David Cassidy on the Web
Mayan King
March 24, 2005
www.middletownjournal.com
FLORENCE, Ky. - Mayan King stands out from the rest of the field in Saturday's Lane's End Stakes.
For all the wrong reasons.
Trained by Gary Contessa, an East Coast horseman, and owned by David Cassidy, best known for his role as Keith Partridge in "The Partridge Family," Mayan King is the most lightly raced horse with the second lowest career earnings of the nine 3-year-olds entered in the Grade II $500,000 Kentucky Derby prep.
While Mayan King is undefeated in those two starts, he'll face much more seasoned competition in the 118-mile race at Turfway Park. That's why oddsmaker Mike Battaglia listed Mayan King as one of the three 15-1 longshots Thursday at the post position luncheon.
Contessa, though, believes in Mayan King, winner of a special maiden weight and an allowance race, both at Aqueduct.
"We think the world of him," Contessa said. "We think he's as good as these horses, but we're willing to accept that he does not have the experience of his peers."
With the Kentucky Derby six weeks away, Contessa and the owners felt it was time for Mayan King to prove whether he's royalty.
"We have to run 1, 2 or 3," he said. "We're here to build up his earnings for the Derby and prove that he's a Derby horse."
With only $51,000 in career earnings, Mayan King would need a top performance Saturday - and another impressive prep race - to be eligible for the Derby May 7 at Churchill Downs.
The 5-2 favorite is Spanish Chestnut, ridden by Hall of Famer Gary Stevens and trained by Patrick Biancone. Spanish Chestnut never has been out of the money in six career starts. He finished third in the Grade II Santa Catalina Stakes in his most recent start.
Listed as the 3-1 second choice is Magna Graduate, ridden by Jerry Bailey and trained by Patrick Byrne. He won the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway so he'll be the sentimental choice.
With no clear favorite for the Derby, Battaglia said the winner of the Lane's End will jump into the Top 5. He said several horses in Saturday's race are "on the verge of greatness."
Contessa hopes that describes his horse. After Mayan King's first start, a six-furlong special weight, his owners were offered $750,000. And after his second win, a one-mile allowance, someone made a "bona fide" $1,000,000 offer, Contessa said.
"We're not the only ones who believe in this horse," he said.
Contessa picked up some support when he surprised the luncheon crowd by spontaneously offering $10,000 to the Children's Home of Northern Kentucky should Mayan King finish first, second, or third in the Lane's End Stakes.
