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Top colt gets new jockey for derby run

With his colt the hot property in the approaching Triple Crown chase, trainer Ken McPeek has secured Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey as his new rider beginning with the Louisiana Derby on March 10.

Tony D'Amico rode Repent in all six of its previous starts, winning four, including the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 17. He could return for the eighth start, as Bailey and McPeek will reassess their situation after the Louisiana Derby. Bailey also rides Kentucky Derby contender Siphonic.

"Jerry has been in these situations before," McPeek told the Daily Racing Form. "When you've got a chance to throw your best pitcher in the last game of the World Series, that's what you do."

Bailey breezed Repent over 5 furlongs in 59 seconds and 4/5 on Wednesday.

FLORIDA DERBY: McPeek's other Triple Crown hopeful, Harlan's Holiday, is expected to have another shot at Booklet in the $1-million Grade I Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 16.

Booklet, owned by John C. Oxley and trained by John Ward, edged Harlan's Holiday in the Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth. That owner/trainer combination captured the Florida and Kentucky derbies last year with Monarchos.

GOING SOUTH: Mongoose, a 4-year-old coming off his first stakes win in the Grade I Donn Handicap on Feb. 2, will likely fortify a strong field in Sunday's $500,000 New Orleans Handicap at the Fair Grounds.

Mongoose, who has as many wins (two) as he did last year in eight starts, has beaten former Classic winners in his first two races of the year for trainer James Bond. He outpaced Monarchos in a Gulfstream allowance race on Jan. 2, then held off Red Bullet (2000 Preakness winner) by a neck in the Feb. 2 Donn.

Mongoose leads the nation in earnings with $324,000.

Kiss A Native and Graeme Hall also are expected to ship from Florida for the race.

The local favorite should be Valhol, a 6-year-old that was third in the New Orleans Handicap last year and has wins in the Tenacious and Whirlaway handicaps at the Fair Grounds this meet.

TRY THIS: Part of the thrill of horse racing for many fans is risking a few dollars at the betting window. Learning the many wagering options can be difficult for new fans, however, and finding a friendly face at the track with a minute to spare and patience for questions can be even harder.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has alleviated that problem with a "Bet the Net" on-line tutorial at www.ntra.com.

After a brief introduction (which requires Shockwave software) the primer guides users through instruction on each type of traditional and exotic wagering, helps them place a simulated bet and presents a cyber race so they can see how they did.

At the end of the lesson, users may link to a page listing all tracks currently racing, if they dare to wager real money.

NEW DIGS: The first phase of construction has begun in Boynton Beach on Magna Entertainment chairman Frank Stronach's 304-acre training center.

The $22-million complex is to include a 11/8-mile main track, 7-furlong inner track, 1-mile turf course and enough room to stable about 1,900 horses.

SLEW SURGERY: Seattle Slew, winner of the 1977 Triple Crown, will have spinal surgery for the second time in two years and his future in the breeding shed is uncertain. The minimum recovery time is six to eight weeks.

LEADERS: Jockey Alex O. Solis leads the nation with $1,906,972 in earnings. He has 40 wins, 31 seconds and 41 thirds in 212 starts. ... Steven M. Asmussen is the nation's leading trainer in earnings with $1,330,300. His horses have 57 wins, 48 seconds, and 47 thirds in 245 starts.

-- Information from other news sources was used in this report.

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