Keeneland spring meeting. Classy Cathy earlier won the Beaumont Stakes.

Trainer Joe Bollero said the next stop for Classy Cathy is the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs May 2.

Dogwood Stable’s Natania, a Florida invader, shot to the front through the stretch to win the 35th running of the $104,150 Gallorette Handicap at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

The 4-year-old filly rallied from well off the pace with jockey Jimmy Edwards and defeated Scotch Heather by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:45 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Natania paid $16.20, $7.40 and $7.20 as the fifth choice in the field of the 12 fillies and mares. Scotch Heather paid $4.20 and $4.20, and Valid Doge paid $20.60.

El Corazon charged from off the pace for an upset victory in the $55,200 Maxwell G. Handicap at Sportsman’s Park in Chicago.

El Corazon, who ran his nine previous races at tracks in California, covered the six furlongs over a fast track in 1:13 1/5. He was coupled in the wagering with ninth-place finisher New Years Grapes and paid $16.60, $6 and $3.60.

Vinnie the Viper paid $4.20 and $4.40, and Croupier Lady, a 36-1 longshot, paid $8.80.