Fifty Stars
Breeding: Quiet American-My Bubbling Belle (Tsunami
Slew) Dosage: 4.82
Breeder: Carolyn T. Groves
State: Kentucky
Owner: James Cassels & Bob Zollars
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Donnie Meche
Horse's 2001 record: 4 1-1-0 $552,250
Career record: 8 3-2-0 $676,210
Wins: Louisiana Derby-G2 (Fair Grounds); Texan Juvenile-150K (Sam
Houston); MSW
(Churchill Downs)
Last race: 4/7: Lone Star Derby, Lone Star Park, 2nd
Outlook Hasn't exactly registered an awesome string of Beyer Speed
Figures, owning a career high of just 94 (in the Louisiana Derby). But if the
early pace gets a bit whacky this son of Quiet American could capitalize - just
as he did when he beat Millennium Wind, Hero's Tribute and Dollar Bill in the
Louisiana Derby. If you're looking for a longshot to round out your triple,
Fifty Stars could add some twinkle to your payoff since he figures to love the 1
1/4-mile distance which is uncharted territory to everyone.
DAILY DERBY DOINGS
5/1: Worked four furlongs breezing in :49.60 according
to Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch. This was exactly
what we wanted," said trainer Steve Asmussen. "He's
not as brilliant as some of these horses, but he's a quality 3-year-old
who will get the 1 1/4 mile distance. We'll
let the horse run his race. I don't know if there's a horse that will behind u
early. The question is can we catch them?"
4/30: Galloped 1 3/4 miles. Is scheduled to breeze 4 furlongs on 5/1.
4/29: Galloped 1 3/4 miles. "I love how he's doing,"trainer
Steve Asmussen said. "I just hope
he's
fast enough."
4/28: Galloped 1 1/2 miles. "He's doing fabulous," assistant
trainer Scott Blasi said. "If there's some pace in the race Saturday, we're
going to be in heaven. We're
confident he's going to run his race."
4/27: Galloped 1 1/2 miles.
4/26: Galloped an easy mile under assistant trainer Scott Blasi.
4/25: Walked shedrow.
4/24: Worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.20 under jockey
4/23: Galloped 2 miles at Churchill Downs.
4/22: Galloped 1 1/2 miles at Churchill Downs.
4/21: Galloped 1 1/2 miles under assistant trainer Scott Blasi.
4/20: Stood at the gate, then galloped one mile.
4/16: Worked four furlongs in 50 seconds at Churchill Downs. "He
looked very smooth," assistant trainer Scott Blasi said. "It's just
what you need in his first work
since the Lone Star Derby."
4/14:
Race – 2nd Lone Star Derby 9f
Fifty Stars
Congaree
:
Arazi-Mari's Sheba (Mari's Book)
Dosage: 1.82
Breeder: Stonerside Stable Ltd.
State: Kentucky
Owner: Stonerside Stable
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Horse's 2001 record: 3 3-0-0 $512,400
Career record: 4 3-0-0 $512,400
Wins: Woo d Memorial-G2 (Aqueduct); NW1 Alw (Santa Anita); MSW (Santa
Anita)
Last race:Wood Memorial-G2, Aqueduct, 1st Outlook Even after winning the
Wood Memorial, Congaree was still the second best 3-year-old in his barn. Such
is life when you're trained by Bob Baffert, who also handles consensus Kentucky
Derby favorite Point Given. Congaree
made his stakes debut in the Wood Memorial and notched a solid 2 3/4-length
victory over Florida Derby winner Monarchos.
The major obstacle he faces is a lack of seasoning. Congaree has made
just four career starts and not since 1918 has a horse with four or fewer starts
won the Derby. Baffert brought Indian Charlie, who had just four lifetime
starts, to the Derby in 1998 and took home third-place money. If he learned any
tricks from that experience, Congaree just might reverse the pecking order in
his barn.
DAILY
DERBY DOINGS
5/1: Walked the shed row. 4/30: Worked 5 furlongs in
58.40 seconds under exercise rider Dana Barnes, according to DRF's Mike
Welsch. Welsch reported, "It was hard to imagine anybody turning in a more
impressive trial than Point Given on this morning, but Congaree did just that
under regular exercise rider Dana Barnes. Working alone and with blinkers on,
Congaree came away relaxed and going easily, getting the opening quarter in
24.20 seconds and three-eighths in 36.20. Hugging the rail, he really
accelerated once entering the stretch and changing leads, covering the final
quarter in 22.60 before galloping out six furlongs in an eye-catching 1:11 with
Barnes offering only light encouragement through the final furlong. This colt is
fast but tractable and is coming into the race on top of his game." Trainer
Bob Baffert, a two-time winner of the Derby, said, "[Point Given and
Congaree] look pretty tough. I feel as strongly about them as any horse I've had
here."
4/29: Galloped 1 5/8 miles with Pepe Aragon aboard.
4/28: Galloped 1 1/2 miles.
4/27: Galloped 1 1/2 miles with Pepe Aragon aboard. Final serious work is
planned for either
4/30 or 5/1. "Congaree really looks good," trainer Bob Baffert
said. "Have you seen
4/26: Schooled in gate and then jogged one mile.
4/25: Walked shedrow. "(Point Given and Congaree) are walking well
and everything is good,"
trainer
Bob Baffert said.
4/24: Worked 4 furlongs under exercise rider Dana Barnes on a good track.
Was the second fastest of 33 works at the distance. Went the first quarter in
24.60 and galloped out 5 furlongs in 100.40. "He really likes the racetrack
here," trainer Bob Baffert said.
4/23: Galloped under exercise rider Pepe Aragon.
4/22: Galloped 1 3/8 miles.
4/21: Galloped under exercise rider Pepe Aragon.
4/19: Visited the Churchill Downs track for the first time and galloped 1
1/2 miles. "Congaree was very fresh," assistant trainer Jim Barnes
said. "He's been off since the Wood, just because we were shipping in and
everything, so he was really on his toes. He looks very good."
4/17: Walked
the shedrow at trainer Bob Baffert's barn.
4/15: Arrived at Churchill Downs.
4/14: Won the Wood Memorial by
2 3/4 lengths, receiving a 108 Beyer Speed Figure.
CONGAREE
