MARCIE HEACOX 2006 TRIPLE CROWN NOTEBOOK

Brother Derek in Facile Santa Catalina Victory

Saturday, March 4, 2006

Santa Anita Park - Arcadia, CA

by Marcie Heacox

Brother Derek is now further concreted as the number one Kentucky Derby prospect with a win in Saturday’s Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II).

Mister Triester took the lead at the start with Latent Heat pressuring him through an opening quarter in 23:27 seconds, and a half mile of 46:31. Jockey Alex Solis held Brother Derek back on the outside of the leaders until the stretch, where they soon dropped Latent Heat and held off a surging Sacred Light by 1 3/4 lengths. Solis never tapped him more than a

©2006 Photo by  Marcie Heacox

Brother Derek wins The Santa Catalina Stakes.

 few times with the whip. Latent Heat finished 2 3/4 lengths behind those two, with Mister Triester, Hawkinsville, Blazing Sunset, Niagara Causeway, and Objective finishing the order.

“He really won it very easy,” Alex Solis proclaimed. “ I wasn’t using him that much. We wanted to make sure we didn’t do him in before the Kentucky Derby, if we get to that point.  The best thing today I thought was when we got back to the winner’s circle, Dan (Hendricks) said he is only 90 percent. If he was only 90 percent, that’s mighty exciting. We just pray he stays healthy and keeps moving forward.”

Brother Derek, a bay son of Benchmark, faced a field mainly comprised of maidens, but ran the 1 1/16 miles in a respectable time of 1:41:96 and barely broke a sweat. He suffered a minor scrape on his front left coronet, but will not suffer any setbacks according to trainer Dan Hendricks. His next start, barring any problems, is the Santa Anita Derby (Gr. I) on April 8, where Sacred Light will also likely be. The San Felipe Stakes (Gr. II) on March 18 is expected to draw more rivals for Brother Derek, including Bob Baffert-trainees Bob And John and Point Determined.

In Other Triple Crown News:

Gulfstream Park - Hallandale, FL

First Samurai, who originally finished third after setting easy fractions, was awarded the win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (Gr. II) when winner Corinthian was disqualified to third for bumping him into Flashy Bull. My Golden Song finished fourth in the 1 1/8 mile prep for the Florida Derby (Gr. I). First Samurai is ridden by Edgar Prado, trained by Frank Brothers, and owned by Bruce Lunsford and Lansdon Robbins III. He is nominated for both the Blue Grass (Gr. I) and aforementioned Florida Derby as his next start.

Sharp Humor rode a front running trip to upset favored Noonmark to win the 7 furlong Swale Stakes (Gr. III) in 1:22 flat. Mark Guidry rode the New York-bred son of Distorted Humor. Dale Romans trains and Purdedel Stables own the winner. Court Folly and In Summation completed the superfecta. Catcominatcha broke down in the backstretch and had to be euthanized.

Laity held off Pair of Kings, New Awakening, and Malameeze to win his first start as a three-year-old. The well-bred Claiborne gelding was ridden by Corey Lanerie and trained by Frank Brothers, who had a very nice day by winning two Derby preps. The 1 1/16 mile Polytrack race was completed in 1:46:88. The next start for local Derby hopefuls is the Lanes End Stakes (Gr. II) on March 25.