| It's a long and winding road to Churchill Downs and the | | | | impressario Merv Grffin and named after his sire, |
| first Saturday in May, but the Thoroughbred set is | | | | Stephen Got Even as well as singer/songwriter Stevie |
| atwitter about Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion Stevie | | | | Wonder, is considered racing royalty when it comes to |
| Wonderboy, who is slated to make his 3-year-old | | | | bloodlines."We've had three interesting storylines with |
| debut Saturday in the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes at | | | | the Triple Crown races the last three years and this |
| Santa Anita.No Juvenile champion has ever gone on to | | | | could be a blockbuster fourth," Jones said."Funny Cide |
| capture the Kentucky Derby.The thoroughfare to | | | | was a good story, Smarty Jones was a good story |
| Louisville is as wrought with hazards as a | | | | and Afleet Alex was a good story."If Stevie |
| championship golf course, from ill-timed injuries to | | | | Wonderboy wins, the media will go nuts with all that |
| missteps on the track.Some folks forget the fact that | | | | horse's Hollywood connections."Stephen Got Even is a |
| fillies and colts go through a great many major physical | | | | son of A.P. Indy and Summer Squall is his |
| changes between their two and three-year-old | | | | grandsire.Wonderboy banked more than $1 million in his |
| seasons; it's simply the maturation process.Many | | | | two-year campaign and is a favorite to capture an |
| among the horsey set, however, contend Wonderboy | | | | Eclipse Award later this month.Early winter racing will |
| is their best hope yet."He's certainly one of the ones to | | | | be concentrated at Santa Anita in Southern California |
| watch," said John Avello, who oversees racing | | | | and Gulfstream Park in Florida, with other tracks |
| operations at Wynn Las Vegas."Bluegrass Cat and | | | | gradually moving into the picture."All roads to Churchill |
| First Samurai are two others."Wonderboy came from | | | | will go through Oaklawn Park this year," Jones |
| behind to knock off favored First Samurai in the | | | | forecast. "With Hurricane Katrina shutting down the |
| Juvenile, one of his four triumphs in five outings."To me | | | | Fairgrounds (in New Orleans) , Oaklawn will have |
| it's any one of the first three Juvenile finishers: Stevie | | | | better jockeys, trainers and horses than it has ever |
| Wonderboy, First Samurai and Henny Hughes," added | | | | had," Jones said.The San Rafael, one of the first |
| Gordon Jones, a former turf editor at the Los Angeles | | | | stepping stones to the Run for the Roses, will be |
| Herald-Examiner who now gives racing seminars ar | | | | contested at one mile, two furlongs shorter than the |
| Sam's Town."I haven't seen anyone out there even | | | | Derby distance of one and one-fourth miles.Lynda |
| close. Nobody who has caught my attention, | | | | Collins is a documented member of the Professional |
| anyway."Wonderboy, who is owned by TV | | | | Handicappers League. |