Pulpit and Crypto Star Win in Preludes to Derby

Form prevailed in New York’s prep for the Kentucky Derby and there were no surprises in the two other major races for 3-year-olds on Saturday.

Making amends for his first loss in the Florida Derby last month, Pulpit won like a 2-5 shot should, taking advantage of a dream trip to beat five outclassed rivals in the $700,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

About 25 minutes before that, Crypto Star followed up his victory in the Louisiana Derby with a come-from-behind win over Phantom On Tour and nine others in the $500,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Able to stalk the very slow pace set by Jules, who went 23 3/5, 48 and 1:12 2/5 for the first six furlongs, Pulpit, who is owned by Claiborne Farm and trained by Frank Brothers, took over in the stretch and drew clear under Shane Sellers to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:49 4/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

This was the fourth victory in five starts for the son of A.P. Indy, but beating this bunch didn’t prove very much.

“Frankie never tells me anything, but before I got up on him, he told me, ‘I want you to be a little more aggressive leaving [the gate] with this colt and you get running on his mind. And then you ride him from there.’

“And that’s what I did. He put me in the game today. I got him to get off the bridle with me and that’s the best thing that has happened to him in the last two or three races. He’s learned to relax and I think that’s going to make him a better horse.”

Acceptable, horrible in two races in Florida earlier this year, rebounded somewhat with a second-place finish, holding off Stolen Gold and Gary Stevens by half a length.

King Crimson, the other California horse who was ridden by Chris McCarron for trainer and majority owner Riley Griffiths, was a distant last, beaten by nearly 42 lengths.

In Arkansas, Crypto Star, the 5-2 favorite, came from 10th after six furlongs to win by half a length over Phantom On Tour, the 7-2 second choice, in 1:49 1/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Owned by Darrell and Evelyn Yates and trained by Wayne Catalano, the Crypto-clearance colt was ridden by Pat Day and he now has four victories in six starts.

“He will do it, but you have to make him do it,” Catalano said. “I got excited in the Louisiana Derby and I’m more excited today. I’ll get even more excited in Kentucky.”

Pacificbounty, who had won three consecutive races at Hollywood Park, Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows, finished third under Kent Desormeaux, beaten by a length.

“He kind of hung there near the end,” trainer Walter Greenman said. “He’s never done that before. We’ll go on to Kentucky and maybe take a shot [in the Derby].”

*

Because of an error made at Golden Gate Fields, fans at Santa Anita and other simulcast sites around the country were unable to bet on Golden Gate’s fifth race Saturday.

There was a scratch of Douglas County in that race Friday morning and Golden Gate’s racing office failed to report it to Equibase, which distributes the scratches to simulcast sites.

Golden Gate’s program was correct, but Santa Anita’s was not, so wagering on the race specifically and other wagers involving the race had to be canceled locally.

This meant Pick Six bets and Pick Three bets on races 3-4-5, 4-5-6 and 5-6-7 were not accepted.

Horse Racing Notes

Four weeks after collecting his first stakes victory in the Baldwin Stakes, Latin Dancer moved from turf to dirt and won the $100,850 San Pedro Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths over Mr. Doubledown. . . . Trainer Brian Lynch was fined $300 for a medication violation by Santa Anita stewards. Lynch was cited on the filly North’s Tamie, who won the fourth race on March 7. . . . For the record: Joy Scott was given a five-day suspension for an incident in the eighth race on April 10, not April 3. . . . Trainer Charlie Whittingham turns 84 today.