They Have Sights Set on Kentucky

Richard Migliore, Rafael Bejarano and Javier Santiago are hardly household names in the Kentucky Derby, yet the jockeys might wind up on promising contenders at Churchill Downs on May 1.

Of the three, only Migliore has ridden in the Derby. His best finish in three tries was fifth aboard Wheelaway in 2000, but Migliore won the Florida Derby last Saturday with the longshot Friends Lake, and he’ll ride Redskin Warrior on Saturday in the Gotham, another Kentucky Derby prep, at Aqueduct. And there’s more. Migliore also is scheduled to ride Song Of The Sword in the Illinois Derby on April 3 at Hawthorne.

“This is the strongest hand I’ve ever had with 3-year-olds this late in the game,� Migliore said. “I’ve had a few good 2-year-olds over the years, but it seemed they always got hurt by the time they got to this stage.�

Migliore turned 40 last Sunday, the day after his victory in the Florida Derby, and he continued celebrating at Aqueduct, where he rode Smok’n Frolic to victory in the Next Move Handicap. Migliore has been a New York regular since he won his first race as a 16-year-old in 1980. Winning the Eclipse Award as best apprentice in 1981, he has gone on to almost 3,700 victories, but for lack of a big horse usually has been overshadowed by New York’s finest.

Before the Florida Derby, one of Migliore’s biggest victories was in the Wood Memorial with Eternal Prince in 1985. Eternal Prince, who was owned in a partnership that included George Steinbrenner, was one of the few speed horses in the Kentucky Derby that year. But he broke poorly and finished next to last. With no one to challenge him on the lead, Spend A Buck led all the way for one of the Derby’s easiest victories.

“Richie’s a top-class rider, a world-class rider,� said Jerry Bailey, a Hall of Fame jockey. “He’s as good as any of us, but it’s the old story, you need the best stock to win races. It was only a matter of time for Richie.�

Before Friends Lake, Migliore had never won a $1-million race, and the Florida Derby was only his fourth Grade I victory outside New York.

“All my life’s work came to fruition,� he said. “To win a major prep for the Kentucky Derby, and be sitting on a top contender for America’s race -- it’s hard to put that into words.�

Bejarano, 21, grew up admiring Edgar Prado, a fellow Peruvian who notched his 5,000th career victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Bejarano will ride Silver Minister on Saturday in the Lane’s End Stakes at Turfway Park, where he won 16 races last weekend. Bejarano’s three-day binge began Friday night when he won a Turfway-record seven times.

Bejarano, who left Peru in June 2002, won 255 races at Kentucky tracks last year, more than any jockey in the state. Through Monday, he had won 120 races, which ranks him first nationally. No other jockey is close. John Velazquez and Robbie Albarado, tied for second place, had 77 victories apiece.

Although Silver Minister is undefeated in four tries at Turfway, including three stakes victories for Bejarano this winter, he is not expected to beat Birdstone on Saturday. Birdstone, who’ll be ridden by Bailey, is one of the early Derby favorites, even though the Lane’s End will be his first stakes start as a 3-year-old.

Santiago, 26, arrived at Santa Anita this winter, rode two winners the first day and is now trainer Bob Baffert’s jockey of choice for Wimbledon, the Louisiana Derby winner, and Preachinatthebar, who won the San Felipe last Sunday at Santa Anita. Santiago and his agent, Tony Matos, who imported the rider from Puerto Rico, will have another round of preps with both colts before they settle on their Derby mount. Wimbledon has been tabbed to run in the Santa Anita Derby on April 3, and Preachinatthebar’s next test comes in the Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 10.

Santiago won more than 1,600 races in Puerto Rico. Last year, he won with almost 26% of his mounts, which ranked him fourth in North America, behind Russell Baze, Ramon Dominguez and Bailey. At Santa Anita, despite giving the other riders a five-week start, Santiago already has moved into 10th place in the standings.

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Last Saturday, the same day Halfbridled’s four-race streak was ended at Santa Anita, another 3-year-old filly, Madcap Escapade, stayed unbeaten with her third victory in the Stonerside Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream. Madcap Escapade has not run beyond seven furlongs, but that first two-turn test looms -- perhaps against Halfbridled -- in the Ashland at Keeneland on April 3. There’s also the possibility that Madcap Escapade might not run again until the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill on April 30.

Madcap Escapade has won her three races by a combined 26 1/2 lengths. Bailey rode her for the first time in the Forward Gal. “She was breathtaking,� Bailey said. “I was merely a passenger.�

Bailey hedged, however, when asked about Madcap Escapade’s potential to stretch out.

“We’ll get a much better idea if she runs in the Ashland,� he said.