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Notebook U.S. troops present rose garland to Funny CidePosted: Saturday May 03, 2003 9:39 PMLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Representatives from the four branches of the U.S. Armed Forces presented the garland of roses to Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide on Saturday. "The Kentucky Derby is America's race, and we thought it only appropriate that U.S. servicemen join us this year as we crown another Derby champion," track president Steve Sexton said. "We are grateful for their service." In years past, jockeys' assistants have carried the rose garland to the Winner's Circle. Participating in the presentation were Army Sgt. George Avila, Navy Yeoman 1st Class Christopher Menifee, Air Force Tech Sgt. Rarchar Tortorello and Marine Sgt. Brian Melton.
Fiesty AtswhatimtalknboutAtswhatimtalknbout was a little feisty, perhaps because track officials misspelled his name.Track officials hastily removed a nameplate placed in the horse's stall in the paddock after seeing that an extra "a" was placed before the "bout." Twenty minutes later, they returned with a nameplate that had the horse's name spelled correctly. Atswhatimtalknbout, who finished fourth, seemed excited and unruly while circling the paddock. The horse, partly owned by Hollywood film directors Steven Spielberg and Gary Ross, kicked his back heels several times.
Encore AppearancesProud Citizen and Perfect Drift finished second and third, respectively, behind War Emblem in last year's Derby. Both ran in other races Saturday.Proud Citizen, trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, finished ninth in the 12-horse field for the Grade II Churchill Downs Handicap. Aldebaran won the 7-furlong race. Aldebaran is trained by Bobby Frankel, who also saddled two of the pre-race Derby favorites, Empire Maker and Peace Rules. Murray Johnson-trained Perfect Drift finished fourth in the 1 1-8 mile Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, the Grade I race run immediately before the Derby. Honor and War won the race.
Female JockeyRosemary Homeister Jr., aboard Supah Blitz, became the fifth female jockey to ride in the Derby and the first since Julie Krone aboard Suave Prospect in 1995.Homeister and Supah Blitz finished 13th. The Derby's other female jockeys have been Diane Crump (1970, Fathom); Patty Cooksey (1984, So Vague); Andrea Seefeldt (1991, Forty Something); and Krone, who also rode Ecstatic Ride in 1992. Krone in 1995 and Cooksey both finished 11th, the best by any female jockey.
Like father, like sonJose Santos Jr., the 8-year-old son of winning jockey Jose Santos, fielded a couple of questions at the post-race news conference, one involving what he thought when he saw his father cross the finish line first, aboard Funny Cide."Wow," Santos Jr. said.
The crowds keep comingThe Derby drew 148,530 fans, the fifth-highest total in the event's 129-year history. The record is 163,628, set in 1974.
Shoe's adviceDomestic Dispute trainer Paddy Gallagher knew exactly who to call for tips on how to prepare for his first Kentucky Derby.Gallagher, whose horse finished 10th, worked as an assistant trainer to Bill Shoemaker from 1990-97. Before Shoemaker became a trainer, he rode in the Derby a record 26 times between 1952-88, winning it four times. "He's been a great help. I listen to every word he has to say," said Gallagher, one of eight first-time trainers in Saturday's Derby. Gallagher has talked to Shoemaker every day this week by phone. Shoemaker, paralyzed from the neck down in a 1991 car accident, lives in California and didn't come to the Derby.
TributesThe first two races at Churchill Downs on Saturday were named after Triple Crown winners Affirmed and Secretariat.This year marks the 25th anniversary of Affirmed's sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Affirmed is the last of 11 horses who've swept the three races. Secretariat won the Triple Crown in 1973. Former owner Penny Chenery was in the Churchill Downs' winners' circle on Saturday to greet the connections of Put Me In, the winner of the Secretariat Tribute.
Field tripThe 16-horse field for Saturday's Derby was the smallest since 15 broke from the gate in 1998.
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