Cozzetti settles in for Arkansas Derby run

Cozzetti started his career on turf last September at Belmont Park, partially

because of his grassy pedigree being by Cozzene out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare. He

also made those initial starts because maiden dirt races at that time of year in

New York are usually stocked with million-dollar babies cranked up to run right

off the bat. The Romans team relied on their colt's class and versatility while

trying grass, synthetic and sloppy dirt throughout his six races while still

counting him among one of their best Triple Crown prospects.

Cozzetti's last race was a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby

on March 10. The result was sparkling, but the progress he made trying a

late-closing move was very encouraging.

"He won on the lead in the slop at Churchill and he had us leaning based on

the way he was training that he was a front-running horse," Oliver explained.

"In Tampa we wanted to take him back and get him to rate. A lot of this is a

learning process, but I was really happy with the way he settled back and made a

run on the leaders. He hopefully figured something out that will help in this

race."

The 1 1/8-mile distance of the Arkansas Derby figures to be right up

Cozzetti's alley as he breaks from the rail under Jose Lezcano.

"He wants to go farther. It's the time now where these races get longer and

he's definitely going to fit them," Oliver asserted. "He will make a run for

sure. If we can just get a little help with the pace, it should set up nicely

for a horse like him."

Oliver will saddle the horse Saturday and the Albaughs will be on hand.

Romans will be busy Saturday at Keeneland with Dullahan running in the Grade 1

Blue Grass Stakes and recent Grade 2 Honey Fox Stakes queen Tapitsfly in action

as well in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes.

In other Arkansas Derby news, contenders from the barn of trainer Todd

Pletcher were in good shape Thursday morning after arriving at various and

sundry times from different points across the nation. Arkansas Derby runner Stat

and stablemate Morrow Cove, who is entered in Friday's Instant Racing Stakes,

got in Wednesday after a plane ride from Florida. Fellow Arkansas Derby starter

Raconteur came Thursday morning via horse van from Keeneland.

Stat rolls off a 6 1/4-length win in a $75,000 optional claimer going one

mile for Pletcher and Bortolazzo Stable at Gulfstream Park on March 17.

Raconteur is Dogwood Stable's winner of the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park

going the same distance on the same day.

"Everybody seems to have shipped in well," assistant trainer Michael Dilger

said. "Stat and Morrow Cove went to the track for gallops today, and Stat and

Raconteur will gallop tomorrow morning."

Trainer Bob Baffert's Arkansas Derby runners -- Bodemiester and Secret Circle

-- galloped Thursday morning, as did Northern Spur contender Drill.