Wilko, Giacomo May Have Edge in San Felipe Stakes

There are three significant Kentucky Derby preps Saturday, but the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita is the most wide open.

Eight 3-year-olds were entered in the Grade II at 1 1/16 miles, and cases can be made for half a dozen of the participants.

Wilko, the upset winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at 28-1 Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park in Texas, will make his 2005 debut for trainer Craig Dollase and his first appearance since he finished third behind Declan’s Moon in the Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 18.

Wilko, who won twice in 10 starts on the turf in England before coming to this country last fall, probably will vie for favoritism on Saturday with Giacomo.

Giacomo, a gray son of Holy Bull owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, finished a nose ahead of Wilko in the Hollywood Futurity. Most recently, he finished third in the Sham on Feb. 5 at Santa Anita.

The San Felipe also lured Don’t Get Mad, trainer Ron Ellis’ remaining Derby hopeful now that Declan’s Moon has gone to the sidelines with an injury; Golden Shine, Consolidator, Roman Ruler and longshots Lucky J.H. and In Excelsis.

All the rage after he broke in with two easy victories last summer, Roman Ruler hasn’t been out since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and enters having lost two of his last three for Fog City Stable and trainer Bob Baffert, who won the San Felipe a year ago with Preachinatthebar. Gary Stevens will ride the son of Fusaichi Pegasus for the first time.

Meanwhile, at Oaklawn Park, Afleet Alex and the unbeaten Rockport Harbor head a field of six in the $250,000 Rebel, a Grade III at 1 1/16 miles.

A decisive winner in his 3-year-old debut in the Mountain Valley on March 5, Afleet Alex will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez as he aims for his sixth win in eight starts.

Rockport Harbor, trained by John Servis, who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness a year ago with Smarty Jones, is perfect in four starts but hasn’t raced since November.

Sun King, one of four quality 3-year-olds trained by Nick Zito, will be heavily favored in the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby, a Grade III at 1 1/16 miles, at Tampa Bay Downs. The son of Charismatic has won two of five for owner Tracy Farmer, including a 5 3/4 -length victory over allowance foes in his first start of the year Feb. 26 at Gulfstream Park.

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Scrofa, the 2-1 favorite, found room in deep stretch and won the $125,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes on Thursday at Santa Anita.

Patrick Valenzuela rode the 4-year-old filly to her sixth win in 19 starts.

Four of the victories have come since she was claimed for $62,500 by trainer Paul Aguirre for owners Omar Aldabbagh and Steve Kenly’s STD Racing Stable on Aug. 30 at Del Mar.

Scrofa ran the about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:13.08. Blind Ambition finished second and Our Mango was third.