Rockport Harbor is beginning to tune up for the Kentucky Derby.
Unbeaten as a 2-year-old and unraced this year, Rockport Harbor is set for a mile workout this weekend at Oaklawn Park under the watchful eye of John Servis.
“It’s looking like this weekend for an easy mile,” Servis said from Hot Springs, Ark., the same track where the trainer prepped Smarty Jones before he went on to victories in the Derby and Preakness.
Smarty Jones’ jockey Stewart Elliott will also ride Rockport Harbor.
Servis is in no hurry to send his big gray colt to the races, and plans just two Derby preps for Rockport Harbor – the Rebel Stakes on March 19 and the Arkansas Derby on April 16. The Kentucky Derby is May 7.
Owner Rick Porter, a car dealer from Delaware, named the horse after the Maine town where he owns a summer home.
Rockport Harbor improved to 4-for-4 after his victory in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 27.
“He’s headed in the right direction,” Servis said. “With Smarty, we had to get him to settle. This horse, he’s like an old cow. He just goes out and does his thing.”
Servis opted to skip Saturday’s $100,000 Southwest Stakes, the first of three stakes Smarty Jones won in Arkansas before he showed up at Churchill Downs.
The one-mile Southwest features another Derby prospect in Greater Good, who makes his 3-year-old debut after closing out 2004 with a win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. John McKee will be aboard for trainer Bob Holthus.
Elsewhere, trainer Nick Zito picked up another Derby hopeful in High Fly, third in the Holy Bull on Feb. 5 after three straight wins. Zito replaced Bill White after the Holy Bull.
—
This week’s top 10, with Derby future wager odds:
1. Afleet Alex (Tim Ritchey, trainer; John Velazquez, jockey): Breezed a half-mile in 47 seconds at Oaklawn on Wednesday, the second fastest of 40 workouts at the distance … 3-year-old debut awaits … Won four of six at 2 … Second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile his last time out … Next start: Rebel (March 19) … Odds: 15-1.
2. Declan’s Moon (Ron Ellis, Victor Espinoza): 2-year-old champion worked seven furlongs in 1:26.00 at Hollywood Park on Tuesday … Plans call for two more starts before the Derby … Next start: Santa Catalina (March 5) … Odds: 9-1.
3. Rockport Harbor (John Servis, Stewart Elliott): Set for a mile work this weekend at Oaklawn … Won Remsen by a neck over Galloping Grocer on Nov. 27 … Next start: Rebel … Odds: 13-1.
4. Wilko (Craig Dollase, Corey Nakatani): BC Juvenile winner worked five furlongs in leisurely 1:06.20 at Hollywood Park on Tuesday … Next start: Santa Catalina … Odds: 23-1.
5. Sweet Catomine (Julio Canani, David Flores): Flores was aboard for filly’s win in Santa Ysabel, but Corey Nakatani, back from a suspension, was aboard Wednesday when the 2-year-old filly champion worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Santa Anita. … Next start: Santa Anita Oaks (March 13) … Odds: 21-1.
6. Roman Ruler (Bob Baffert, Jerry Bailey): Scratched from last week’s San Vicente with a quarter crack on left front hoof … Wet track at Santa Anita has hindered training … Next start: Undecided … Odds: 18-1.
7. Proud Accolade (Todd Pletcher, Velazquez): Hutcheson winner training for next start, either at Gulfstream on March 5 or in the Louisiana Derby on March 12 … Odds: 35-1.
8. Scipion (Patrick Biancone, Gary Stevens): Rallied from last to first with furious closing kick to take last week’s Risen Star at the Fair Grounds … Next start: Louisiana Derby (March 12) … Odds: 2-1 (mutuel field).
9. Going Wild (D. Wayne Lukas, Rafael Bejarano): Bejarano is the new rider … Winner of Sham and San Miguel at Santa Anita … Next start: Rebel … Odds: 25-1.
10. Fusaichi Rock Star (Baffert, Flores): Last-minute starter went wire-to-wire to take San Vicente last week …. Owned by Fusao Sekiguchi, whose Fusaichi Pegasus won the 2000 Derby … Next start: Undecided … Odds: 2-1 (mutuel field)
…. KEEP AN EYE ON: Closing Argument, Galloping Grocer, High Fly, Spanish Chestnut, Sun King.
AP-ES-02-16-05 1643EST
Comments are no longer available on this story