Bet the Triple Crown

They'll run the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) on Saturday, with High Fly and Noble Causeway likely going off as the favorites in this major prep race for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

The starting gate can't open quickly enough for Scott Savin, the beleaguered president and general manager of Gulfstream Park. Savin doesn't have a rooting interest, but the track he runs sure has a lot on the line.

"Maybe, whoever wins will go on to win the Kentucky Derby, and next year everyone will say, 'This is the place to be to get ready for the Triple Crown,"' Savin said Friday morning after a visit with Nick Zito, who trains High Fly and Noble Causeway.

It's been a tough racing meet for Savin, not to mention South Florida racing fans.

The track, owned by Frank Stronach's Magna Entertainment Corp., has been reduced to a bunch of big white tents while construction of a new grandstand and clubhouse continues. Savin has been criticized for moving the date of the Florida Derby from it's usual mid-March slot to five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, perhaps too close to the May 7 Derby for trainers to get another prep race into their horses.

The path to the Kentucky Derby took a few unexpected twists and turns during the weekend: High Limit soared into contention by winning the Louisiana Derby, and top prospect Declan's Moon dropped out with a slight knee fracture.

"It's still early to get excited," trainer Bobby Frankel said the day before High Limit won Saturday's Louisiana Derby in his first race in more than four months. "Strawberries today, jam tomorrow."

But Frankel was pretty pumped up after he got his first look at High Limit in action. Now 3-for-3, the three-year-old colt won his first two races for trainer Tony Dutrow last October before owners Gary and Mary West sent High Limit to Frankel's barn.

High Limit moves into this week's Run to the Roses Top 10 at No. 4. Meanwhile, undefeated Declan's Moon will be sidelined about five months, trainer Ron Ellis said. The two-year-old champion, No. 2 last week, was injured after winning the Santa Catalina Stakes on March 5.

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Also moving onto the Derby trail is Bellamy Road, yet another colt from Nick Zito's barn, this one owned by Yankees boss George Steinbrenner. Bellamy Road won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park by a whopping 153/4 lengths Saturday, and his next start is likely the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 9. Zito's other Derby hopefuls include No. 3 High Fly, No. 7 Sun King, Noble Causeway and Andromeda's Hero.

Sweet Catomine continued her domination of fillies Sunday by winning the Santa Anita Oaks, and now is likely to challenge the boys in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9. A strong showing in that race, and the two-year-old champion filly might have a chance to become just the fourth filly to win the Kentucky Derby.

Coming up this weekend is a full slate of Derby preps, topped by the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita and the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion Wilko takes on the likes of Roman Ruler, Consolidator, Don't Get Mad, Giacomo and Golden Shine in the 1 1-16th-mile San Felipe, while unbeaten Rockport Harbor is set to take on top-ranked Afleet Alex in the 1 1-16th-mile Rebel.

Rockport Harbor was flavouring his right rear leg Saturday — the same leg that was gashed during the Remsen Stakes in November and needed six weeks to heal. Trainer John Servis said "instead of being 75 to 80 per cent for the Rebel, Rocky will be maybe 65 to 70 percent."

Also, Galloping Grocer is scheduled to run in the one-mile Gotham at Aqueduct, and Sun King should be the favourite for the 1 1-16th-mile Tampa Bay Derby.

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This week's top 10, with updated Derby future wager odds through Sunday:

1. Afleet Alex (Tim Ritchey, trainer; John Velazquez, jockey): Velazquez ready for first trip aboard son of Northern Afleet ... Winner in five of seven starts, with two seconds, for earnings of $710,800 ... Next start: Rebel ... Odds: 8-1.

2. Rockport Harbor (John Servis, Stewart Elliott): Hopefully set for three-year-old debut after winning all four starts last year ... Worked five furlongs in 1:02.80 at Oaklawn on Friday, but right rear leg problem could be factor ... Next start: Rebel ... Odds: 14-1.

3. High Fly (Nick Zito, Jerry Bailey): Fountain of Youth winner has four victories in five starts ... Training solidly for final prep ... Next start: Florida Derby (April 2) ... Odds: 21-1.

4. High Limit (Bobby Frankel, Ramon Dominguez): Won 1 1-16th-mile Louisiana Derby by four lengths in near stakes record time ... Won despite 138 days between races ... Next start: Wood Memorial (April 9) or Blue Grass (April 16) ... Odds: 9-1.

5. Sweet Catomine (Julio Canani, Corey Nakatani): Cruised to victory in Sunday's Santa Anita Oaks ... Next test may be against boys ... Only three fillies have won Kentucky Derby; Winning Colors in 1988 was the last ... Next start: Santa Anita Derby (April 9) ... Odds: 16-1.

6. Roman Ruler (Bob Baffert, Bailey): Passed on Gotham in favour of staying at Santa Anita for 3-year-old debut ... Last race was BC Juvenile on Oct. 30 — he was fifth ... Worked a mile in 1:38.60 last week ... Next start: San Felipe ... Odds: 18-1.

7. Sun King (Zito, Edgar Prado): Won allowance by 53/4 lengths at Gulfstream on Feb. 26 ... Tuned up for next race with five-furlong work in 59.49 at Palm Meadows ... Next start: Tampa Bay Derby ... Odds: 10-1.

8. Wilko (Craig Dollase, Nakatani): BC Juvenile winner worked seven furlongs in 1:28 at Hollywood Park on Saturday ... A solid third in Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 18 in last race ... Next start: San Felipe ... Odds: 21-1.

9. Lost in the Fog (Greg Gilchrist, Russell Baze): Swale Stakes winner just 50-50 for Derby ... Undefeated colt shipped from Florida back to Northern California last week ... Next start: Undecided ... Odds: 13-1.

10. Bandini (Todd Pletcher, Velazquez): Fountain of Youth runner-up may be trainer's best Derby prospect ... Next start: Florida Derby ... Odds: 14-1.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Bellamy Road, Consolidator, Don't Get Mad, Galloping Grocer, Noble Causeway.

Undefeated Declan's Moon is off the Kentucky Derby trail because of a minor knee injury and won't return to the races for at least five months.

Trainer Ron Ellis said Friday that the injury ---- a hairline fracture to a bone that runs from the shoulder to the knee ---- was discovered several days after Declan's Moon won the Santa Catalina at Santa Anita on March 5 in his 3-year-old debut.

The injury is not career-threatening, Ellis said in a phone interview from California, but "it looks like he's probably going to be out of training about 60 days, and we don't have 60 days to spare."


The Kentucky Derby is May 7.

Ellis said once Declan's Moon returns to training, it could be another three months before the gelding races again.

"Realistically, we're looking at September," he said.

Declan's Moon, unbeaten in five races and considered one of the top Derby contenders, becomes the latest 2-year-old champion who couldn't win the race. The most recent Eclipse Award winner as best 2-year-old male to take the Derby was Spectacular Bid in 1979.

Ellis said Declan's Moon came out of the Santa Catalina in great shape, but there was "a little heat in his left knee, which is unusual for him.

"I just kind of chalked it up to running a race and not a real big deal," Ellis said.

A few days later, X-rays were taken.

"He's a hundred percent sound," Ellis said. "He's bouncing around the barn and he came out of the race great physically and mentally, other than what we discovered to be a displaced chip."

Surgery remains uncertain pending more X-rays next week.

Ellis still has a Derby contender in Don't Get Mad.

Meanwhile, the Derby trail will swing through the Fair Grounds today. High Limit drew the No. 3 post position in the nine-horse field for the $600,000 Louisiana Derby. The recently purchased 3-year-old of Bobby Frankel, a four-time Eclipse Award winner, was an early 5-2 favorite.

Scipion, winner of the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds last month and a 4-1 second choice, will start from post position 7 with Gary Stevens in the saddle.

Stewart Elliott, the jockey who nearly rode to the Triple Crown last year, is in danger of becoming one of the tens of thousands of immigrants deported each year for committing a felony.

The native-born Canadian found himself in trouble with immigration officials in December when a computerized database flagged his name at a New York airport as he got off a flight from Hong Kong.

Elliot is a lawful permanent resident of the United States, but his ability to remain here was jeopardized in 2001 when he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in New Jersey.

Under a tough-as-nails U.S. immigration-reform law passed in 1996, "an alien convicted of an aggravated felony shall be conclusively presumed to be deportable." It also encourages the deportation of people convicted of a crime of "moral turpitude."

The wheels of the country's massive immigration bureaucracy have already started to turn, albeit slowly.

Elliot was detained on Tuesday after an official determined that the conviction probably made the jockey ineligible to re-enter the United States. He was released on parole a day later and is now waiting for his case to be heard by an immigration judge.

Elliott was back riding horses Thursday at Aqueduct Racetrack and the jockey's spokeswoman said she is confident the problem will be cleared up quickly.

Immigration experts weren't so sure.

"If he is an aggravated felon, there is no wiggle room," said Marshall Fitz, associate director of advocacy for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "The discretion is largely taken away. He will be deported."

David Leopold, an immigration lawyer in Cleveland, said it is possible that Elliot's New Jersey sentence was structured in such a way that would allow him to avoid being classified as an aggravated felon, since he served no jail time. In that case, an immigration judge might allow him to stay, Leopold said.

"What this does is highlight the absurdity of the immigration law and how it works to incredible inefficiency and waste of tax dollars," he said.

Last year, nearly 83,000 people, or about 53 percent of all deportees, were kicked out of the United States because they had a criminal conviction. That total was up 6 percent from the year before and set an all-time record, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Manny Van Pelt.

Elliott spokeswoman Kelly Wietsma said the jockey had been assured by his lawyers that there are ways to resolve the matter.

"What troubles me the most about this whole thing is, why now?" Wietsma asked. "This happened years ago, and they stopped him in December? He was in the Kentucky Derby last year! It was all over the news."

Van Pelt said the long delay between Elliot's criminal conviction and his entry into the immigration courts is not unusual.

There is no automated system that prompts the government to act when an immigrant is convicted of a minor crime. The person, however, can be ruled inadmissable when he returns from a trip abroad.

Elliott, 40, was born in Toronto. His conviction stemmed from a fight with a friend in Burlington County, N.J. The jockey was sentenced to a year on probation and was ordered to pay $13,900 to cover the victim's medical bills. Prosecutors said Elliott beat the man with a beer bottle, a pool cue and a wooden stool.

He talked publicly about the episode during his Triple Crown bid last year. His mount, Smarty Jones, won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, then lost the Belmont Stakes by a length.

He was winless in four races at Aqueduct on Thursday, with his best finish a second aboard With Due Respect in the fifth race. His agent, Joe Rosen, said Elliott will continue riding while his case is being determined.

The franchise for the New York Racing Association should be put out to bid and awarded to an entity that will turn the troubled racing group into a for-profit enterprise, the New York state Legislature's top Republican said Tuesday.
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, once NYRA's chief ally at the state Capitol, said the franchise award process could help provide the state with needed cash. "Everyone agrees that NYRA ought to go for-profit," Bruno said after a budget negotiation session with Gov. George Pataki and other legislative leaders.

The non-profit NYRA has the franchise to run Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga racetracks through the end of 2007. But Pataki, in his recent state budget proposal, urged that the bidding process be sped up and that a panel be appointed to run the process. His budget office has estimated that the state could charge a future franchise holder an advance payment of $250 million – an amount that would cut out the cash-poor NYRA from holding on to the franchise in its current corporate form.

Bruno did not elaborate on his NYRA for-profit idea. "I think there's revenue there," he said, referring to money that could come the state's way from a future franchise holder.

The Senate majority leader also said the Senate is ready to push through a measure that would encourage the start of video lottery terminal gambling at Aqueduct and Yonkers Raceway. For different reasons, the VLT parlors at the two big downstate tracks have not yet begun – a delay that Bruno said is costing the state $1 billion in revenue a year.

The comments by Bruno came as officials with Friends of New York Racing have been making the rounds at the Capitol during the past week. Sources said they have been pressing for a new VLT bill to help encourage the tracks to get their casinos open.

Tracks have complained that the split they get from VLT proceeds is not enough. NYRA has said its VLT partner, MGM Mirage, needs assurances that it will continue to run the Aqueduct VLT parlor even if NYRA is no longer the franchise holder after 2007.

The moment of truth for Yougottawanna came just before the field of seven thoroughbreds turned into the stretch of the $100,000 Seabiscuit Breeders' Cup Handicap on Saturday at Bay Meadows in San Mateo.

Jockey Jason Lumpkins, who put Yougottawanna on the lead before the quarter mile pole and led from there on, cracked Yougottawanna with his whip to keep Jake Skate from flying to join the leader.

Yougottawanna responded with a spirited stretch run to hold off Jake Skate and win the stakes by a length and a quarter in a time of 1 minute, 41.42 seconds for the 1 1/16th mile event.

"Jason is a real nice jockey to have on the front end," said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who conditioned the winner. "I wanted this horse on the lead or close to the front."

Jake Skate, who finished 11/2 lengths in front of third place Adreamisborn, the favorite, broke best but conceded the lead to Yougottawanna shortly after the start.

"I was concerned a little in the backstretch," Lumpkins said. "But when that horse (Jake Skate) came to me, I hit with a left-handed stick and he responded."

Yougottawanna paid $12.60 to win as the fourth choice in the field.

The Kentucky Equine Education Project's position on racetrack gaming will hinge on whether its board of directors believes such a pursuit is in the best interest of Kentucky residents, a KEEP official said Feb. 5 during a meeting with members of the media at Turfway Park.
KEEP chairman Brereton Jones, who operates Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky., said it's imperative the horse industry has a level playing field with other states. Though KEEP hasn't taken a formal position on expanded gaming, it supports tax breaks and breed development incentives included in Gov. Ernie Fletcher's tax modernization plan.

"The governor's plan includes transferring existing taxes on stud fees into a new, breeder's incentive program for all breeds of horses--not just Thoroughbreds," KEEP executive director Claria Horn Shadwick said. "It is sound public policy to allow the industry to reinvest these dollars back into the horse economy to create additional jobs for Kentuckians. In addition, the governor's plan removes the requirement that non-residents must move horses out of Kentucky to avoid taxation. If we keep these horses here, it provides more jobs and benefits the economy through additional sales of support services like feed and grain, tack, and boarding fees."

Gene Clabes, KEEP equine director, said a breed development program for breeds of horses other than Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds would create opportunities for more horse farmers in the state.

As for gaming, Jones said the "ideal situation" would be a vote of the people and a constitutional amendment that specifies exactly how Kentucky residents would benefit from casino-style gambling. Among the pressing needs are funds for education, he said.

"Is KEEP strong enough to do that now?" Jones said in reference to a lobbying effort. "No. But that's the direction we're going in. In order to succeed, we have to put together coalitions that are extremely important. We have to be specific about what's best for Kentucky."

KEEP and others in the horse industry, including racetracks, haven't issued a position on gaming bills filed during the current General Assembly session. When asked if KEEP planned to devise a horse industry-specific gaming bill for the 2006 legislative session, Jones said it's too soon to make a definitive statement.

"Just connect the dots," Jones said. "We're being observant and getting ourselves ready."

Turfway president Bob Elliston, a member of the KEEP board, said the industry must be prepared "should an opportunity present itself. As much as we'd like to, we don't set the agenda for the General Assembly."

KEEP, launched last May, has more than 4,700 members. Its mission is to educate the public and legislators of the importance of all breeds of horses to the state's economy.

KEEP has proven effective in garnering support from non-racing factions. For instance, organization officials said 80 of 88 team leaders in Kentucky counties come from non-racing horse backgrounds. According to statistics, about 85% of the horses in the state aren't Thoroughbreds.

KEEP operations director Jim Navolio said the fact the organization has numerous 4-H members is proof of "the impact and momentum we have in the state."

"Too fast to last."
That is an old slogan that racing fans hope does not ring true in 2005. If it doesn't, then we're in for a memorable winter and spring on the road to the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), as a legion of brilliant young horses across the country prepare to embark on the journey of a lifetime.

It is safe to say that never before have so many run so fast at age two. But it is also safe to say that never before have we seen so many fast horses with pedigrees to carry them classic distances. So, all we can do is fasten our seat belts and hold on tight. And, yes, keep our fingers crossed.

To demonstrate just how fast a group of youngsters we're talking about, it's best to use the Beyer Speed Figures, which most can identify with. In looking at the Beyers, no less than 10 juveniles registered a figure of 100 or higher. And all have the pedigree and racing credentials to be considered legitimate Derby contenders.

They are Declan's Moon (Beyer Speed Figure of 107), Roman Ruler (106), Afleet Alex (102), Rockport Harbor (102), Galloping Grocer (102), Proud Accolade (100), Lost in the Fog (109), Devils Disciple (103), Going Wild (102), and the filly Sweet Catomine (102), who may very well be headed for the Derby trail. Nine of those have already won or placed in graded stakes, and another is a listed stakes winner and track record holder.

Many of these young horses combine their brilliant speed with a classic pedigree. But now it's time to see how they make the transition from 2-year-old to 3-year-old and how they hold together.

Another fascinating aspect to this crop of Derby horses is the courage several of them have already shown. It's one thing to be fast and win by huge margins, as many of these have done, but when you see Declan's Moon (a five-length maiden winner) and Roman Ruler (averaging 7 1/2 lengths a victory) in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. II), and Rockport Harbor (averaging 7 1/2 lengths a victory) and Galloping Grocer (averaging 10 1/2 lengths a victory) in the Remsen (gr. II) hook up in gut-wrenching stretch battles with none of them giving an inch, you know you're looking at special horses.

You also had Afleet Alex (averaging 9 1/2 lengths a victory) gamely running down a tenacious Devils Disciple (averaging seven lengths a victory) at the wire in the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I); and Proud Accolade (averaging 6 1/2 lengths a victory) holding off Afleet Alex in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I).

Those races revealed much more about these horses than their runaway victories.

Adding to the anticipation of this year's Derby trail is having unbeaten stakes winners in several regions--Declan's Moon (four-for-four) in Southern California; the lightning-fast Lost in the Fog (two-for-two) in Northern California; Rockport Harbor (four-for-four) in Arkansas; and High Fly (three-for-three) in Florida.

High Fly, a son of Atticus trained by Bill White for Charlotte Weber, couldn't have been more impressive winning the one-mile Aventura Stakes at Gulfstream Jan. 8. Not only did he display an explosive turn of foot in the stretch, he did it under a hand ride, while running straight as an arrow every step of the way. It's always encouraging to see a young horse display both brilliance and professionalism, especially in only his third career start and first in a stake.

This past weekend did not reveal anything as exciting as High Fly, but Harlington, a regally bred son of Unbridled out of Serena's Song, looked impressive winning a 1 1/8-mile allowance race for his second win in as many starts, both in the slop. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he still has some learning to do, but this effort at nine furlongs was a big step forward. Jockey John Velazquez went to a very early left-handed whip nearing the quarter pole. When he switched to a right-handed whip in the stretch, Harlington pinned his ears and jumped back to his left lead. But he still drew clear and was striding out strongly at the wire, coming home his last eighth in a solid :12 3/5.

Pletcher, who also has stakes winners Proud Accolade and Flamenco, and the impressive maiden winner Bandini, sent out yet another promising 3-year-old over the weekend when he saddled Monarch Lane, a son of Maria's Mon, to a 5 3/4-length victory in a seven-furlong maiden event. Then, on Monday, he was represented by Yes Yes Yes, a son of Yes It's True, who romped by 9 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong maiden race.

Amazingly, Pletcher now has six Derby prospects for six different owners – Eugene and Laura Melnyk (Harlington), Padua Stables (Proud Accolade), Peachtree Stable (Flamenco), Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith (Bandini), Edgewood Farm (Monarch Lane), and Team Valor Stables (Yes Yes Yes).

If ever a filly looked like a strong Derby contender this early in the year it is Sweet Catomine, who finally got her 3-year-old debut out of the way, winning the Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III) pretty much as she pleased, tossing her ears around as if looking for competition. Considering she wasn't 100% for the race, according to trainer Julio Canani, we can expect bigger and better things from this powerful daughter of Storm Cat who appears to have no weaknesses. With her push-button acceleration and ability to get herself out of trouble in a flash, and a pedigree loaded with brilliance and stamina, she definitely looks like the real thing.

It's hard to get a good gauge on the other 3-year-old winners this past weekend. San Rafael (gr. III) winner Spanish Chestnut, a son of Horse Chestnut is improving with every race, and turned in a gutsy effort in the San Rafael, but he's still determined to get the lead, and we'll have to wait to see if he'll learn to settle for Patrick Biancone, who faced the same challenge last year with Lion Heart.

Count Fleet winner Scrappy T, by Fit to Fight, also won wire-to-wire, and while he's as consistent as they come, it's too early to tell if he's a legitimate Derby horse. The same is true for LeComte winner Storm Surge, who is now a three-time stakes winner for Dallas Stewart. The son of Storm Cat did not beat a strong field in a race in which they came home the last quarter in :26 3/5. He is no doubt a good horse, but must prove himself against stronger competition.

At Golden Gate, Buzzards Bay, a son of Marco Bay, showed a lot of grit to win the Golden Gate Gate Derby, but he runs with his head a bit high, and was subjected to a furious barrage of whips to eke out a victory in a three-horse field.

In the six-furlong San Miguel Stakes (gr. III), the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Going Wild, by Golden Missile, just held off So Long Birdie, a half-brother to Birdstone and Bird Town, to win by nose in 1:09 3/5.

In another six-furlong stake, Maddy's Lion, a son of Lion Hearted, romped by 6 1/4 lengths in a solid 1:11 2/5 in the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes (formerly the Best Turn) at Aqueduct, his third victory in five career starts.

Also, last week, Stormin Away, a son of Skip Away, defeated the Bob Baffert-trained Devil's Bay by a half-length in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Santa Anita. Finishing third was the stakes-placed Scipion.

Talking about the speed of this crop of 3-year-olds, the aforementioned Lost in the Fog, who has run freakishly fast times in both his starts, worked five furlongs last Saturday in a scorching :57 4/5 over a dead strip at Golden Gate. The next fastest work of the 42 at that distance was 1:00 4/5.

Also turning in a big work this past week was Galloping Grocer, who breezed a half in :47 2/5 at Belmont. Returning to the work tab after suffering a foot abscess that cost him a week's training was Roman Ruler, who drilled a sharp five furlongs in 1:00 2/5.

The much-heralded Fusaichi Samurai, who has some catching up to do, breezed a half in :49, while the Lukas-trained Consolidator, winner of the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I), went five-eighths in :59 4/5. Finally, turning in his first work of the year was the highly promising Rush Bay, who breezed a half in :48 4/5 at Fair Grounds for Tom Amoss, who also sent out Cherokee Path for a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 4/5.

Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin Racing may be be back on the Derby trail this year after confirming their undefeated 2-year-old Shamardal will be nominated to the Triple Crown and pointed for the UAE Derby (UAE-I) at Nad al Sheba. The son of Giant's Causeway is three-for three, including victories in the group I Dewhurst Stakes and group II Vintage Stakes, both in England.

Also pointing to the UAE Derby, and heading for the Kentucky Derby trail is Team Valor's Italian 2-year-old champion Becrux, winner of the group I Gran Criterium. Team Valor has two other European horses on the Derby trail. They are Congleve, a five-length maiden winner on the all-weather track at Deauville, who will go to Michael Dickinson, and the stakes-placed Guillaume Tell, who has already breezed a half in :47 3/5 for trainer Pletcher.

FORT WORTH - The National Cutting Horse Association has agreed to keep its Triple Crown Series in Fort Worth through the 2009 events.



The December World Championship Futurity, the April Super Stakes and the July Summer Spectacular, which have an all-star cast of horses ages 3 through 6, will remain in Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum.


"We see a continual commitment in Fort Worth, both from the public and private sectors, to support cutting," said Jeff Hooper, the association's executive director. "The city has made a potential capital investment in the sport. The potential for further expansion of the facilities was a major factor for staying."