Out in California, you've got Exploit, and down in Florida, Vicar. Here in Maryland, there's Perfect Score.
All three won stakes in their last starts along the road that leads to the Kentucky Derby, and all three face critical tests in their next starts. You've probably heard of the unbeaten Exploit and the Fountain of Youth winner Vicar, but perhaps you don't know about Perfect Score.
He's out to make noise today in the $50,000 Herat Stakes at Laurel Park, a race of 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds that will take the son of Personal Hope around two turns for the first time.
Personal Hope won the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby, and Perfect Score's trainer, Grover "Bud" Delp, won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Spectacular Bid. But Delp said he can't tell yet whether Perfect Score is suited for the 1 1/4 miles of the Kentucky Derby.
"Our first thing is to find out if he wants to run long," Delp said. "After that, we'll play it by ear. I've got a list of races right up to the Kentucky Derby, but I'm not losing any sleep over it."
After winning two of five starts at 2, the May 23 foal won his 3-year-old debut one month ago, charging from six lengths back to win the seven-furlong Horatius Stakes by a neck.
Mark Johnston, Personal Score's jockey, said he believes the bay colt will run farther.
"I know he'll relax and rate," Johnston said. "He's push-button. He doesn't mind other horses."
When Johnston attended the Jockeys' Guild annual convention in Las Vegas, he placed Kentucky Derby future-book wagers on 10 horses. One was Perfect Score, on which he bet $10. He said that he doesn't recall the odds, but that they were well above 100-to-1.
"Wouldn't it be nice to win the Derby," said Johnston, who has not ridden in the country's premier race, "and cash a ticket."
Delp's longtime clients, Harry and Tom Meyerhoff, purchased Perfect Score for $57,000 at the 1997 Keeneland September yearling sale. The Meyerhoffs and Delp brought the world Spectacular Bid -- champion 2-year-old, 3-year-old and older horse, and Horse of the Year in 1980.
Delp always said Spectacular Bid was the greatest horse to look through bridle. Yet in The Blood-Horse magazine's ranking of the top 100 horses of the 20th century, Spectacular Bid rated 10th.
"I could concede to Man o' War," said Delp, referring to the top-ranked horse. "But my horse could pull a plow and beat Kelso [fourth]. He could beat Forego [eighth] in a gallop."
NOTES: In the accompanying Derby Dozen, Menifee and Desert Hero replace Honest Lady and Answer Lively. It's not that Honest Lady or Answer Lively did anything so wrong, it's just that Menifee and Desert Hero were so dazzling last weekend. The 3-year-old stakes scene is quiet this weekend, except for the Herat. But next weekend is jam-packed with the Florida Derby, San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita Oaks and Louisiana Derby.
Pub Date: 3/06/99