Thoroughbred Beat

THOROUGHBRED BEAT

DECEMBER 28, 2005

by James Scully

Brother Derek won three of five starts this year  (Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com) Brother — BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark), one of two Breeders’ Cup starters to win a graded event over the weekend, flattered this year’s Juvenile (G1) with an impressive one-length score in Saturday’s Hollywood Futurity (G1). The Dan Hendricks-trained colt enjoyed a perfect trip under Alex Solis, seizing control on the far turn and easily holding YOUR TENT OR MINE (Forest Camp) at bay through the stretch, and added the prestigious Hollywood Futurity to a victory in the Norfolk S. (G2). A good fourth in the Juvenile at Belmont Park, Brother Derek is now two for two around two turns but will have to outrun his speed-based pedigree at longer distances. However, the California-bred has certainly established himself as a major player for next year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races and earned another commendable BRIS Speed rating of 101 for the 1 1/16-mile race. The Hollywood Starlet (G1) winner received only a 92 for her effort the following day at the same distance. Those numbers mirror the Breeders’ Cup when Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even) got a 111 for the Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Folklore (Tiznow) netted only a 98. Fine second and third — Your Tent or Mine wasn’t going to catch the winner but ran well for second in his third career start. A debut maiden winner at 6 1/2 furlongs in early September, the Neil Drysdale charge entered the Hollywood Futurity off a sharp score in the seven-furlong Hollywood Prevue (G3) and looked good in his first two-turn attempt, closing ground in deep stretch. The talented colt owns plenty of room for improvement and didn’t appear at the end of his rope distance-wise Saturday, but Your Tent or Mine is bred for speed, not 10 furlongs. BOB AND JOHN (Deputy Minister) wound up another four lengths back in third and will enter 2006 as a very dangerous Triple Crown prospect for three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert. Disqualified from a six-length win in the Real Quiet S. two starts back, Bob and John wasn’t a serious factor stepping up in class in the Hollywood Futurity and remains well behind the top juveniles at this point. However, there is plenty to like about the late-running colt. Bob and John has progressed nicely this season and owns a terrific pedigree for the classics. He could get much better with experience and added ground. A.P. WARRIOR (A.P. Indy) was a big disappointment at 2-1, checking in fourth, and don’t be surprised to see a change in tactics. After Garrett Gomez took a hard hold early, his mount showed little interest thereafter. Trainer Eoin Harty will probably elect to give A.P. Warrior his head from the start next time.

Hollywood Lady — The Starlet featured a much less proven cast than
the Hollywood Futurity but drew a promising trio in BALANCE (Thunder Gulch),
SABATINI (Five Star Day) and MEETMEINTHEWOODS (General Meeting), who were all
off at less than 7-2 and the only runners in the 11-horse field under 10-1. They
wound up second, third and fourth, respectively, as DIPLOMAT LADY (Forestry)
stole the show on the front end. Now three for three at Hollywood Park, the
Christopher Paasch trainee was unplaced in her two starts elsewhere, both stakes
at Del Mar. The dark bay filly surprisingly got away to an uncontested advantage
early and was able to open up leaving the far turn with nice acceleration. She
turned in a very encouraging performance, but it will be interesting to see how
Diplomat Lady fares at Santa Anita this winter. Balance made a decent run for
second, falling a half-length short, but Sabatini looked better rounding out the
trifecta, closing with a flourish to be beaten only three lengths after dropping
too far back in only her second career start. Patrick Biancone has a strong duo
of Kentucky Oaks (G1) prospects in Wild Fit (Wild Wonder) and Sabatini.

Film star — FILM MAKER (Dynaformer) finished second to Ouija Board
(GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) but
didn’t capitalize upon that stellar effort this year, dropping the New York H.
(G2), Diana S. (G2), Glens Falls H. (G3) and Flower Bowl Invitational H. (G1) in
succession prior to a third in the Filly & Mare Turf at Belmont Park. The Graham
Motion-trained mare ran well every time, but she didn’t distinguish herself. If
Saturday’s La Prevoyante H. (G2) is any indication, Film Maker is set for a much
different campaign in 2006. The dark bay crushed her rivals at Calder,
unleashing a superb kick through the stretch to win in hand under Edgar Prado,
and the five-year-old has never looked better. Motion gave us all something to
look forward to by announcing that she’ll be back for her six-year-old season,
and Film Maker appears poised to make the most of it.

Burning brighter — ANDROMEDA’S HERO (Fusaichi Pegaus) earned a
measure of respectability with a runner-up finish in the Belmont S. (G1), but
the Nick Zito colt left a lot to be desired during his sophomore campaign,
losing nine straight and finishing unplaced in his four starts before Saturday’s
Fred W. Hooper H. (G3). The chestnut showed signs of turning things around when
fourth following a wide trip in the Clark H. (G2) in late November, and he
carried his momentum forward in Calder’s Grand Slam II program, gamely reeling
in stablemate Seek Gold (Touch Gold) in deep stretch to win the Hooper going
away by 1 3/4 lengths. Andromeda’s Hero must still prove himself against better
company, beginning in the February 4 Donn H. (G1) next out, but it looks like
he’s going to be much better at four and one to watch out for as he continues to
improve.

Positive spin — Tyler Baze did a masterful job guiding Diplomat Lady
to a wire-to-wire score in the Starlet, slowing the pace down up front while
maintaining a comfortable advantage over his nearest challenger down the
backside, and the 22-year-old showed why he is one of the best front-running
jockeys in the business. Winner of the Eclipse Award as the nation’s top
apprentice in 2000, Baze has had his ups and downs this season. He suffered
through a 62-race losing skein at Del Mar and failed a pre-race breathalyzer at
Hoosier Park prior to the October 1 Indiana Derby (G3), resulting in a seven-day
suspension. Baze decided to get his life back in order, joining Alcoholics
Anonymous and re-dedicating himself to his work. As a result, his business
picked back up during the Oak Tree meet and he remained the regular rider aboard
Mea Domina (Dance Brightly), guiding the Ron McAnally-trained filly to an
excellent score in the Las Palmas H. (G2) in early November. Sunday’s Starlet
provided another bright moment for a young man who appears headed in the right
direction.