THE PAMPLEMOUSSE (Kafwain), PIONEEROF THE NILE (Empire Maker) and CHOCOLATE
CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]), the three leading contenders for the $750,000 Santa
Anita Derby (G1) on April 4, each worked over the Pro-Ride on Wednesday in
preparation for the West Coast’s major prep for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May
2.
The Pamplemousse, an impressive six-length winner of the Sham S. (G3) on
February 28, worked six furlongs under regular rider Alex Solis in 1:13. The
Julio Canani-trained colt is expected to be a slight favorite over Pioneerof the
Nile in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby,
“They gave him 13 flat, but I caught him in 1:12 3/5,” said Miguel Delgado,
assistant to Canani, who is in Dubai for World Cup day on Saturday. “He galloped
out (seven furlongs) in (one) 27 and three (fifths).”
“That’s what we wanted,” Solis added. “He was five or six wide, and the last
sixteenth, he tends to get a little bored. But he won’t be bored on the fourth
of April. He better have his running shoes on.”
Pioneerof the Nile, winner of three straight graded stakes since being
switched to Bob Baffert, went six furlongs under former jockey Joey Steiner in a
bullet 1:11.40, fastest of 12 drills at the distance. The Zayat Stables homebred
exits a 1 1/4-length tally in the San Felipe S. (G2) on March 14.
“He went very nice,” Baffert said of Pioneerof the Nile under blue skies and
sunshine at Clockers’ Corner. “He relaxed early and picked it up in the lane. It
looks like it didn’t take much out of him. So far, so good.”
“I kind of wanted to get something in front him, because he likes a little
bit of a target, but he went perfect,” Steiner explained. “He was very
comfortable. He’s traveling good and showing some class, and that’s all you can
ask.”
Chocolate Candy, winner of the El Camino Real Derby (G3) and California Derby
in Northern California this year, worked one mile in 1:38.60 under Joel Rosario,
who will pick up the mount in the Santa Anita Derby for trainer Jerry
Hollendorfer.
“He went the half in about :50, five-eighths in 1:02.25, six furlongs in
1:14.25, seven in 1:26.53, and I got 1:38.91,” Hollendorfer said. “So if the
clockers gave him 1:38 3/5, that’s very close. Dan (Hollendorfer assistant Dan
Ward) got 1:38.75.”
Wednesday’s drill was an improvement from last Thursday, when Chocolate Candy
went a mile at Golden Gate Fields in 1:41.20.
“I wasn’t satisfied with the way he did it up there,” Hollendorfer said.
“That’s why I wanted to go a mile here, to see if the Golden Gate track was dead
that day, which it was. I started him off too fast up there, and went slower
today, and Rosario did an excellent job. We went slow the first part, the first
eighth in :13.66, and then :25.91, and he finished up really good, so that’s
what we were looking for.”
Hollendorfer said if all goes well, Chocolate Candy will blow out a
half-mile Tuesday before the race.
A small field is shaping up for the 72nd Santa Anita Derby. The other
probables are FEISTY SUANCES (Suances [GB]) and MR. HOT STUFF (Tiznow).
Mike McCarthy, assistant to Todd Pletcher, confirmed that Sham runner-up Take
the Points (Even the Score) will bypass the Santa Anita Derby in favor of the
Blue Grass S. (G1) a week later.
“He had a tough ship out here (when finishing second in the Sham on February
28),” McCarthy said. “The plane was delayed a couple of times and he ran hard
when he got here. The Blue Grass will give him extra time. He leaves Santa Anita
on April 7 for Kentucky.”
Santa Anita will host a media post position draw breakfast at Clockers’
Corner next Wednesday at 10 a.m. (PDT).