Preachinatthebar Joins Kentucky Derby Chase

Trainer Bob Baffert now has two horses on the Kentucky Derby trail.

One week after Wimbledon moved toward the head of the 3-year-old class with a powerful win in the Louisiana Derby, Preachinatthebar earned his first stakes win, by a nose, over favored St Averil in the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita.

A gray son of 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm, owned and bred by Mike Pegram, who won the Derby and Preakness with Real Quiet six years ago, Preachinatthebar, who had lost five of his first six races, prevailed in 1:42.87 for 1 1/16 miles.

In giving jockey Javier Santiago his third consecutive win on the card, Preachinatthebar tracked the pace set by stablemate Odds On, took over on the turn, drew clear, then was all out to beat St Averil, the 13-10 choice.

“I really thought he was going to run a big race,” Baffert said after his third San Felipe win in the last six years. “I’m really happy for Mike. It’s been a little dry for us lately, but I told him I still had faith in this horse.”

Preachinatthebar, whose next race would probably be the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 3, is out of the mare Holy Nola, who was named after Nola Ferraro, a bartender at the local tracks.

“We’ve known her for the last 12 years and she’s a born-again Christian,” Baffert said. “Pegram gave him this name because when you go to Nola for a drink, you get a little bit of a blessing at the same time.”

Action This Day, the 5-2 second choice and 2-year-old champion of 2003, regressed in his second start of this year, finishing seventh. However, he had an excuse, said trainer Richard Mandella.

“When he went into the first turn, there was some jamming and he’s got a big gash behind his ankle on his right hind leg,” Mandella said. “We just have to hope it’s not too bad.”

St Averil finished 4 1/2 lengths in front of 19-1 shot Harvard Avenue, then came Cheiron, Last Minute Detail, Odds On, Action This Day, Toasted and Laditude, who stumbled and unseated jockey Mike Smith leaving the gate. Smith was not injured.

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Adoration won for the first time since his shocking upset in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last fall, running past pacesetter Star Parade to capture the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap, also Sunday at Santa Anita.

Smith rode the winner for Amerman Racing LLC and trainer Dave Hofmans. The 5-year-old Honor Grades mare ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.85.

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Limehouse, the 9-10 favorite, beat 7-1 shot Mustanfar by a neck to win the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs. Swingforthefences, the 2-1 second choice, finished third.

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Sightseek now has nine wins in 10 starts away from Santa Anita after her 7 1/2-length victory over three rivals in the $194,000 Rampart Handicap on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The 5-year-old Distant View mare is owned by Juddmonte Farms and trained by Bobby Frankel.

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Triple Crown Ratings

Tribune Co. ratings for 3-year-olds leading up to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes:

*--* Horse Trai Jockey St W P S Last Race Next Race ner 1. Nick Jerry 4 3 0 0 Gulfstream Lane’s End BIRDSTONE Zito Bailey allowance (1st) 2. John Richard 5 3 0 1 Florida Derby Kentucky FRIENDS Kimm Miglior (1st) Derby LAKE ell e 3. Nick Javier 4 3 1 0 Swale Stakes Bluegrass EUROSILVE Zito Castell (2nd) Stakes R ano 4. Bob Javier 6 2 3 0 Louisana Derby S. Anita WIMBLEDON Baff Santiag (1st) Derby or ert o Wood 5. ST Rafa Tyler 4 2 2 0 San Felipe (2nd) Unknown AVERIL el Baze Bece rra 6. THE Nick Shane 7 3 2 1 Florida Derby Unknown CLIFF’S Zito Sellers (3rd) EDGE 7. Todd Pat Day 8 5 0 2 Tampa Bay Derby Blue Grass LIMEHOUSE Plet (1st) cher 8. Kris Victor 14 5 3 1 San Rafael Santa Anita IMPERIALI tin Espinoz Stakes (1st) Derby SM Muha a ll 9. Bob Javier 7 2 0 2 San Felipe (1st) Unknown PREACHINA Baff Santiag TTHEBAR ert o 10. Mark Jerry 4 2 2 0 Gulfstream Gotham EDDINGTON Henn Bailey allowance (1st) ig

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Triple Crown panel: Bill Christine, Los Angeles Times; Dave Joseph, South Florida Sun-Sentinel; Tom Keyser, Baltimore Sun; Neil Milbert, Chicago Tribune; and Paul Moran, Newsday.