Private Terms

As long-legged foals nuzzle up to their mamas in green Maryland pastures, Pimlico celebrates this seasonal phenomenon today at the racetrack with the Maryland Spring Challenge.The card features four races for Maryland-breds as well as the $200,000 Federico Tesio Stakes, a Grade III test on dirt for 3-year-old Triple Crown hopefuls.In its third year, the challenge is the spring version of the Maryland Million, that autumn card at Laurel -- set this year for Oct. 12 -- when horses born in the state race for $1 million in purses.

Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey is a man who looks like the embodiment of the nickname that is all anybody calls him by. Short and unassuming, he said this week he made an effort to enjoy the run-up to the Kentucky Derby, a race he has, like any trainer, dreamed of winning. But the Hall of Famer knew, really, that there's only one way to truly enjoy the Kentucky Derby: win it. Running over a sloppy Churchill Downs track that left 19 contenders caked in mud, McGaughey's horse Orb found stable footing and a late lead in the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby today.

Most of the racing lessons came from his father -- no better teacher -- and Stuart Janney III has moved to center stage as an owner of horses, respected for the knowledge, commitment and care he brings with him. Unobtrusive and reserved. No boasts or brags. He's a young gentleman of the old school who knows his subject but is much too smart to claim he has all the answers.Janney has a problem child of a colt, a 3-year-old he named Coronado's Quest, who has strong Triple Crown possibilities.

LAUREL -- There is no Lost Code or Private Terms among them, but this year's crop of Maryland-based 3-year-olds is considered a highly competitive group."

From now until the Triple Crown races end in early June, attention in thoroughbred stakes will be focused on 3-year-olds.There are several Kentucky Derby-age preps today, including starts made on three different fronts by these Maryland-bred or Maryland-based horses.* Can't Be Denied. The undefeated Laurel-based colt, owned by a partnership that includes several Baltimoreans, is the 3-1 program favorite in the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. The Kentucky-bred colt was purchased at a Timonium sale last spring by the partners for $35,000.

Maryland-based Oliver's Twist was shipped to Gulfstream Park this winter to face the best of the nation's 3-year-old crop. It was a proving ground that might have carried him into the Kentucky Derby.But after three defeats, a possible Run for the Roses has been scrapped in favor of a quest for the black-eyed Susans."He might be a notch below the best, but we had to find out some time," trainer Billy Boniface said. "It seemed like a good plan and we had hopes, but they didn't work out."Boniface said instead of the Derby, Oliver's Twist is being pointed toward the Preakness on May 20, with the Grade III Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico serving as the final prep race.

LAUREL -- Jazema is known as the $1 daughter of a Kentucky Derby winner.That's the price Nancy Alberts paid for the crippled filly nearly one year ago. The horse's sire, Bold Forbes, won the Derby in 1976.But yesterday, Laurel's leading trainer, King Leatherbury, thought enough of Jazema that he put up $25,000 of a client's money to claim her out of the ninth race. The filly won, netting Alberts $33,100 in one day.After the race, Jazema looked almost broken down when she cooled out in the detention barn.

Maryland racetrack operators started girding for the anticipated snowstorm early yesterday afternoon.Jim Mango, general manager of Laurel/Pimlico, said: "We will cancel early [today] if we have to, probably by 6 a.m. But if we don't have to, we won't. If we do cancel today, we will still make every effort to run tomorrow."Mango said that night crews that work on the racing surface alert him and track superintendent John Passero when it starts to snow. "Then we are at the track -- all night if necessary -- trying to keep on top of things.

It's final.Storm Tower is headed to the Kentucky Derby.What's more, the horse is training for the race this week i Maryland at the Bowie Training Center.It is the first time a Derby favorite has prepped for the race at Maryland track since 1988, when Private Terms, who, like Storm Tower, won the Wood Memorial, was based at Laurel Race Course.Storm Tower arrived at Bowie yesterday about noon after three-hour van ride from Aqueduct Race Course.Trainer Ben Perkins Jr. said the 3-year-old colt, one of the thre Kentucky Derby favorites along with Prairie Bayou and Personal Hope, will go to the track about 8:30 a.m. today and train at Bowie all week.

Today: Owner-trainer Leon Blusiewicz sends Millions on his way down the Triple Crown trail as the colt makes his seasonal debut in the Private Terms Stakes.The $50,000 event, limited to 3-year-olds, will be staged at 1 1/8 miles. Eight others have taken up the challenge.Edgar Prado, the state's perennial champion and fourth leading rider in the country in number of victories, will be aboard the son of Dehere.Millions won three of five outings last year, including the Laurel Futurity, but a second-place finish in Aqueduct's Grade 2 Remson Stakes is perhaps his biggest accomplishment.