Final Preps Shouldn’t Alter Derby Picture

The final three major preps for the Kentucky Derby are being run today but the picture for America’s most famous race isn’t likely to change.

Favorite Trick, the reigning horse of the year, is expected to improve to 10-0 in the $500,000 Arkansas Derby, and Lil’s Lad should dominate his four opponents in the $700,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

As for the $500,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, well, does it really matter what happens?

The last horse who won the Wood, then went on to win the Kentucky Derby, was Pleasant Colony in 1981, although Captain Bodgit nearly ended the drought last year. After winning the Wood, he missed by a head at Churchill Downs, where Silver Charm won.

This time around, there are no serious Kentucky Derby prospects in the 1 1/8-mile Wood. Coronado’s Quest, the probable favorite, isn’t supposed to go to Kentucky, no matter how he fares. But he should be delighted to be back at Aqueduct.

Trained by Shug McGaughey for owner Stuart Janney III, the son of Forty Niner is unbeaten in three starts there, but only two for six elsewhere. He has gained quite a reputation for his pre-race antics in the paddock, and all he did running fifth in the Florida Derby last month was help to get Lil’s Lad beat by pressing him through some fast fractions.

Neil Howard, who trains Lil’s Lad, will be represented by Tampa Bay Derby winner Parade Ground in the Wood. Owned by Will Farish and Stephen Hilbert, Parade Ground worked in 58 4/5 Tuesday morning at Aqueduct.

Prosperous Bid, who will be making his first start for Bob Baffert after being trained by Wally Dollase for his first three races, has been at Aqueduct since Wednesday morning. Corey Nakatani will ride Best Pal’s half-brother, who suffered his first defeat in the San Felipe last month at Santa Anita, finishing behind Artax and Real Quiet.

Lil’s Lad, who was disqualified for interfering with Cape Town after winning the Florida Derby, should have little trouble in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass.

Cape Town, who finished second, but was moved up to first at Gulfstream Park, and Halory Hunter were always expected for the nine-furlong affair and Ian Thunder and Solid Woods joined the fray Thursday morning.

Winner of four of seven races, Lil’s Lad should control things from start to finish after having to go half a mile in 46 seconds in the Florida Derby.

Cape Town was 12 lengths off the early pace that day and Halory Hunter was 14 back.

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Formal Gold, who fractured a cannon bone in his right hind leg late last year, has been retired after developing another problem while preparing for a possible comeback.

Heat and swelling developed in his right front ankle after a gallop at Hialeah. X-rays revealed the start of deterioration in the cartilage and joint.

“We don’t want to do anything to hurt the horse or his form,” said Bill Perry, who trained Formal Gold for owner John Murphy. “It looked like he wasn’t going to come back as strong as he was before the first injury and that’s not what we wanted for him.

“I’m sick over it. We lost an opportunity last year to run in the Breeders’ Cup [Classic] and obviously we wanted to get him there this year.”

Formal Gold finishes with eight victories in 16 starts and earnings of $1,533,600. He defeated Skip Away last year in both the Donn Handicap and the Woodward Stakes.

Santa Anita Notes

Apprentice jockey J.C. Gonzalez began a three-day suspension Friday after being disqualified and dropped from first to second on Prado’s Capote in last Saturday’s sixth race. . . . Bagshot, second to Malek in the Santa Anita Handicap, is the 3-1 morning line choice for the $150,000 San Bernardino today. Eleven others were entered for the 1 1/8-mile race.