Siberland Drives for Five

Those seeking the best 3-year-old bred in California may turn their attention today to Arizona.

Siberland, who displayed all kinds of talent when winning twice at Del Mar last summer, will try for his fifth consecutive victory in the $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby at 1 1/16 miles.

Owned by Dennis Weir and trained by Kevin Lewis, Siberland won a maiden race and the I’m Smokin at Del Mar by a combined 13 lengths and has won twice at Turf Paradise by 4 1/2 and 10 1/2 lengths.

Siberland, a gelded son of Siberian Summer, who won the 1993 Strub Stakes for trainer Ron McAnally, will be favored against five opponents in the Derby. His foes include California shippers Robledo, who had won twice in five starts for trainer Vladimir Cerin, and Aimees Pride, whose only victory was against $50,000 maidens at Hollywood Park last fall. David Flores will be at Turf Paradise to ride Robledo, and Jose Valdivia Jr. has the mount on Aimees Pride.

Laffit Pincay will also be there to ride Century City in the $150,000 Turf Paradise Breeders’ Cup Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the turf and Force The Way in the $75,000 Arizona Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

Race of the day: American Liberty, who is related to Love That Jazz, Sea Of Secrets and two other stakes winners, will make his debut in the sixth, an interesting maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs. Jerry Bailey is scheduled to ride the Storm Cat colt for trainer Neil Drysdale. Another well-regarded rookie is Popularize.

Who’s hot: Ryan Fogelsonger. The Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top apprentice in 2002, he holds a substantial lead in the jockey standings at Laurel.

Who’s not: Frank Douglas. The jockey lost with 39 of 40 mounts at Laurel.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Rough R.N., Roberta’s Mango and Mabel Kent in the eighth, Medaglia d’Oro and Olmodavor in the ninth and singling Wholly John in the 10th.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/78. Money: Previous day/meet total: $6.60/$470. Total money bet: $476.