Mister Triester’s Handlers Hope for a Speedy Trial

A year ago, Don’t Get Mad won the $100,000 Derby Trial for owner B. Wayne Hughes and was wheeled back in seven days for the Kentucky Derby, where he finished fourth at 29-1.

Hughes will be involved again in the Trial, which is the feature attraction on the first day of Churchill Downs’ spring-summer meet today.

He will be represented by Mister Triester, and if the Old Trieste colt were to run big in the one-mile Trial, he could return for the Derby.

Trained by Warren Stute, who finished 11th with the Hughes-owned Greeley’s Galaxy in the 2005 Derby, Mister Triester has one victory in eight starts, but has improved since being stretched out.

In his first start outside California, he was a well-beaten second in the Illinois Derby on April 8 at Hawthorne. Sweetnorthernsaint, who will be among the favorites next weekend, won the Grade II by 9 1/4 lengths.

The 3-year-old to beat in the Derby Trial is Noonmark. A son of Unbridled’s Song, he has won two of four for trainer Steve Asmussen. Shaun Bridgmohan will ride Noonmark, who was last seen finishing second to Derby probable Sharp Humor in the Swale on March 4 at Gulfstream Park.

Race of the day: Sweet Return, who finished a disappointing sixth in his 2006 debut in the Arcadia Handicap on April 8 at Santa Anita, will try to rebound in the $400,000 San Francisco Breeders’ Cup Mile today at Golden Gate Fields. Frank Alvarado will ride the 6-year-old Elmaamul horse for Red Oak Stable and trainer Ron McAnally in the Grade II at one mile. Seven others are scheduled to run, including six other Southern California shippers -- Charmo, Aragorn, Place Cowboy, Romeo Plus, Ulistentome and Hendrix.

One for the road: Angara holds a class edge as she debuts for trainer Bill Mott and can make the last run count in the $100,000 Beaugay Handicap today at Aqueduct. Edgar Prado will ride the 5-year-old Alzao mare for Sangster Family Stable in the Grade III at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Aqueduct card also includes the $150,000 Withers Stakes, a Grade III for 3-year-olds at one mile that attracted only four runners -- Luxembourg, Bernardini, Doc Cheney and Rob’em Blind.

Exotically speaking: An early pick four using Surging Desire and Her Red in the first, Wynn’s Final Offer in the second, Ibero Grace, Art Moderne and Carano in the third and King Palm, Double Galore and Greedy Way in the fourth.

Winners (through Thursday): (previous day/meet total): 2/4. Money: (previous day/meet total): $35.60/$47.60. Total money bet: $32.