THROUGHBRED RACING : Derby Has a European Flavor

An Arazi-Dr Devious exacta in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby probably would spur such an influx of European horses to Churchill Downs that Americans might wonder if it’s still their race.

As it is, there are three European-based horses running in the 118th Derby: favored Arazi, Dr Devious and Thyer.

California trainer Ron McAnally, who assisted Jenny Craig in the $2.5-million purchase of Dr Devious for the 60th birthday of her husband, Sidney, will be saddling the Irish-bred colt for the first time. McAnally says Dr Devious has a chance.

“In terms of conditioning, I think my horse got more out of his last race than Arazi did,” McAnally said. “My only question is whether Dr Devious can make the transition from grass to dirt.”

Dr Devious, like Arazi, has run only once as a 3-year-old, finishing second in a mile race at Newmarket, England, on April 16. He had to work hard, finishing strongly, whereas Arazi was hardly blowing when he returned after his five-length victory in France on April 7.

Dr Devious will be ridden for the first time by Chris McCarron, who rode another European horse, Bold Arrangement, to second place behind Ferdinand in 1986. McCarron won the Derby aboard Alysheba the following year.

Dr Devious drew the No. 15 post for Saturday. He will join Arazi and A.P. Indy in the auxiliary starting gate, which will accommodate five of the starters in the 19-horse field.

“The post should be all right,” McCarron said. “At least my horse won’t have to stand in there very long, waiting for the rest of the field to load. When you draw inside, your horse can be in there as long as a minute before the start. They could make it faster if they loaded two horses at a time, like they do in California.”

The $250,000 Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies will be run today at Churchill Downs, with Prospectors Delite a 7-5 favorite in a field of six.

Prospectors Delight, a Mr. Prospector filly, is undefeated in five starts. Her class had been questioned until she won the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland two weeks ago.

Two of the trailers in the Ashland--Pleasant Stage and Luv Me Luv Me Not--will challenge Prospectors Delite again. Pleasant Stage, the champion 2-year-old filly last year, has run fourth in her two starts this year: the Santa Anita Oaks and Ashland.

Rounding out the Kentucky Oaks field are Miss Legality, Golden Treat and Pacific Hideaway.

Other stakes at Churchill Downs today are the $150,000 Early Times Turf Classic and the $150,000 Louisville Budweiser Breeders’ Cup.

The Early Times, at 1 1/8 miles on the grass, has drawn 15 horses, including three also-eligibles, with Sky Classic expected to be the favorite. Sky Classic, who has earned $1.5 million, was fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf here and was fourth at Keeneland in his only start this year.

Santa Anita-based horses running are Leger Cat and Eternity Star.

The Louisville Budweiser Breeders’ Cup, for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, has drawn seven horses, with Fit For A Queen the horse to beat. Fit For A Queen was second to Paseana in the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 17, shoving her earnings past the $1-million mark.

Horse Racing Notes

Six Kentucky Derby starters--Casual Lies, Dance Floor, Disposal, Pistols And Roses, Sir Pinder and West By West--will be treated with Lasix, the medication used to curb bleeding problems. All six have run with the medication before. . . . Julie Krone, who rides Ecstatic Ride in the Derby, rode Bell Witch, a 62-1 shot, to victory Thursday in the $50,000 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill. . . . Brian Mayberry, because of restrictions at Los Angeles International Airport in the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict, was unable to reach Louisville Thursday to saddle Available Avenue in a maiden filly race. She ran second.