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Russian Greek passes them all in Cal Derby Olympia Star Inc.'s Russian Greek went last to first in Saturday's $100,520 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields, stamping himself as the top local contender for the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby on February 18. Now two-for-two going two turns, the Giant's Causeway colt gives Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer another potential Kentucky Derby hopeful, alongside Grade 1 CashCall Futurity runner-up Rousing Sermon. New rider Aaron Gryder followed Hollendorfer's instructions to the letter aboard Russian Greek. Dropping back right out of the gate, the 8-5 favorite loped along in an isolated last, but not much more than three lengths behind the penultimate runner. Up front, his stablemate Reconstruction set the pace through fractions of :23 1/5 and :47 on the Tapeta. Southern California shipper Hodge, the 9-5 second choice, tracked the leader before overtaking him entering the final turn. Moving in tandem with Hodge were Unveiled Heat and Cahill Chrome, the 29-1 longest shot on the board. Hodge held a slim lead through six furlongs in 1:12 1/5, but came under pressure entering the stretch. As he made hard work of it, Cahill Chrome put his head in front. Russian Greek had been stealthily gearing up, and once produced by Gryder, he picked up strongly down the outside. Foiling the upset-minded Cahill Chrome in the final strides, Russian Greek powered clear to win by a widening length. He covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:45 and paid $5.40, $3.40 and $2.60. The aptly-named Cahill Chrome, a flashy chestnut, crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths to the good of Senor Rain. Hodge tired to fourth, followed by Unveiled Heat, Blacky the Bull and an eased Reconstruction. Russian Greek nearly doubled his bankroll to $121,700 from his 4-3-0-0 line. A debut maiden winner sprinting six furlongs on the dirt at Santa Rosa, the dark bay was a belated fifth in the Golden Nugget Stakes over the same trip at Golden Gate. Russian Greek stretched out to two turns in the December 10 Gold Rush Stakes, where he was compromised by a stumble at the start. Nevertheless, he uncorked a bold late run to prevail by a neck. The Kentucky-bred Russian Greek was purchased for $100,000 as a weanling at Keeneland November, as part of the Overbrook Farm dispersal. He is out of the Grindstone mare Sand Dollar, who is a half-sister to $3.9 million-earner and multiple Grade 1 hero Cat Thief. Russian Greek's second dam is multiple Grade 3 victress Train Robbery, and his third dam is multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Track Robbery.
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