BLUE GRASS STAKES : Corby Returns Home as Favorite

LEXINGTON, Ky. — In the windy stallion barn at Allen Paulson’s Brookside Farms in nearby Versailles, four stud horses--Strawberry Road, Blushing John, Theatrical and Jade Hunter--kept to the backs of their stalls Friday, the best place for warding off the rainy chill. Their mating duties, which begin in mid-February, will not be suspended until some time in July.

This is where Corby, the son of Dahar out of the mare La Escala, had his beginning. He was bred, foaled and broken as a yearling in Kentucky, but he has never raced here. He will make his Kentucky racing debut today after gaining success in California, where he won four races, finished second twice and third once in eight starts.

Corby is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $500,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, and a convincing victory could make him the favorite at the 119th Kentucky Derby in three weeks. After he beat Personal Hope to win the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 14, Corby was shipped to Churchill Downs to prepare for the Blue Grass. Trainer John Sadler and some other Blue Grass trainers have preferred to train over the Churchill strip for today’s race, because the Louisville surface is considered one of the best in the country.

Sadler, who has never won a race as important as the Blue Grass, shipped Corby the 70 miles from Churchill to Keeneland on Wednesday.

“I’m happy going into the race,” Sadler said. “His California form is good, and we’ve gotten a nice draw (No. 6 in a nine-horse field). The only places we definitely didn’t want were No. 1 and No. 9. The plan is simple--to win the Kentucky Derby. Mr. Paulson was badly disappointed when (the injured) Dinard missed the Derby two years ago, and then last year again with Arazi (who ran eighth as the 9-10 favorite). He wants to win the Derby badly.”

It would have been logical to keep Corby in California and run him as a heavy favorite in the Santa Anita Derby. But because Paulson wanted to test his champion filly, Eliza, against males, she ran at Santa Anita and Corby has returned to his roots.

Eliza couldn’t have run in the Blue Grass because she wasn’t nominated for the 1 1/8-mile stake and supplementary starters aren’t permitted. She tested Personal Hope for the first mile of the Santa Anita Derby, then finished third, beaten by less than a length. Eliza arrived at Churchill Downs on Friday, not for the main event but for the Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies the day before the Derby.

“This is working out well,” said Paulson, defending a plan that dictated to Sadler and Alex Hassinger Jr., who trains Eliza.

“Eliza came out of the Santa Anita Derby in great shape and should be ready for the Oaks. And Corby is a big and strong guy who looks good for this race.”

The drawback, however, might be the weather. It rained all day Friday, more rain is expected today and the Blue Grass probably will be run in mud for the fourth time in five years. Corby has never run on an off track, and some of his chief rivals have. Here is a look at the main opposition:

Prairie Bayou--Rated second on the morning line at 5-2, this big gelding was seventh in his debut and has run seven solid races--five victories and two seconds--since. He is on a three-race winning streak, the most recent being a late-running performance in the Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., two weeks ago. Handicappers are weighing the lackluster quality of the Beam field against Prairie Bayou’s overcoming a Turfway speed bias that hurt closers in other races that day.

Dixieland Heat--This modest-sized colt is undefeated in five starts, all against weak opposition at the New Orleans Fair Grounds. His last race, the Louisiana Derby, resulted in a 2 1/2-length victory in the slop.

Lykatill Hil--This Northern California gelding has won two of three starts this year, running third as the 4-5 favorite in the El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows. Lykatill Hil has two victories and that El Camino Real third in mud starts. “We could have stayed home and been 8-5 in the California Derby (today),” trainer Art Sherman said. “I’m a little surprised that we’re as short as 5-1 on the morning line here. We’re here because we wanted to take on some of the top horses, to see if he’s good enough to run in the Kentucky Derby.”

Sea Hero--”Rain won’t hurt my feelings,” said Jerry Bailey, who rides Sea Hero for owner-breeder Paul Mellon and trainer Mack Miller. Sea Hero won the Champagne on an off track at Belmont Park last year, and was considered one of the preeminent 2-year-olds before he ran seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He has been a disappointment in both starts this year, finishing next to last in a minor stake at Gulfstream Park, and third in a grass allowance won by a filly, Icy Warning.

Horse Racing Notes

The other Blue Grass entrants are Living Vicariously, Pawpaw Hank, Wallenda and Halostrada. . . . Lykatill Hil beat Corby by one length in October in a minor stake at Bay Meadows. Corby has won three of four starts since. . . . Pat Day, who won last year’s Kentucky Derby with Lil E. Tee, doesn’t have a definite horse for this year’s race and has expressed interest in riding Devoted Brass, the fourth-place finisher in the Santa Anita Derby.

Bull Inthe Heather, winner of the Florida Derby, is the 7-5 morning-line favorite with the outside post against eight rivals in today’s Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah. Favored Slerp won the $100,000 Bold Ruler Stakes Friday at Aqueduct. Trained by Bob Hess, Slerp was ridden by Jose Santos. . . . Lil E. Tee is the 7-5 morning-line favorite for today’s $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park. Best Pal is the second choice at 2-1. Each will carry 123 pounds in the 1 1/8-mile Grade I event.