Tapit Is Ready to Go the Distance

Three of the last four winners of the Kentucky Derby had their final preps in the Wood Memorial.

Last year, Funny Cide was second to Empire Maker at Aqueduct before turning the tables at Churchill Downs three weeks later. In 2001, Monarchos also was second in New York before easily winning the Derby at 10-1. Four years ago, Fusaichi Pegasus followed a Wood win with what was to be the next-to-last victory of his career in Louisville.

The Wood Memorial might well be the path to Kentucky Derby glory again today. Tapit, a lightly raced, gray son of Pulpit, who was fourth in 1997, is the choice to win the 130th Derby.

Trained by Michael Dickinson for owner Ron Winchell, Tapit, a three-time winner, will be making only his fifth start today. Some are hesitant to back a 3-year-old in the Derby with so little experience.

Nonsense. Fusaichi Pegasus had raced only four times before running off with the roses and Tapit only figures to be better today than he was on April 10 at Aqueduct.

A high-percentage trainer, Dickinson said Tapit hadn’t been fully fit before the Wood, yet he was able to win with a wide rally. Although the margin of victory was only half a length, Tapit was in hand under the wire.

Since then, Tapit has trained well, seems more than capable of handling the 1 1/4-mile distance and should get a quicker pace to chase than he had last month.

Those looking for an upsetter could do worse than Read The Footnotes. Many have dismissed the son of Smoke Glacken because he hasn’t raced since March 13. They shouldn’t.

Read The Footnotes, trained by Rick Violette Jr., has shown he can run well fresh. He broke his maiden by 9 1/4 lengths in his first start last summer at Saratoga.

Then, after a layoff of 2 1/2 months, he won the Fountain Of Youth by a neck over Second Of June in what remains the best race any 3-year-old has run in 2004.

If Read The Footnotes runs back to that race and if his pedigree doesn’t find him wanting in the final two furlongs, he could become the second New York-bred in two years to win the Derby.

The Cliff’s Edge almost certainly will be favored, based on his unbeaten record at Churchill Downs, two for two, and his win in last month’s Blue Grass Stakes. The Gulch colt could give trainer Nick Zito his third Derby victory, but take away The Cliff’s Edge’s last race and he doesn’t look so hot. There’s no guarantee he’ll duplicate his Blue Grass.

Master David has to be considered, off his second in the Wood, and wouldn’t it be something if trainer Bobby Frankel were to win his first Derby this year after he was expected to get it last year with Empire Maker?

Smarty Jones is unbeaten and in line to receive a $5-million bonus if he wins, but he had dream trips in all three of his victories in Arkansas. What happens if he has some adversity today? He’s also suspect at the distance, which is the case as well with likely pacesetter Lion Heart.

The Santa Anita Derby hasn’t been a productive Derby prep in recent years and don’t expect that to change this year. It would be a shocker if Castledale were to repeat his Arcadia heroics; Imperialism might find 10 furlongs out of his scope; and Quintons Gold Rush, who was fourth in the Santa Anita Derby before winning the Lexington, will be making his third start in 28 days while breaking from the outside post in a field of 18. No thanks.

As for the rest, Action This Day will be an also-ran, proving again that his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was the result of a hot pace and a weak field; Friends Lake is a high-strung colt who won the Florida Derby because others ran down to his level, Minister Eric is a two-time winner without a stakes victory, Pollard’s Vision is game but figures to be a pace casualty, Birdstone was a hyped 2-year-old who has regressed this year, and Limehouse and Song Of The Sword have no chance.

That leaves a couple of colts who probably aren’t good enough to win but could find their way into the trifecta or superfecta at a hefty price.

Pro Prado and Borrego should be finishing and have combined to hit the board in 11 of 14 starts.