AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
| SANTA ANITA DERBY (G1), 6TH-SA, $750,000, 3YO, 1 1/8M, 3:00 P.M.
PDT, 4-8 |
|
| 1 |
A. P. WARRIOR, 3, c, by A.P. IndyWarrior Queen, by Quiet American O-Stan E Fulton; B-Jim Fleming (Ky) |
| 2 |
BROTHER DEREK, 3, c, by BenchmarkMiss Soft Sell, by Siyah Kalem O-Cecil N Peacock; B-Caldwell Mary H. (Ca) |
| 3 |
WILDFANG, 3, c, by Broken VowCouldn’t Be Sold, by Noble Nashua O-Niederrad Inc; B-Auchamore Stud (On) |
| 4 |
INDY WILDCAT, 3, c, by A.P. IndyPacheca, by Storm Creek O-Bearing Point Ventures or Capestro; B-Schonefeld Kathleen Ann (Ky) |
| 5 |
SACRED LIGHT, 3, c, by Holy BullSummer Glimmer, by Summer Squall O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Amerman Racing LLC (Ky) |
| 6 |
POINT DETERMINED, 3, c, by Point GivenMerengue, by Broad Brush O-The Robert & Beverly Lewis Trust; B-Bowman & Higgins Stable & Robert N Clay (Md) |
BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) is the horse to beat in Saturday’s Santa Anita
Derby (G1), and a good-looking victory likely will send him to Churchill Downs
as the favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1). The Dan Hendricks trainee is the
king of the Southern California three-year-olds. In his seasonal debut, Brother
Derek went right to the lead and then turned back last year’s juvenile champion
Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even) in the one-mile San Rafael S. (G2), earning a
108 BRIS Speed rating. In his most recent outing, the bay colt forced the early
issue from the outside, then drove to a 1 3/4-length victory over SACRED LIGHT
(Holy Bull) in the 1 1/16-mile Santa Catalina S. (G2). Brother Derek defeated A.
P. WARRIOR (A.P. Indy) in the Hollywood Futurity (G1) and the Norfolk S. (G2)
last year, and is unbeaten in three starts over the Santa Anita main track.
Perhaps more importantly, he is unbeaten in all four of his starts around two
turns and has been training as well as any horse can train leading up to this
event. With no other confirmed front runners, Brother Derek figures to be the
controlling speed, and we expect him to continue his winning ways at short odds.
We see it as a toss-up between A. P. Warrior and POINT DETERMINED (Point
Given) for the second spot, but we’re going to give the edge to the latter who
gets a rider change to the up-and-coming Rafael Bejarano. Point Determined
forced the early issue along the rail, dropped back turning for home, then
angled out and rallied from between horses before finishing a half-length short of
A. P. Warrior in the March 18 San Felipe S. (G2). The Bob Baffert trainee seems
to be improving at the right time and may have a tactical advantage breaking on
the outside. In his first start for trainer John Shirreffs, A. P. Warrior rated
kindly on the outside while attending the early pace before forging to the lead
in midstretch and gamely holding sway in the San Felipe. He has clearly improved
since leaving the barn of Eoin Harty, but we’re concerned with his inside post
position. He must either get sent for the early lead or let Brother Derek have
his way into the first turn. Our guess is the latter.
Sacred Light rallied nicely through the lane before finishing
second to Brother Derek in the Santa Catalina, but our concern is that he may be
a tad over-hyped since he has yet to cross the finish line in front. The gray
colt broke his maiden via disqualification at Del Mar, then finished third to
Wood Memorial (G1) entrant Bob and John (Seeking the Gold) in an allowance and
Sham S. (G3) earlier this year prior to the Santa Catalina. Sacred Light is a
nice closer who figures to come running late for a minor award.
INDY WILDCAT (A.P. Indy) was a determined winner of the Borderland Derby at
Sunland Park in his last start but faces a tough test with these. The dark bay
colt has good early speed but is hard to recommend with confidence here. WILDFANG (Broken Vow)
was beaten for $50,000 maiden claiming at 70-1 in his last start and is
clearly overmatched.