A Big Step for Sunday Break

Sunday Break, the Japanese-bred son of Forty Niner who was a 90-1 shot on a Kentucky Derby future book, is going for his third win in a row today at Aqueduct in New York.

The colt, owned by Koji Maeda and trained by Neil Drysdale, probably will be in the 2-5 range when he starts against five others in the sixth race, a $50,000 allowance at 11/8 miles.

Should Sunday Break lose this afternoon without a major excuse in a race that is being used as a prep for the Wood Memorial on April 13, his ultra-conservative trainer probably will bypass the Wood and, almost certainly, the Kentucky Derby too.

Gary Stevens, who had a successful week in Dubai, winning major races with Grey Memo and Caller One on Saturday, will stop in New York on his way back to California to take his regular place atop Sunday Break.

In his four-race career, Sunday Break has won his last two at Santa Anita, beating allowance rivals by two lengths in his first route after breaking his maiden by 41/2 lengths on Jan. 21. In his debut at Hollywood Park on Nov. 25, he finished second, beaten by a head, then was third, as the 7-5 favorite, on Dec. 26, the opening day of the Santa Anita meet.

His rivals include the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Tomahawk Lake and Smoked Em, recent maiden winner Peruvian Summer, Iwin--who won an allowance at Suffolk Downs on March 9--and Dr. Rockett.

Race of the day: A full field of 2-year-olds will get together in the first at Santa Anita. Interesting commodities include Maruka, Feed For Speed, The Andes Storm and Sweet Jessa.

Who’s hot: Christophe Clement. After a slow start at Gulfstream Park, the trainer has warmed up and is batting .230 for the meet. He won the $200,000 Orchid Handicap for a fourth consecutive year Sunday with 5-1 shot Julie Jalouse.

Who’s not: Ed Moger Jr. The trainer has won with six of 142 starters at Golden Gate Fields.

Exotically speaking: A pick four singling Fantasy Spin in the fifth, using Desert Ballet and Accell in the sixth, Autumn Rhythm and Honestly Darling in the seventh and He’s A Natural, Roy Boy and Gamer in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/184. Money: Previous day/meet total: $18.20/$1,086.20. Total money bet: $1,116.