It’s Coast-to-Coast Action

There are two more Kentucky Derby preps on the menu today -- one at Santa Anita and the other at an unlikely place, Tampa Bay Downs.

Action This Day, the upset winner of last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, will take on Santa Catalina winner St Averil and nine others in the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes locally while Swingforthefences -- the second string for the Klaravich Stables and trainer Richard Violette Jr., who also have Read The Footnotes -- will take on seven opponents in the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby. The San Felipe is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $214,729.

Owned by B. Wayne Hughes and trained by Richard Mandella, Action This Day will be making his second start of 2004 in the San Felipe, a Grade II at 1 1/16 miles and the final major prep for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

St Averil, trained by Rafael Becerra, has won two of three. Before his 1 1/4-length victory in the Santa Catalina, he had beaten maidens by three lengths at 6 1/2 furlongs, then was second to Lion Heart in the Hollywood Futurity at today’s distance.

Edgar Prado will ride Swingforthefences for the first time at Tampa Bay Downs as the Boston Harbor colt looks for his third victory in five starts.

Race of the day: Star Parade will try for her third win in a row and second consecutive Grade I against only five opponents in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap today at Santa Anita.

One for the road: Triple Gold, from France, makes her U.S. debut for trainer Christophe Clement, who excels with European shippers, and she can get the money in today’s 11th, a $38,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, at Gulfstream Park.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Roanwiththepunches and Determined in the third, Star Wizard, Badinage, Thermostatic and Vamos Nina in the fourth and St Averil in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 5/174. Money: Previous day/meet total: $27.60/$927.20. Total money bet: $996.