Large Group Headed for Discovery

Aqueduct's opening day Wednesday features the grade III Discovery Handicap for 3-year-olds. Among the 13 entrants for the race are Regal Sanction, No Parole, and This Guns For Hire, the 1-2-3 finishers in the Sept. 27 Pegasus Handicap (gr. II) at Meadowlands. Both the Pegasus and the Discovery are at nine furlongs on the main track.

Regal Sanction is the co-highweight for the Discovery at 118. A.P. Five Hundred, the third-place finisher in the Sept. 21 Super Derby (gr. II) has been given the same impost.

"It seems like he just relaxes a bit better in two turn races on the dirt," trainer Jimmy Jerkens said of Regal Sanction. "He doesn't rate that well on turf. He gets rank.

"This is a step up off the Pegasus but he seems all right. I think he's still improving."

Last Saturday morning, Regal Sanction turned in his final workout for the Discovery, breezing six furlongs over Belmont's training track in 1:15 2/5. He broke his maiden over the Big A's main track back in April.

William Farish's A.P. Five Hundred makes his New York debut after finishing third in a pair of graded stakes - the Oklahoma Derby and Super Derby.

A colt by A.P. Indy, A.P. Five Hundred drew post 13 under jockey Jorge Chavez in the Discovery. Like the majority of the field, A.P. Five Hundred has the look of a late-blooming 3-year-old with a chance to make some noise as an older horse next year.

Evening Attire, who is scheduled to compete in the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), won the 2001 Discovery. His trainer, Pat Kelly, has entered his half-brother, Dr. Rockett, in this year's race.

The field for the nine-furlong Discovery Handicap (gr. III), Aqueduct's eighth race on Oct. 23, from the rail out:

PP, Horse, jockey, weight
1--Richierichierich, Victor Molina, 111
2--Regency Park, John Velazquez, 115
3--Babson, Aaron Gryder, 112
4--No Parole, Shaun Bridgmohan, 117
5--This Guns For Hire, Richard Migliore, 114
6--Regal Sanction, Jose Santos, 118
7--Full, Cornelio Velasquez, 114
8--Seeking a Dream, Norberto Arroyo Jr., 113
9--Dr. Rockett, Mike Luzzi, 113
10--Strive, Edgar Prado, 117
11--Saint Marden, Jerry Bailey, 117
12--Thunder Days, Javier Castellano, 117
13--A.P. Five Hundred, Jorge Chavez, 118