Brother Derek fires bullet, aims for Santa Catalina

Brother Derek took only three starts to earn his first graded victory in the Norfolk (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

With jockey Alex Solis in the saddle, recent San Rafael S. (G2) winner
BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) sizzled six furlongs in a bullet 1:12 1/5 over Santa
Anita’s fast track on Thursday. The Dan Hendricks trainee’s work was the fastest
of 23 at the distance by two full seconds. The California-bred Grade 1 victor is
targeting the March 4 Santa Catalina S. (G2) as his next stop on the Kentucky
Derby (G1) trail.

“He was just breezing, not as aggressive as last time,” Hendricks said. “We
took a little edge off him, and everything looks good.”

“He was so relaxed, he made the track look fast,” Solis said. “The track was
loose, but he still went 1:12 1/5, just breezing. He was real happy.”

Hendricks outlined Brother Derek’s training strategy leading up to the Santa
Catalina.

“He doesn’t require a lot of works,” Hendricks said. “I don’t need to work
him every five or six days and really pound him. He stays fit on his own. He’ll
do a little something (blowout) next Wednesday or Thursday, and that should be
it.”