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In brief
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 12, 2003
NEW YORK -- Bobby Frankel admits he is jealous, yearning to win his first Kentucky Derby -- or any of the Triple Crown races.
For years, the 61-year-old Hall of Fame trainer watched rivals such as Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas show up at Churchill Downs and leave with one of their 3-year-olds wearing the blanket of roses. Lukas has won four Derbies. Baffert has won three -- in the past six years.
Frankel is 0-for-4 in the Derby. This year, though, he thinks it is his turn for a winning run. And it looks like he has the colts who can do it.
Empire Maker, coming off a Florida Derby win, was the 3-5 favorite in a field of eight for the $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct -- one of three major Kentucky Derby prep races today.
"I think he's the best horse," Frankel said after Empire Maker drew the outside post for the 11/8-mile Wood, which has produced two of the past three Derby winners -- Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000 and Monarchos in 2001.
Indy Dancer, third at the Florida Derby, was second choice at 5-1.
Frankel also saddles Louisiana Derby winner Peace Rules in the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Peace Rules was the 7-5 favorite in a field of 10, including 2-1 Badge of Silver.
Asked who was the second-best Derby prospect, Frankel didn't hesitate.
"Peace Rules," he said. "I love this colt. I'd be very high on him if he was the only one I had in the barn. We'll just see what happens (today)."
In today's other major prep, Eugene's Third Son was the 3-1 favorite over Region of Merit and Man Among Men in a 12-horse field for the Arkansas Derby.
KEENELAND: Royal Spy set the early pace to win the $200,000 Grade II Maker's Mark Mile for 4-year-olds and older. The 5-year-old son of Peteski with Robby Albarado paid $25.20, $11.60 and $6.
OAK LAWN: Ruby's Reception took the lead in the final furlong to win the $200,000 Fantasy Stakes, paying $11.40, $5 and $3.20.
Former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson was knocked out of a proposed fight at Continental Arena after taking a verbal beating from various New Jersey politicians. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority's decision to back away from a potentially lucrative doubleheader -- which might have featured Tyson and heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis in separate fights June21 -- came hours after Senate co-president Richard Codey, D-Essex, released a letter demanding the state refuse to grant Tyson a license. "Saddam Hussein is more likely to reform himself than Mike Tyson," Codey said. "Allowing Mike Tyson to fight here in New Jersey would obliterate our claim as a state with standards of decency where women should be treated with respect." Tyson is a convicted rapist who also is infamous for biting off part of Evander Holyfield's ear during a heavyweight championship bout in 1997.
Lindsay Davenport's first clay-court tournament in three years is going better than she hoped. The former No.1 used strong volleying to beat Vera Zvonareva 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 and reach the Family Circle Cup semis in Charleston, S.C. Davenport, seeded No.3, won 20 of 21 points at net. She faces Serena Williams, who overcame a slow start to stay perfect this season, moving to 20-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Jelena Dokic. No.2 Justine Henin-Hardenne eliminated 2000 champion Mary Pierce 6-2, 6-3, and 17-year-old Ashley Harkleroad of Wesley Chapel topped No.5 Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-1. But Harkleroad sprained her ankle as she and partner Marshona Washington defeated Martina Navratilova and Alica Molik. Harkleroad was probable for today's matches.
AGASSI, HEWITT OUT: Second-ranked Andre Agassi and No.1 Lleyton Hewitt abruptly withdrew from the $2.45-million Monte Carlo Masters tournament, which starts Monday. Agassi gave no official reason and Hewitt said the tournament was "not on his schedule."
ET CETERA
COLLEGE TENNIS: For the first time since 1975 and eighth time in school history, the Florida men completed its SEC regular season without a loss (11-0), beating host South Carolina 5-2.
LAWSUIT: Former Southern Miss running back Derrick Nix filed a lawsuit in Hattiesburg against Pharmacia Corp., Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co., which make anti-inflammatory drugs, claiming their products caused his career-ending kidney ailment. Nix, 22, took Celebrex and Vioxx after injuring his ankle in September 2000, which doctors said led to a massive decrease of proteins in his body. He has been receiving dialysis and eventually will need a kidney transplant. No court date has been set.