Now we can get serious about three-year-olds

Horseracing Betting Lines

03/02/2007 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Beginning on Saturday the important races leading to the Kentucky Derby show up on the schedule. The $350,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes from Gulfstream Park and the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park kick-off the major prep races.

The Fountain of Youth at 1 1/8 miles has always been an important race for Florida based three-year-olds. Along with its companion race, the Hutcheson Stakes, the Fountain of Youth is the traditional stepping stone for the $1 million Florida Derby.

The horse to beat is Holy Bull Stakes winner Nobiz Like Shobiz. Since winning his debut race last September the bay colt was second in the Champagne Stakes and captured the Remsen to close 2006.

"He came out of the Holy Bull very well," said trainer Barclay Tagg, who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby with Funny Cide. "I dont think it was a hard race on him. Hopefully we got through that one unscathed, and were ready for the next one."

Tagg, however, is not pointing his charge to the Florida Derby. As he did with Funny Cide, Nobiz Like Shobiz will likely complete his Run for the Roses preparations with the Wood Memorial.

"It's a million dollar race (Florida Derby) and if it came up looking like an allowance I'd think about it," said Tagg. "After this he'll have had two races already and the Florida Derby comes up in just 28 days. I think I'd like to give him a little more time and head to the Wood."

The main competitor for Nobiz Like Shobiz is expected to be Hollywood Futurity winner Stormello. The chestnut colt will be making his 2007 debut on Saturday for trainer and co-owner Bill Currin.

"I hope the running of the race will be easier than it was getting him to the race," Currin said. "I couldnt get a plane all this time. I had all kinds of options to drop out of the Fountain of Youth and run in the Robert Lewis, or wait another week and run in the Louisiana Derby."

Stormello had a stakes win in the Norfolk before a fifth place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He also posted two third place finishes in stakes events as a two-year-old.

The Robert B. Lewis Stakes may prove to be a one horse race. Great Hunter, third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, is head and shoulders above his competition in the 1 1/16 mile race.

"Hes ready to roll," said trainer Doug ONeill. O'Neill also trains Lava Man the 4-5 morning line favorite in Saturday's Santa Anita Handicap.

Great Hunter's lone stakes victory came in the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. He also has four second place finishes in seven starts, three in stakes events.

The Robert B. Lewis Stakes is part of the series for three-year-olds leading to the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

The 1 1/16 mile John A. Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park has a field of 11. These three-year-olds can be considered as second tiered contenders for the Kentucky Derby. The Battaglia sets things up for the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway on March 24.

There is a good chance that the winner of the Battaglia will not be favored in the Lane's End Stakes. Hard Spun, a serious contender for the Run for the Roses, is now a possible entrant for the Turfway feature.

Trainer Larry Jones indicates that the post position draw for the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park will determine if his Pennsylvania-bred runs. Jones believes that the outside post in the Southwest Stakes at the Arkansas track compromised the colt's chances in that race.

"The only way Hard Spun wont go to the Rebel," trainer Larry Jones confirmed Wednesday morning, "is if he again draws a post we are not comfortable with. If that were to happen, we wont hesitate to ship to the Lanes End a week later at Turfway."

Hard Spun's schedule this year has already been changed. After winning the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds, he was held out of the track's Risen Star Stakes due to a slight illness. The three-year-old is based at Oaklawn Park, but now his final Kentucky Derby prep may not be the Arkansas Derby.

Next week the Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds highlights the prep races and New York based horses begin their quest with the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.