Greater Good, Sun King Win Preps

One of trainer Nick Zito’s many Kentucky Derby hopefuls beat a suspect field in Florida, but Afleet Alex, the Daily Racing Form’s No. 1 Derby horse, ran last Saturday as the 3-5 favorite in the $250,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Greater Good, at 9-2, won the Rebel by half a length over the previously undefeated Rockport Harbor, who ran a big race considering it was his first start this year and that his training had been compromised by foot problems.

Rockport Harbor was ridden by Stewart Elliott and is trained by John Servis, the same horsemen behind Smarty Jones’ win in last year’s Derby.

“I thought I was right where I wanted to be down the backside,” said John Velazquez, who rode Afleet Alex. “We were ready to fire when we straightened out in the stretch, but there was no fire. He did everything well but run.”

Late word from Afleet Alex’s barn indicated he had a lung infection, and his trainer, Tim Ritchey, is still hoping to run him in the Arkansas Derby on April 16.

Greater Good, ridden by John McKee, paid $11.20.

Edgar Prado rode the Zito-trained Sun King to a 3 1/4 -length win in the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Sun King, who was 1-20, paid $2.10, running 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.98, which almost broke the track record of 1:43.40.

At Santa Anita, where he saddled Consolidator for his win in the San Felipe, trainer Wayne Lukas referred to Sun King’s win as a “walkover,” although officially there were six other horses in the race.

Zito said that Sun King was headed for the Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 16. Zito probably will run High Fly and Noble Causeway in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 2 and Bellamy Road in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 9.

In a prep Saturday for the Wood, Survivalist survived a five-horse scramble for the wire to beat Pavo by three-quarters of a length in the $150,000 Gotham.

Pavo, who outfinished favored Galloping Grocer by a neck for the place, was disqualified by the stewards for interference and moved to fourth. Pavo’s jockey, Alan Garcia, struck Naughty New Yorker in the face with his whip near the wire. Galloping Grocer and Naughty New Yorker, who finished fourth, were re-positioned to second and third.

Garcia lost his stirrups with about three-eighths of a mile to run. “My saddle moved to the front,” he said. “It was very difficult.”

Jean-Luc Samyn, riding Naughty New Yorker, claimed foul against Survivalist and jockey Richard Migliore, but it was disallowed. Survivalist paid $8.90.

“My horse ran into a buzz saw [Sun King] last time,” said Shug McGaughey, who trains Survivalist. “How far my horse wants to go, I don’t know. The Wood is a good possibility for his next race.”