Fri Aug 29 14:35:23 2008

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Field of 14 set for Pennsylvania Derby

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Bensalem, PA (Sports Network) - Monday's 29th running of the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby has attracted a full field of 14 three-year-olds. The premier event on Philadelphia Park's schedule will be contested over 1 1/8 miles.

Smooth Air, winner of the Ohio Derby, is the 7-2 morning-line favorite. Trained by Bennie Stutts, Jr., Smooth Air will be ridden by Manny Cruz from post six.

"I think he'll fit well in the race," said Stutts.

The colt began the year by winning the Hutcheson Stakes for owner Mount Joy Stables. Two starts later, he ran second in the Florida Derby to eventual Kentucky Derby and Preakness champ Big Brown.

Smooth Air finished a disappointing 11th in the Kentucky Derby, but came back on May 31 to capture the Ohio Derby by four-lengths. He has earned $575,500 with four wins in nine career starts.

Shipping in from California is the 9-2 second pick Two Step Salsa. Owned by Everest Stables, the colt will break from post nine with Martin Pedroza in the saddle.

Two Step Salsa has won four of six lifetime starts, including the Laz Barrera Memorial and Affirmed Handicap. He is coming off a second place finish to Tres Borrachos in the Swaps Stakes, with recent Travers Stakes champ Colonel John back in third.

Two Step Salsa is trained by Julio Canani and has career earnings of $276,540.

West Virginia Derby winner Ready Set is the 5-1 third choice in the program. The colt comes from the same stable as 2006 Kentucky Derby champ Barbaro, trainer Michael Matz and owner Lael Stables. He will be ridden by Julien Leparoux from post two.

Ready Set is the leading career money winner in the field with $596,040 and has won four of 11 lifetime starts. This year the colt was 10th in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream, second in the Floor Show Stakes and third in the Barbaro Stakes, both at Delaware Park.

Here is the complete field for the PA Derby in post position order: Stones River, Gabriel Saez 8-1; Ready Set, Julien Leparoux 5-1; Numaany, Kendrick Carmouche 12-1; Tiz Now Tiz Then, Miguel Mena 6-1; Only for Now, Jose Caraballo 10-1; Smooth Air, Manny Cruz 7-2; Wishful Tomcat, Richard Migliore 20-1; Alaazo, Undecided 20-1; Two Step Salsa, Martin Pedroza 9-2; Anak Nakal, Joe Bravo 12-1; Atoned, Jose Lezcano 15-1; Acai, Corey Nakatani 20-1; Power Game, Elvis Trujillo 12-1 and You and I Forever, Javier Castellano 15-1.

The three-horse mutuel field will consist of Wishful Tomcat, Allaazo and Acai