Mulhall Might Make Switch

Trainer Kristin Mulhall may start a gray colt in the Preakness at Pimlico on May 15. But it probably won’t be Imperialism, who ran third in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Mulhall is expected to run Cheiron, who would try to become the first California-bred to win the middle leg of the Triple Crown since Snow Chief in 1986.

The morning after the 130th Derby at Churchill Downs, where Smarty Jones, the winner, and Lion Heart battled through the stretch as Imperialism was among several vying for third place, Mulhall returned to her stable at Hollywood Park. In her place here, Steve Taub, who owns all of Imperialism and 50% of Cheiron, posited a scenario in which Imperialism would be saved for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes on June 5 and Cheiron would be shipped to Baltimore for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness.

“This is where my head is,” Taub said, “although Kristin would have to approve whatever we do. I wouldn’t want to run both horses, because I don’t want to run an entry. Imperialism ran his eye sockets out. He’s got a heart the size of California, and he should be perfectly suited for the Belmont distance and those long, sweeping turns at that track.”

Taub’s partners in Cheiron are Richard Mulhall, the trainer’s father, and Neil Papiano. Of all races, Cheiron won the Snow Chief Stakes, restricted to Cal-breds, at Hollywood Park on April 24. His time of 1:48 3/5 for 1 1/8 miles set a stakes record.

Cheiron, who was ridden by Alex Solis in the Snow Chief, took five races to break his maiden, in January at Santa Anita. Solis rode Snow Chief in the Preakness. Cheiron’s had three wins and three seconds in nine starts. Before the Snow Chief, he finished fourth in the San Felipe Stakes.

Imperialism was next to last in the 18-horse field after a half-mile, and was 10th with a quarter-mile to go. His jockey, Kent Desormeaux, bemoaned their six-horses-wide stretch run, and thought that the colt had finished with plenty of energy.

“We didn’t win, but he ran a winning race,” Taub said. “Kent actually had to stand up on the horse when he was buried along the rail in the stretch.”

Although Pimlico officials said Smarty Jones had been confirmed to run in the Preakness, trainer John Servis said he would wait a few days, when the colt had returned to training at Philadelphia Park, before he would make an announcement. Smarty Jones will be flown to Philadelphia either today or Tuesday.

“If he’s tired, we won’t go,” Servis said. “But if his legs are good, we’ll be there. He came out of the race bright-eyed and he looks great. He ate up, and was playing with the hay net in his stall -- bouncing it off his head -- like he always does.”

Lion Heart, who was second, beaten by 2 3/4 lengths over a sloppy track, is headed for the Preakness, trainer Patrick Biancone said.

“Patrick told me at the trainers’ dinner [four days before the Derby] that he thought we’d be the exacta,” Servis said. “I just hope he bet it both ways. He’s got a loaded gun in Lion Heart, but he won’t be the only guy.”

Others expected to run in the Preakness are Limehouse (fourth in the Derby), The Cliff’s Edge (fifth), Borrego (10th), Eddington, Rock Hard Ten and Water Cannon, a Maryland-based gelding who has won five straight races at Laurel Park and Pimlico. Possible are Read The Footnotes, who ran seventh Saturday, and Sir Shackleton, winner of the April 24 Derby Trial.

Nick Zito, who trains The Cliff’s Edge, Sir Shackleton and Birdstone, who was eighth in the Derby, was not happy in defeat. The Cliff’s Edge lost both front shoes in the race, and Birdstone blew his left front plate.

“It wasn’t my blacksmith’s best day,” Zito said. “It wasn’t his finest hour. You don’t get any traction when that happens. I don’t want to take anything away from the winner. He was a worthy champion and he’s undefeated [in seven starts]. But [The Cliff’s Edge] always comes running, and he loves Churchill Downs.”

Trainer Richard Mandella finished sixth and 16th, respectively, with Action This Day and Minister Eric, who was struggling to breathe after the race. Mandella said that a myectomy, a minor throat operation, would be done after the horse had returned to California.

Stewart Elliott, who rode Smarty Jones in his first Derby mount, beat the colt back to Philadelphia Park, where he has won 90 races this year, 47 more than the No. 2 jockey in the standings. Elliott’s 10% cut of the Derby purse and a $5-million Oaklawn Park three-race bonus comes to $585,480.

But today he’s back off the clouds. In the first at Philadelphia, he rides The Fat Man, a 4-year-old gelding who is running for a $4,000 claiming price in a $7,500 race.

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Triple Crown Ratings

Tribune Co. ratings for 3-year-olds leading up to the Preakness and Belmont Stakes:

*--* Horse Trainer Jockey St W P S Last Race Next Race 1 Smarty John Stewar 7 7 0 0 Kentucky Derby Preakness Jones Servis t (1st) Elliot t 2 Lion Heart Patrick Mike 6 3 3 0 Kentucky Derby Preakness Biancon Smith (2nd) e 3 Kristin Kent 16 5 4 2 Kentucky Derby unknown Imperialism Mulhall Desorm (3rd) eaux 4 The Nick Shane 9 4 2 1 Kentucky Derby Preakness Cliff’s Zito Seller (5th) Edge s 5 Eddington Mark Jerry 6 2 2 2 Wood Memorial Preakness Hennig Bailey (3rd) 6 Rock Hard Jason Gary 4 2 1 1 Santa Anita Preakness Ten Orman Steven Derby (2nd) s 7 Limehouse Todd Jose 10 5 0 3 Kentucky Derby Preakness Pletche Santos (4th) r 8 Read the Rick Robie 8 5 0 0 Kentucky Derby Preakness* Footnotes Violett Albara (7th) e do 9 Ashado Todd John 9 6 2 1 Kentucky Oaks unknown Pletche Velazq (1st) r uez 10 Action Richard David 7 2 1 0 Kentucky Derby unknown This Day Mandell Flores (6th) a

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Triple Crown panel: Bill Christine, Los Angeles Times; Dave Joseph, South Florida Sun-Sentinel; Tom Keyser, Baltimore Sun; Neil Milbert, Chicago Tribune; Paul Moran, Newsday. *possible