Hollywood Derby

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eleven sophomores have been entered in Sunday’s $500,000 Hollywood Derby
(G1), and FROST GIANT (Giant’s Causeway) is one of the less experienced
members in the field. The chestnut colt has made only five starts during his career,
the first four coming in England and Ireland, and we believe he can continue to
develop into a top-class horse. He’s run poorly only once in his career,
recording an unplaced finish when making his 2006 debut in the English Two Thousand
Guineas (Eng-G1) in May, but he rebounded nicely to post a head score in the Kilternan S. (Ire-G3) next
out. Sent to the United States after that victory, Frost Giant made his U.S. debut in the Joe Hirsch Turf
Classic Invitational S. (G1), but he suffered a bad trip while being steadied in traffic
before finishing a good fifth, earning a 102 BRIS Speed rating and a 103 BRIS E2
Pace figure. Now trained by Richard Dutrow, Frost Giant can continue to
improve and take this one at a good price. Edgar Prado has the call.

SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission) is the one to beat. The
chestnut captured the Colonial Turf Cup S. in his turf debut and
proceeded to added victories in the Secretariat S. (G1) and Jamaica Breeders’
Cup H. (G2) most recently. His only loss on the turf came against older horses
in the Man o’ War S. (G1), where he ran a solid third. The Barclay Tagg charge earned a 110
BRIS Late Pace rating for his Jamaica win and has set records on both the dirt
and turf during his eight-race career. Showing Up may be too much for his competition here,
but we’ll try to beat him at short odds. Regular rider Cornelio
Velasquez will be aboard.

The formerly English-based DARK ISLANDER (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) won an
allowance at Newmarket in
July and a handicap at Bath in September before capturing his U.S. debut in the
Oak Tree Derby (G2) in mid-October. The bay colt will be stretching out
a bit farther here, but he seemed to handle the nine-furlong distance of the Oak
Tree Derby with no trouble and we don’t think the extra furlong will
make much difference. Trained by John Hills, Dark Islander has been
training well in advance of this one and could continue his winning ways.

OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique) came with a rally to finish second in both the Del
Mar Derby (G2) and Oak Tree Derby in his past two starts and could show more
here with the added ground. The bay gelding has been working well to prepare
for this start and may prove to be a serious factor.

KIP DEVILLE (Kipling) earned a spot in this one after a good win in the Bryan
Station S. at Keeneland last out. The Richard Dutrow charge tracked in second
that day before coming with a driving run to take the top prize by 1 1/4
lengths. He might be better at a mile than 10 furlongs, but the gray colt
deserves some respect, especially after a swift five-furlong move in :57 4/5 on
November 17 on Hollywood’s Cushion Track. He could show up in the exotics under Julien
Leparoux. IVAN DENISOVICH (Ire) (Danehill) has already made two starts
stateside, running well back on the dirt in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
(G1) and giving a much better showing in the grassy Secretariat when
finishing second to Showing Up. He earned a 107 Speed rating for the latter and
might relish
the return to U.S. sod on Sunday. Consider for the top three at a price.

 ZANN (Dynaformer) owns lower numbers than others in here, but has shown
new life since switching to the turf in his third career start. The dark bay
colt might earn a check with a career-best effort. VEGA’S LORD (Ger) (Lord of
Men) is a listed winner in Germany who will be making his U.S. debut here. The
chestnut might need a race or two to acclimate himself to his new surroundings.
CRESTED (GB) (Fantastic Light) was second by a neck in the Hawthorne Derby (G3)
last out but could find these rivals a bit too tough to run down. BIG MISTAKE (Broken Vow) broke his maiden in August on Del Mar’s turf
and then captured an allowance at Hollywood on the Cushion Track. He doesn’t
appear ready for this level.

BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) is a top class performer on the dirt, most recently
running fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), but has never tried the turf
before. The Dan Hendricks trainee has been working well on the green at
Hollywood to prepare for his turf debut in this one and will challenge for it
all if he takes to the surface switch. However, we’re willing to just watch him
in here to see if he likes the grass in competition.