Arkansas Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Shortly after War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby yesterday, the telephone rang at Murmur Farm in Harford County. The person who answered, when asked whether Audrey or Allen Murray, the farm owners, were there, said: "They're in the middle of a celebration." When Audrey came to the phone, she said: "We're drinking champagne." And why not? The Murrays struck pay dirt with Our Emblem, the stallion they bought in November from Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. After the Murrays brought the 11-year-old sire home, one son won the Illinois Derby and another son won the Arkansas Derby.

It is indisputable that money dictates much of what happens in sports, and that is especially true in horse racing. The high cost of feeding, training and caring for a horse forces owners to run for as much money as possible whenever they send their animals to the starting gate. Owners follow money like the sun rises - without fail. That's why Maryland racing is slumping as neighboring states offer purses jacked up on proceeds from slots, and that's also why the Preakness finds itself playing an increasingly dangerous game of chance.

These days, as soon as a horse wins the Kentucky Derby, fans immediately start calculating whether this is the one who could overcome all obstacles and break the Triple Crown drought, which dates to 1979. As you may have noticed, those obstacles tend to arise more in the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont Stakes than in the Preakness. Ten horses have won the Crown's first two jewels during the drought only to lose in the Belmont. Only two horses have won the first and third jewels but faltered in the Preakness.

NEW YORK - Talent overcame experience yesterday in the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct. Buddha and Medaglia d'Oro, 3-year-olds making just their fourth starts, finished one-two in the critical lead-in to the Kentucky Derby. Neither will probably be favored in the first leg of the Triple Crown May 4 at Churchill Downs. That honor will likely fall to Harlan's Holiday, impressive winner yesterday in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. The Wood, Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby - the final three major tests for Kentucky Derby candidates - provided racing fans their best look yet at the horses likely to compete in America's most-watched race.

Bob Baffert calls his son, Bode, over for the cameras. The boy, a shy 7-year-old, relents as his mother brushes a mess of brown hair from his eyes. Then the boy shows what he's learned from his father, the witty trainer whose hard-driving style has led to three trips to the winner's circle at the Kentucky Derby. "Who are you rooting for?" Bode is asked as he stares at a giant microphone hovering near his head. ("Looks like a rat," Baffert had exclaimed.) "I don't know," Bode says, scratching his head and twisting his face to look confused.

Nearly a quarter century ago, Gary Stevens was an up-and-coming jockey in Southern California, hoping to make his mark on the sport, put a lot of money in the bank and move on to something else as quickly as possible. A conversation he had with one of horse racing's iconic riders still resonates with Stevens as he gets ready to ride Oxbow in Saturday's 138th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course . Given where Stevens has been - including retirement for seven years - it seems almost humorous.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Richard Mandella has done this before.In the Pacific Classic two years ago at Del Mar, he faced a horse with an extended win streak trained by Bill Mott. The horse was Cigar. Mandella saddled Dare And Go, and Cigar's 16-race win streak was history.Today, in the Arkansas Derby here at Oaklawn Park, Mandella again faces a horse with an extended win streak trained by Mott. The horse is Favorite Trick. Mandella saddles Quake, and Favorite Trick's nine-race win streak is at risk.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Three races within one hour today will serve as the final major audition for that cherished national drama we call the Kentucky Derby.The Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park abound with horses whose human connections hope for a bell-ringer performance to verify the worthiness of their 3-year-olds.On the other hand, the owners and trainers of a few entrants, such as Vicar, Wondertross and Cat Thief, hope for a safe, consistent effort that won't deter them as they bound like eager hounds down the trail that leads to Churchill Downs in Louisville the first Saturday in May.Of the three 1 1/8-mile races, all on TV, the Blue Grass is by far the toughest and most intriguing.

Last year's chase for the Triple Crown ended when trainer Doug O'Neill stepped to a microphone stand in a patch of fenced-in grass next to a barn near the Belmont Park track. Brushing back tears, he announced that a tendon injury would prevent I'll Have Another - the 12th horse to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown since Affirmed last completed the trifecta in 1978 - from going to post the next day. On Saturday, a full field of 20 is expected for the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby and to begin the quest anew.

Corporate Report, the Wayne Lukas runner that bruised his foot on Sunday, is out of danger and will make the Derby.Lukas said, "We've got the situation pretty well stabilized. We've still got a pack on the foot, but it seems to be progressing."The colt was feeling so good yesterday afternoon that Lukas had a hard time keeping him on the ground when he took him out to graze.Lukas had to bring the colt back in the barn and walk him under the shedrow.Corporate Report finished second to Olympio in the Arkansas Derby.