LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -Moments after watching his 3-year-old colt Macho Again surge to victory in the $100,000 Derby Trial on Saturday at Churchill Downs, trainer Dallas Stewart turned to a track official and asked ``can we get him in the Derby?''
Stewart was kidding, but Macho Again's performance should erase any doubts about his ability.
Following a disappointing performance over the Polytrack during the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park that took him off the Kentucky Derby trail, Macho Again regained his form on the familiar dirt at Churchill.
Despite being bumped at the top of the stretch, Macho Again collected himself to surge by favorite Kodiak Kowboy in the final furlong to win by a half-length.
``He likes the track, he likes the dirt but we've just got to keep him off the Polytrack,'' Stewart said. ``He trains good on it but he just doesn't get down and run on it.''
Macho Again had no such problems in the Trial, running past a game Kodiak Kowboy to collect his third career victory and second at Churchill Downs.
``Kodiak Kowboy, he really dug in tough at the 16th-pole and Macho really had to work hard to get by him and he finished up real well. I was real proud of him,'' Stewart said.
Macho Again paid $14.20, $5.60 and $3.80 after covering the 7 1-2 furlongs in 1:28.45. Leparoux, who guided Macho Again to victory in an allowance race at the Fair Grounds in February, said the horse's maturity allowed him to recover after getting pushed around.
``We fought all the way,'' said Leparoux, who also guided Macho Again to victory during an allowance race at the Louisiana Fair Grounds in February. ``Even when he got bumped, I made him go again and he got back. We had a good trip too.''
Stewart wouldn't speculate on any future plans for Macho Again, saying he'd have to wait and see what develops. There used to be a time when the winner of the Derby Trial would find a way to sneak into the Derby, and Tim Tam actually won both races in 1958.
Macho Again, however, will be in his stall on the backside during next weekend's Run for the Roses. Not that Stewart is complaining after a frustrating spring in which the horse had to be treated for an undisclosed injury after running the LeComte Stakes in February.
``He had a little bit of a setback there (at the LeComte) and we had to work on him with some therapy and he responded really well,'' Stewart said.
Kodiak Kowboy, ridden by Corey Lanerie and trained by Steve Asmussen, paid $4.00 and $3.00.
``I got through and he gave it a good run,'' Lanerie said. ``He just got a little tired at the end. He ran hard and he ran a good race.''
Fujita, with Calvin Borel up, led briefly in the stretch before fading to third and paid $5.00 to show.
