Where Have the Winter Wonders Gone?

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Their names used to slide off the tongue with such ease – Siphonic, Repent, Saarland, Nokoma, just to name a few. Those were supposed to be the sounds of spring, not War Emblem, Sarava, Magic Weisner and Proud Citizen.

Back when the road to Churchill Downs looked like the Verrazano Bridge at the start of the New York marathon, it was the first group that stood out among the assembled masses. We followed their every move. For those cloistered in the frigid Northeast and Kentucky, they helped the winter speed by. For those in the tropical climates of South Florida and Southern California, they made one start thinking of cool May mornings.

Although these once-familiar names, which dominated the Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools, have virtually disappeared into the vast chasm of our memory, they slowly are crawling back out and soon may re-enter the public's consciousness.

Of course, we all know by now that last year's juvenile champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, Johannesburg, has been decreed such a disappointment this year, he may very well be retired following his dismal showing at Royal Ascot.

The two biggest names in America all winter were Siphonic and Repent, both of whom have fallen by the wayside. Trainer Dave Hofmans said Siphonic, who came down with back problems before suffering an ankle injury, started galloping daily on June 1 and is a couple of weeks from his first work. "He looks really great," Hofmans said, "and we're looking ahead to the fall." Siphonic captured the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity and Hollywood Futurity last fall, but was the beaten favorite in the Santa Catalina and San Felipe Stakes this year.

As for Repent, he currently is at Dr. Gary Lavin's Longfield Farm in Goshen, Ky. for a few weeks of R&R after suffering some body soreness. The son of Louis Quatorze was initially sidelined after a chip was discovered in his ankle following his second-place finish to War Emblem in the Illinois Derby. He previously had captured the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. Last year, Repent won the Kentucky Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, and finished second at 42-1 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile behind Johannesburg and 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Siphonic.

"His mind was getting ahead of his body," McPeek said. "His mind wanted to go five-eighths and his body wanted to jog. He'll be fine in the long run." McPeek also said Belmont winner Sarava has been working and is "doing great." He'll run next in either the Jim Dandy or Haskell Invitational.

Todd Pletcher, who was expecting big things from Remsen runner-up Nokoma earlier in the year, said the son of Pulpit is galloping over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track. "We sent him to the clinic (following his dismal showings in the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial) and they went over him with a fine tooth comb,"Pletcher said. "They couldn't find anything wrong with him, so we gave him 30 days off and we'll start fresh for the fall."

Pletcher also had high hopes for his two Peachtree Stable colts Wild Horses, second in the Arkansas Derby, and Charioteer, fourth in the Louisiana Derby. Both will be seen in action at Monmouth Park, with Wild Horses pointing for the Long Branch Stakes, and Charioteer running in Thursday's Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes.

Pletcher, who took over the training of Florida Derby and Blue Grass winner Harlan's Holiday, said the son of Harlan is being given a freshening and will be pointed for Saratoga, with the Pennsylvania Derby a possible target.

Bill Mott said Blue Burner, second in the Florida Derby and third in the Fountain of Youth, has been sent to Kinsman Stud in Ocala for some R&R. "We had to remove a small chip from his knee," Mott said. "I don't see him running anytime soon. We're not in a hurry with him, so we'll give him time and bring him back for the late fall and early winter races."

Another trainer with high hopes earlier in the year was Shug McGaughey, who recently underwent successful bypass surgery. McGaughey's big gun, Saarland actually didn't didn't make his debut until the spring, but was certainly talked about enough during the winter months. The son of Unbridled had a small flake removed from his left front ankle following the Kentucky Derby, and assistant trainer Buzz Tenney said the colt is due back at the barn in about a week after spending the last couple of months at Bill Harrigan's farm in Georgetown, Ky.

As for McGaughey's other two classic hopefuls, stakes-placed D'Coach underwent knee surgery several months ago and is due to be shipped to McGaughey's barn at Saratoga shortly. Maybry's Boy, winner of the Spectacular Bid Stakes, had returned to the barn in May after suffering an injury, but Tenney said he wasn't right and was shipped back to farm.

Nick Zito is eagerly awaiting the Travers Stakes with his exciting up-and-comer Quest. Zito is hoping his luck changes after a tough winter and spring, which saw him lose his main classic hopeful High Star, who suffered a pulled muscle behind. The son of Private Terms had his first work back recently, breezing a half in :52 at Belmont Park. Zito, who has most of his good horses stabled at Saratoga, did not want to subject High Star to the deep Oklahoma track so quickly. Crimson Hero, second in the Lexington Stakes, has been training steadily at Saratoga, but will not run until the fall. Being a late foal, Zito wants to go slowly with the son of Capote. Straight Gin, who suffered a bowed tendon in the Preakness, has been retired and was given to Zito's wife Kim by owner Mary Lou Whitney to be turned into a show jumper.

Labamta Babe, who suffered an ankle strain after winning the Santa Catalina Stakes, is back working at Belmont Park. The son of Skywalker has a 3-furlong breeze in :37 4/5 and a half-mile breeze in :50 1/5 under him. If he continues to progress, he could be ready to return by August or September.

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