Castledale pulls off upset

The winner, a 30-1 pick, survived a foul claim in the frantic finish.
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) -- Castledale closed with a rush on the outside, then survived a foul claim to pull off a huge upset in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday.
In the frantic run to the finish, Castledale charged to the lead on the outside, while Rock Hard Ten drifted in just inside the 16th-pole and impeded the path of a fast-closing Imperialism.
Castledale, sent off at odds of 30-1, finished a head in front of Rock Hard Ten, with Imperialism another two lengths back.
Following a steward's inquiry, Rock Hard Ten was disqualified and placed third for moving into Imperialism's path. Imperialism, trained by 21-year-old Kristin Mulhall, was moved up to second in the West Coast's major Kentucky Derby prep race.
Last minute entry
Castledale, a 3-year-old Irish-bred, was entered in the race at the last minute by trainer Jeff Mullins, who won last year's Santa Anita Derby with Buddy Gil.
Quintons Gold Rush was fourth, followed by Louisiana Derby winner Wimbledon, 2-1 favorite St Averil and Lucky Pulpit.
The 11/8-mile race shaped up as a battle between top Kentucky Derby contenders Wimbledon, Imperialism and St Averil. But neither Wimbledon nor St Averil contended in the stretch, and Castledale produced the fifth-highest payoff in Santa Anita Derby history.
Castledale, ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., returned $62, $17 and $5.60. Imperialism paid $5.80 and $3.80. Rock Hard Ten paid $4 to show.
Winning time for the race was 1:49.24, with Castledale earning $450,000 for owners Frank Lyons and Greg Knee, who bought the colt last September.
Castledale, sixth behind Imperialism in the San Rafael in his last start, has now won three of 10 career starts. His first seven races were on the grass in Ireland.
The result further muddled the Kentucky Derby picture. Wimbledon, likely to go on to Churchill Downs for the May 1 Derby, came into the race off a big win in the Louisiana Derby.
Imperialism will head to Louisville if he comes out of the race healthy.
"I think he should probably go on if he looks OK tomorrow," Mulhall said. "That was a pretty hard stop. My horse would have run harder if he was on the outside."
Other Saturday races
*Pollard's Vision ran himself into the Kentucky Derby picture with a solid two-length victory over Song of the Sword in the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Park. The colt can't see out of his right eye and is named for Seabiscuit's jockey Red Pollard, who only had vision in one eye. The colt has won three of 10 starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, and finished a strong third in the Louisiana Derby last month.
*Madcap Escapade remained unbeaten in four starts, holding off Ashado to win the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. The filly, a late nominee to the Triple Crown races, was ridden by Rene Douglas.
*Azeri made a triumphant return for her new trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, winning the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park a record third time. The 2002 Horse of the Year hadn't run since her 11-race winning streak ended last September in the Lady's Secret. Lukas took over for Laura de Seroux, who was fired by owner Michael Paulson. Wild Spirit was second.
* Funny Cide won his first race in New York since his failed Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes, taking the Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap at Aqueduct by a half-length over Evening Attire. The 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner won for the second time in four starts this year. It was the New York-bred gelding's first stakes win since the Preakness -- he won an optional claiming race in January, then finished third in the Donn and New Orleans handicaps.