Sweet Catomine works for Santa Anita Derby

Sweet Catomine has dropped only one race from six career starts, that coming in her debut maiden last summer (Benoit Photo) Champion and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) victress SWEET CATOMINE (Storm Cat) worked five furlongs on Sunday over the fast track at Santa Anita in :59 1/5. The move, which was the second fastest of 52 for the distance on the day, was the final major workout for the bay miss before her historic run in Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby (G1) against the boys. “I got :59 flat,” trainer Julio Canani said. “She galloped out in 1:12 3/5. She’s as good as she can come (up to a race).” Sweet Catomine had jockey Corey Nakatani, who has the call for the Santa Anita Derby, in the saddle for the work. The pair were last seen in competition together taking the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) on March 13. “I didn’t want her to break so far back, that was the only thing,” Canani said. “But this filly, she does it on her own. Corey never asked her for anything.” Sweet Catomine will be seeking to become only the fourth filly in 68 years to beat the boys in the Santa Anita Derby, joining Ciencia (1939), Silver Spoon (1959) and Winning Colors (1988) if she succeeds. “Nothing is a walkover,” Canani said.

In other Santa Anita Derby news, Turf Paradise Derby hero GENERAL JOHN B (Sweetsouthernsaint)
logged six furlongs in 1:14 3/5 at Santa Anita under jockey Jon Court, who will
be in the irons on Saturday.

“It’s the first time Court worked him and he thought he was a really good
horse,” trainer Roger Stein said. “I haven’t had that many good horses but even
after a short time I can tell you this is the best horse I’ve ever had. He is
that good.

“Time-wise, I was a little disappointed,” Stein added. “Watching him going it
looked like he was just out for a stroll but Jon said he galloped out of the
three-quarters really good. He felt good and strong and Jon wanted to leave
something in the tank for next week. You know, you can’t feel that great running
25 or 30-1 shots but I really think he’ll hit the board. I’m confident he’ll run
a really good race.”

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy) worked five panels in 1:00
2/5 and is considered possible for the Santa Anita Derby. The chestnut colt
finished second by seven lengths in his maiden bow last out and doesn’t yet have
a rider named.

At Hollywood Park, Grade 1-placed GIACOMO (Holy Bull) breezed three-quarters
in 1:14 4/5 over the fast track. Mike Smith, who is scheduled to ride the
bay in the Santa Anita Derby, was aboard for the work.

“It was just an easy six furlongs,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “This will be his third
race at Santa Anita this meet. He doesn’t need much.”

Also at Hollywood, multiple Grade 2-placed DON’T GET MAD (Stephen Got Even)
was officially clocked in 1:01 2/5 for five furlongs, but conditioner Ron Ellis
said the bay colt actually worked three-quarters.

“He worked between poles,” Ellis said. “I got him in 1:14 1/5.

“If you’re going to the (Kentucky) Derby (G1), that’s better than running in
a six-horse field and suddenly experiencing culture shock when you’re in a
20-horse field,” Ellis said when asked about the large field expected for the
Santa Anita Derby.

Tyler Baze has been named to ride Don’t Get Mad in the Santa Anita Derby.