Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 16, 1990                   TAG: 9003162085
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ROANOKE TO RUN IN FLA. DERBY

The large chestnut colt, named for the Southwest Virginia city, is among nine thoroughbreds entered in the 1[-mile race at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla. The race will be televised live as part of ABC's "Wide World of Sports" (4:30-6 p.m., WSET Channel 13).

Roanoke's owner, New York veterinarian Ted Sprinkle, has decided to change jockeys for the race. Craig Perret will replace Herb McCauley, who rode Roanoke to a fifth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream two weeks ago.

Sprinkle has been the subject of criticism in the New York press this week for the switch. Jose Santos rode Roanoke last year, but Santos is committed to riding another top 3-year-old contender, Slavic.

"Jose's agent approached me about riding Roanoke again, but he has to stay with Slavic," Sprinkle said. "We're making the switch because I didn't want to get down the road and look back and second-guess that we didn't go all out.

"McCauley is a good rider, but Perret is a big-money rider. We'll see how it goes Saturday."

Sprinkle said Roanoke ran a strong race in the Fountain of Youth, closing to 1 1/2 lengths of winner Shot Gun Scott despite running from post position No. 9.

"Anyone can tell you that the Gulfstream track, out there [wide], isn't the same as closer to the rail," Sprinkle said.

Sprinkle said he's hoping for a finish in the money from Roanoke on Saturday. The horse, which was in the money in each of his six starts as a 2-year-old, is listed at 6-1 odds, behind favorite Unbridled (5-2), Slavic (3-1) and Single Dawn (4-1).

"What's more important is that he comes out of it sound," Sprinkle said. "We'd like the top three, but we're not going to put a gun to his head and say, `If it doesn't happen, that's it.'

"The [Kentucky Derby] contenders seem to be dropping like flies, so, who knows what will happen between now and May 5? We'd like to see a little more speed in the Florida Derby, because we need it. But it doesn't look like there will be a speed horse. We may have to go wire-to-wire to win."

Roanoke is ranked 12th this week, down one spot, in the Thoroughbred Racing Communications 3-year-olds poll. Roanoke is 18-1 in the Kentucky Derby Futures Book in Las Vegas, Nev.

Sprinkle said that if Roanoke emerges from Saturday's race in good shape, the April 14 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., will be his next run - and last race before the Derby.