By Terry Kinney
The Associated Press

Noberto Arroyo Jr. #6, aboard New York Hero, raises his crop in celebration as he edges out Pat Day #8, aboard Eugene's Third Son to win the $500,000 Land's End Stakes at Turfway Park, Florence. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

FLORENCE - New York Hero outdueled Eugene's Third Son in the stretch and won by a neck in the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park on Saturday.

"He is powerful and good-looking, like a New York hero ought to be," trainer Jennifer Pedersen said.

She had scratched New York Hero from last week's Gotham Stakes in New York to run here instead. It turned out to be a wise move.

"He's just getting better and better," Pedersen said. "He's figuring it out, finally."

New York Hero ran the 1 1-8 miles in 1:50 3-5, four seconds slower than the track record set by Hansel in the 1991 Jim Beam Stakes, as the race was known then.

New York Hero ran within half a length of pacesetter Saintly Look for three-quarters of a mile, assumed a clear lead coming out of the second turn and held off Eugene's Third Son in a long stretch drive.

The win was worth $31.40, $15.20 and $6.80. Eugene's Third Son paid $7.80 and $4.40. Third-place finisher Champali returned $3.00.

The $500,000 prep race put a crimp in the Kentucky Derby hopes for 4-5 favorite Lion Tamer, who finished fourth.

Lion Tamer was coming off three straight wins, including the 7-furlong Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park, and the Grade 3 Lane's End was a test to see how he would fare around two turns.

"Obviously this was not the result that we wanted, but we are not discouraged," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "The Derby is still in our thoughts. The question now is whether or not he needs another start before then."

Pletcher had said Lion Tamer would not race again before the Derby if he won Saturday.

Lion Tamer's chances were compromised early. He was slow out of the gate under John Velazquez and worked his way through the nine-horse field but couldn't produce a winning rally.

"He got too far back, and that cost him the race," Velazquez said. "He got going late, and with this kind of track it was tough for him to get rolling until late. When I got him going on the outside, he steadied a bit. But remember, he's never been two turns before, so he should get better."

New York Hero is 3-2-0 in five starts. Pedersen said his next race will be the Wood Memorial in New York, which she considered an appropriate homecoming. All four previous races were at Aqueduct.

"He is named for the heroes of 9-11," Pedersen said. "I feel that he is destined to do this. I feel in my heart that he will keep winning. If he does it with a name like New York Hero, imagine what will happen."

REBEL STAKES: Crowned King steadily advanced from an unhurried start to win at Oaklawn Park.

Carrying 115 pounds, Crowned King ran the Kentucky Derby prep race of 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.00 to beat out Great Notion, the favorite who held the lead until the final stretch.

With Chandra Rennie aboard, Crowned King, owned by McKeever Racing Stable, won the race for 3 year olds by 1 1/4 lengths, paying $75.60, $13.80, and $4.60 and earning $75,000.

Great Notion, whose status for the Rebel Stakes was iffy earlier last week because of some minor bruising to both front feet, finished 2 lengths ahead of Comic Truth.

Ridden by Terry Thompson, Great Notion paid $2.80 and $2.20. Comic Truth, ridden by Jamie Theriot, paid $2.60.

The Rebel is Oaklawn's final major prep for the $500,000 Grade II Arkansas Derby on April 12.

Trainer Billy McKeever said he brought Crowned King to Oaklawn because he seemed to favor the track surface.

"The Arkansas Derby? We will make up our mind in a couple of days," McKeever said.

EMPIRE MAKER TOPS: With one sensational race, Empire Maker became the unquestioned favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

Empire Maker's impressive victory in the Florida Derby last week confirmed trainer Bobby Frankel's belief that the colt could be the one who gives the Hall of Famer his first Kentucky Derby win.

Even Frankel was dazzled with his regally bred colt's 9 3/4-length victory over slight favorite Trust N Luck.

"He might have peaked too soon," Frankel said after Empire Maker made just his fourth start. "But I think he's got so much ability maybe he didn't run his top race."

Empire Maker is back at Hollywood Park, where the son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled began training for the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 12 in his final prep before the Derby.

Lion Tamer was ranked second in the latest AP rankings before Saturday's dismal fourth-place finish in the Lane's End.

Also, the Bob Baffert-trained filly Composure, among the top 10 prospects for weeks, was retired Wednesday after fracturing her right front leg.

Derby Trail

Preps for the May 3 Kentucky Derby and winners:

2/15: Fountain of Youth:

Trust N Luck

3/1: San Rafael:

Rojo Toro

3/1: Battaglia:

Champali

3/8: El Camino Real:

Ocean Terrace

3/9: Louisiana. Derby:

Peace Rules

3/15: Florida Derby:

Empire Maker

3/16: Tampa Bay Derby:

Region of Merit

3/16: San Felipe:

Buddy Gil

3/22: Lane's End:

New York Hero

3/22: Rebel:

Crowned King

4/5: Illinois Derby

4/5: Santa Anita Derby

4/12: Wood Memorial

4/12: Blue Grass Stakes (Keeneland)

4/12: Arkansas Derby

4/12: California Derby

4/19: Lexington Stakes