Lucien Laurin

Long shot Head of the River sloshed to victory at Hialeah, giving a black eye to Derby favorite Riva Ridge. And on the same upsetting afternoon, fancied Royal Owl lost in California, contributing to the 3-year-old muddle

It was actually a Ridge, but the Derby brigades were repulsed and sent scattering. Dug in at the top is a big gun named Riva, whose target is the Triple Crown, which no horse has won for a quarter of a century

Wealthy owners and blue-blooded colts have idled away the winter—and maybe their chance to win the Kentucky Derby

The filly Numbered Account was eyeing more than just a divisional championship—she was after Horse of the Year honors, too—when she took on the colts in the rich Garden State Stakes

Even Saratoga's oldtimers could remember nothing like it. More than four inches of rain poured down on their beautiful track last week in the 36 hours that preceded Saturday's Hopeful Stakes for 2-year-olds, turning...