Haskin's Derby Watch (Cont.)

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Made a nice run through the stretch and almost nailed the place spot. He was pretty much a flop in England last year, but has certainly come into his own here, and is showing improvement with each race. He has the pedigree, but we just don't know if he's good enough quite yet.

18 -- Lusty LatinJeff Mullins; El Prado-Scarlet Ann, by Afleet

Was he really that strong in the Santa Anita Derby or was it an illusion? Judging from the closing fractions, it appears to have been of an illusion. But give him credit for gobbling up the ground after having to go 8-wide at the head of the stretch. He has run four big races in a row now, so this wasn't some major fluke.

19 -- U S S Tinosa/Jerry Hollendorfer; Foxhound-Angel Puss, by Wolf Power

He deserves another chance after taking quite beating from Danthebluegrassman going into the first turn of the Santa Anita Derby. He's run well against Medaglia d'Oro and has won a stakes going 1 1/8 miles.

20 -- Blue Burner/Bill Mott; French Deputy-Haiati, by Alydar

We still don't know if he's running in the Derby. If he does run, maybe Mott sees something that can be rectified over the next couple of weeks. He does have that good acceleration on the turn, but just doesn't seem to be able to sustain it.

ROUNDING OUT THE FIELD: Others who may show up on May 4 are California Derby winner TRACEMARK, who ran down a tough horse in good time; Translyvania winner FLYING DASH, who does have a stamina-laden pedigree despite running well at 6 furlongs last year in Germany and never having been over a mile. If Tampa Bay Derby runner-up TAILS OF THE CRYPT runs big in the Lexington and comes right back in the Derby, he'll be one to take notice of, but still will not have been farther than 1 1/16 miles. Looks better suited for the Preakness. We are asuming BOOKLET will not run in the Derby.

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