The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 48

ISC THE PALM BEACH POST SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2001 Monarchos stays on slow-and-easy plan Palm A CE3v GOLF AND COUNTRY, CLUB Next on the Derby road Horses Data Rac Monday through Thursday 711 11-2 After 2 Friday is Sunday, 7.1:11.2 After! 65 $5539 If trainer John Ward wins the 2001 Kentucky Derby with Monarchos and writes a book about it, the easy part will be the Me: Less Is Better. Ward knew the formula he wanted to follow when John Ox-ley bought the horse at a Calder auction 13 months ago. Outofthebox. A Valentine Fifty Stars, Hoovergetthekeys Monarchos Dollar Bill, Hero's Tribute April 7 Flamingo, Hialeah April 7 Lone Star Derby April 14 Wood, Aqueduct April 14 Blue Grass, Keeneland John Crittenden Horse raring Classic 181 lole Joe Lee Championship Layout Complete Practice Facilities Full Service Food Beverage Operation -Excellent Condition Memberships Available-I: Proper Dress Required Easily accessible from anywhere in South Florida Tee Times Available up to 7 Days in Advance Reservation Required Rates do not include applicable taxes Local 5619653301 ward was sold on the policy long before Monarchos drew all those jumpers to his bandwagon during his impressive run in winning the Florida Derby a week ago. Toll Free 866'PLAYPBN (752 9726) Ward www.palmbeachnatlonal.com In picking Derby winners, no horse could be expected to compete without the foundation of a winning stakes-race background at age 2, handicappers often insisted.

Again, too much. Ward said. "Experience is important," said the trainer of Monarchos, "but it's not that important where you get it." Monarchos didn't run in his first stake until March 10, the day of the Florida Derby. He wasn't hurt. Ward just held him back.

The trainer is not concerned that Monarchos was at a peak in the Florida Derby. "I'm not at the end of my rope," he said. "I still have some rope left to work with. He still has some other things to work on." The extra distance in the Kentucky Derby will give Monarchos more time to come from behind, Ward believes. If he went to the Blue Grass Stakes April 14, Ward would be required to run against Dollar Bill, the Louisiana Derby favorite, and Hero's Tribute, his own challenger.

Some California-based horses may detour to the Blue Grass, rather than tackle a strong field in the April 7 Santa Anita Derby. Again, for Ward, less is better. Monarchos goes to the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct April 14. Last year's Kentucky Derby winner was lightly raced. His first stake came on March 19.

Next he went to the Wood. "I thought it set up Fusaichi Pegasus perfectly," said the trainer who has his 2001 prospect on exactly the same track. johncrittendenpbpost.com hard to get them back into top form as their 3-year-old seasons begin, he reasoned. Ward and Oxley wanted to win the Kentucky Derby. The Breeders' Cup was secondary.

For years, trainers with Kentucky Derby challengers seemed to feel the only way to get their prospect toughened up was to stick their noses into every dogfight that came along. Unbridled (1990) and Thunder Gulch (1995) ran in the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Blue Grass on their way to Churchill Downs. Go For Gin ran in the Preview Stakes at Gulfstream, the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Wood Memorial before he won in 1994. Too much, too much, Ward decided. UNIHOYAL bt-GOOUHICH COOHtH MICHhUN GENERAL Ward's battle plan has been consistent.

There would be less pressure at age 2 and fewer races at age 3 in stakes (where the competition is tougher) during the months before the Kentucky Derby. The trainer never thought about Monarchos as a Breeders' Cup Juvenile entry. Trainers who drive their young horses into shape to try to win an Eclipse at age 2 will find it We honor all competitors ads 90 days same as cash COUPON SPECIALS 2 Since 1936 7 RADIAL SR4 60,000 Ml DEFENDER SRX 50K mi I 4 Tire Total Pries Price Includes Installed, Valves, Balance A Tlrs Total Prlc Pries Includes Installed, Valves, ttnlnnce I nily. toy mty. by jr- I i Tl ffilPf? 18560R14 II iJJ 19560R14 L3 fj Hi 19560R15 20560R15 11 fClntl 185.70B13 II lllrJ 185'70R14 20570R14 L-L Ji 5 u.

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Taxes not included Applies tot mosl vehicles. See dealer tor details Expues 33101 Not valid with other coupons. Expires 33101 CHRISTOPHER BARTHThe Associated Press Zippy Chippy, who is 0-for-89 in official races, won an exhibition against Paddy's Lady, a standardbred horse pulling a bike and a driver. tjwy fnm ny-j ww i flies right By John Crittenden fttim Beach Post Staff Writer HIALEAH For a moment, it seemed the flamingos had forgotten how to fly. i But everything else went smoothly Saturday on the opening day of Hialeah Park's 75th anniversary season.

Skies were clear, the temperature was 84 degrees and the mutuels operation, which was slowed by malfunctions on opening day in 1999 and 1998, worked without a hitch. A familiar winning team, trainer Bill Mott and jockey Jerry Bailey, took the feature, the $100,000 Royal Palm Handicap, with favorite Del Mar Show. Many of the fans in a crowd of an estimated 9,000 were anxious to see the flight of the flamingos, the birds on the track's infield lake that have been a Hialeah Park tradition since the 1930s. After the seventh race each day during the racing season, a workman in a boat goes out to an island in the lake to encourage the flamingos to leave the ground and create a spectacular air show as they fly over the infield. But the birds had not been challenged to fly as a group for 22 months.

Hialeah ran its 2000 schedule at Gulfstream Park, so the flamingos had not been involved in the longtime routine since May 1999. Saturday, when the workman's boat reached the island, about three dozen birds took off, but the other 200 just swam away, invn Mv-uttoOb 840 SMIIilsiy Trail Font) Hill MV-JoVUI 8763 US 1 Fed Hwy. id Pimm sm 873-0095 Mv-utwai 908 W. Park St. itmtltW QfWonRt 7C Acoss bow it's 467-4600 2B14 8 Diiie Hwf.

I Belvedara Acwss from fhe Paim Bench Post 833-1781 BB MilHsry Trail il Okeecnobee Blvd. 2 Bih Pi Boston Wvket 478-7800 SGOOId Diila Hwy. 881-7431 3330 It.Rl.7(U1) ft Oakland Paik in Heel Plus 739-2019 Across from K-Mart Freehold (N.J.) Raceway. Zippy Chippy, acquired by Felix Monser-rate in 1995 in exchange for an old van, allowed the standardbred, which was pulling a bike and driver, a 20-length head-start and 967-7350 rallied to win by a neck. Since it was an exhibition, his recored remains 0-for89.

Last year, a minor-league baseball player into the middle of the lake. Finally, after remaining on the island for several minutes, the boat moved slowly among the flamingos. Every one of them took off, flying in a circle around the infield. On the track, it was a day for favorites, long before Del Mar Show, at 7-5 odds, won the Royal Palm by nearly 4 lengths over Gateman. In 10 races, there were just three winners with payoffs of more than $10, Sugar and Spice ($21) in the eighth, Alumni ($10.80) in the seventh and Wild Wavering ($18) in the second.

Losingest horse wins: The losingest thoroughbred in North American history, Zippy Chippy, beat a standardbred horse renamed Paddy's Lady in an exhibition race at with a head-start outpaced Zippy Chippy in a 40-yard dash. Noteworthy: Point Given raced to a 2W-length victory in the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes. Mr Ross passed favored Graeme Hall in the stretch and won the $125,000 Ra- zorback Handicap by 2-'A lengths in Hot 16th In mi ti I T)aLti (Beaelt Qioat Sham March 22-25, 2001 (Dotimtoum Cfrlatjler, lOest J9atn rBetu4i Sponsored bx: Or KeyBankUSA America's Favorite Boat Show returns Shop Over 800 boats on-land and Powerboats, Mcgayachts, Cruisers, Fishing Boats, House Boats, Personal Watcrcraft, Jet Boats and More! FREE Kids' Fishing Clinics Saturday Sunday only! Kids ages 4-16 get a free rod, reel, tackle kit and free admission just for participating Springs, Ark. The Associated Press contributed to this UCF's Pope blanks Florida Atlantic 6-0 Colleges Melbourne. Jeff Spicer pitched the complete-game shutout in the first game, while Rob Rizzo went six innings in the second game.

SOFTBALL Knights split with Tampa: Lake Wiirth Inlrainosial VtjIiTvuy 1.1, fl.lt.llT and gave up eight hits and the two unearned runs. John Williamson had three hits, including his seventh home run, and had four RBIs for East Carolina. Chad Tracy added four hits, including his third home run of the season. Kevin Howard had three hits for Miami. Kiki Bengochea (4-1) took the loss for the Hurricanes.

The Knights (16-4, 1-1 SSC) split a doubleheader with I ampa (14-9, 1-1 SSC), winning the first game 2-0 and losing the second I or Additional Intormalion Show Management, Inc. (954) 764-7642 or (561)833-5711 or.vi9 (hvneii df Sponson'il by: lake I1'? id Okccdiubcc HKd. I.jt. to Olive north to East Carolina Miami 010 001 104 7 14 1 200 000 000 2 11 2 Alana Klaus (8-2) pitched the complete-game shutout for Lynn. Florida State 11, Troy State 0: Brandi Stuart and Jessica van der Linden knocked in two runs fEarajii; at corner ul Jlivc 1-vernia Streets.

Or park at one of the downiuU'R city operated parking parages. There will be tree Bus Shuttles to the show Shuttles run I hour prior to Ihe show thru 1 hour after Ihe show closes. filtal Show Information provided by: UCHGT.COM Kids hish 'mR Clinics presented bx: Palm Beach Post Staff and Wire Reports ORLANDO Justin Pope, a Wellington High School graduate, gave up one hit and struck out 12 to lead Central Florida to a 6-0 win over Florida Atlantic. Mike Fox provided offense for the Golden Knights (20-4, 1-0 TAAC) with a three-run home nin.FAU's Mike Valdes had the only hit a two-out seventh inning single. Aaron Diehl took the loss for FAU.

The two teams meet again at 1 today for a doubleheader. LSU 4, Florida 3: Lane Mestepey and Weylin Guidry combined to lead the Tigers (16-6-1, 3-2 in SEC) past the Gators (11-12, 0-5) in Baton Rouge, La. Mestepey (3-0) went 7'i innings, striking out three for the Tigers Guidry finished the game and earned his second save of the season. Three players had two hits for LSU. Jimmy Ramshaw (1-2) took the loss for the Gators.

Brian Rose led Florida with two hits and two RBI. N.C. State 4, Florida St 2: Dan D'Amato scattered nine hits oyer eight innings to lead the Media Sponsors: room HrwctMirmtY Wolfpack (11-10, 3-2 ACC) past the Seminoles (17-6, 4-1) in Raleigh, N.C. The loss snapped a 14-game win streak for the Seminoles. D'Amato allowed two runs, walked four and struck out five for the Wolfpack.

Mike Sollie pitched a hitless ninth inning for the save. Robby Read (4-3) took the loss for the Seminoles. John-Ford Griffin hit his seventh home run of the season and Karl Jernigan had a run-scoring double to give FSU a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth. East Carolina 7, Miami 2: Jason Mandryk and Neal Sears combined to hold the Hurricanes (20-6) to two unearned runs and lead the Pirates (18-4) to victory in Coral Gables. Leading 3-2, the Pirates scored four runs in the top of the ninth off Miami relievers Alex Prendes and George Huguet to seal the win.

Sears (2-1) earned the win with four scoreless innings of relief. Mandryk started the game Mandryk, Sears (6) and McCollough; Ben-aochea, DeBold (7), Prendes (8), Huguet (S), Cohn (9) and Matienzo WP: Sears (2-1). LP: Bengochea (4-1). 2B: ECU Ward. Williamson, Delfino, Godwin.

UM Matienzo 2, Mannix, Brown. HR: ECU Tracy, Williamson. Palm Beach Atlantic 14, Rhode Island College 4: Chris Zac-arro was 4-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored as the Sailfish (12-16) won easily at the Homestead Challenge. Ilie Palm Beach Vosl each to lead the Seminoles past the Trojans and into the quarterfinals of the rain-delayed Florida State Invitational in Tallahassee. Jen White-Stokes gave up two hits for the win.

Florida 18-5, Kentucky 3-4: Bree Berger had a two-run home run and the Gators (19-8, 5-3 i Palm Beach Atlantic Rhode Island College 111 242 21 14 15 2 002 101 00 4 6 0 1 i SEC) swept the Wildcats in Lexington, Ky. TENNIS Florida Southern 6, Lynn 3: The Owls lost two of three doubles matches en route to a loss to the Mocs in Lakeland. Lewallyn and Tatum; Steer, Smith (5), Jones (7) and Mack. WP: Lewallyn (3-1). LP: Steer (1-1).

2B: PBA Zacarro 3, Davis 2. Lynn sweeps Florida Tech: The Knights (19-10, 3-0 SSC) posted a pair of 7-0 wins to complete a three-game sweep of the Panthers (11-18, 2-4 SSC) in presented by The Palm Beach Fort PF Insist races to St. Patrick's Invitational win Local corner sage Classic, which is part of the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington. Steiner, of Charlottesville, won with a score of 66.917 percent on Hilltop's Giotto. Lynda Alicki of Monroe, riding Im-pressario, took first in the USET Grand Prix Hey Kids! Get Hooked! If you are 4 to 16 years old check out the Free Kids Fishing Clinics Saturday Sunday II am, 1 pm 3 pm each child one parent get free admission upon completing clinics.

And each child takes home a Free Rod, Reel, Tackle kit and Gift courtesy of The Palm Beach Post! Sign up Saturday or Sunday beginning at 9 am at the North Clematis Boat Show Entrance Clinics last approx. 1 hour include: cast netting, a casting pond, safety ethics, and "Guy Harvey's Underwater Realm" Total package is a $50 value. POLO Special to the Palm Beach Post WEST PALM BEACH PF Insist ran down Hart Burn in the deep stretch to capture the $25,000 Arthur J. Rooney, Sr. St.

Patrick's Invitational at Palm Beach Kennel Club on Saturday night. Racing for the Pat Collins Kennel, PF Insist finished lV-lengths ahead of Hart Burn (Mountain Kennel), who edged the fast-closing Oneco Milkytea for second. Esquire Clifford was 3 lengths back of Insist in fourth. PF Insist covered the Royal Palm Course in 29.91 seconds. He paid $20.80 to win the 25tH running of the Invitational, the last of the Kennel Club's Big 3 series of stakes events.

PF Insist earned $12,500 for the victory, Blue Diamond wins: In the second annual PTF Seniors game. Blue Diamond defeated Bald Eagles 8-3. Dieter Hausammann and Bob Stuerzebecher with three goals each. In a USPA $50,000 American Red Cross International Cup game, Michelob Light defeated Eureka Polo 10-6. John Gobin and Brian Pritchard each scored four goals for the winners.

de Dressage with a score of 67.000 percent. RUGBY Palm Beach Rugby Club 55, Iron Horse Rugby Club 0: Justin Cooper and Jeff Knight each had two tries as PBRC won a Florida Rugby Conference game at Dyer Park. With the victory, PBRC (7-2-1) qualified for the state championships to be held later EQUESTRIAN Find great new homes in Real Estate Weekend Friday in The Post. mm Steiner wins: Dressage veteran Betsy Steiner won the USET Prix St. George during the Zada Enterprises LLC WEF Dres- this month.

Mike Schmidt, Mike May and Bill Peters each scored for PBRC. 1th of the season..