KENTUCKY DERBY DAILY UPDATE : Arazi Expected to Begin Training Today After Quarantine Clearance

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —  There is an Arazi. The most-discussed, least-seen horse scheduled to run in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby was scheduled to arrive at his barn at Churchill Downs Monday night.

Arazi, expected to be the heavy betting favorite, was flown here from France Sunday and spent about 24 hours in the quarantine area, a converted warehouse across the street from the track.

Late Monday, Churchill Downs announced that blood samples taken from Arazi and two other European travelers--Dr Devious and Thyer--were expected to be cleared by the National Veterinary Service Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. Vans had been ordered to transport the three Derby contenders to an isolation barn not far from many of their rivals on the Churchill Downs backstretch, once clearance was received. The barn for the European horses is separated from the other barns by a high chain-link fence.

“I know Francois Boutin (Arazi’s trainer) wanted his horse settled in time for him to resume training (today),” said trainer Ron McAnally, who will saddle Dr Devious for the Derby. “If that doesn’t happen, you’ll see one angry Frenchman.”

Many Derby trainers have seen the videotape of Arazi’s only prep race as a 3-year-old, an easy victory in France on April 7.

Arazi is not a big horse, but he has filled out somewhat since his easy victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs in November.

“He ran against six or seven muskrats in that race,” said Wayne Lukas, who will try to beat Arazi with Dance Floor and Al Sabin on Saturday. “I said they’d call him the next Secretariat after that race. Well, I was wrong--they called him the next Affirmed. But he still beat the hell out of our horses last year. He’s a small potato, but he’s tough to peel.”

Secretariat won the Triple Crown in 1973 and Affirmed did it five years later.

Bruce Headley, who is training Disposal for the Derby, still shakes his head over Arazi’s five-length victory over the best United States 2-year-olds in the Breeders’ Cup.

“You had to like his gameness that day,” Headley said. “I got a good look at him coming back after the race. He was walking pretty wide. He was in distress. His knees had to be hurting him, but he still beat my horse (Bertrando) easy.”

Bertrando will skip the Derby because of flu. A few days after the Breeders’ Cup, Arazi underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knees.