(Arcadia, Ca) - Bob & Beverly Lewis's D. Wayne Lukas trained Consolidator jumped to the forefront in the west coast Kentucky Derby picture with a record setting 6 1/2 length victory in the San Felipe Stakes (GII) on Saturday at Santa Anita. It was Consolidator's third win in nine career starts and his second graded stakes win.

Consolidator sent off at odds of 7-1, broke well and rushed up to be a joint leader with Lucky J. H going into the clubhouse turn. Consolidator continued to be pressured by Lucky J. H. all the way down the backstretch to midway on the far turn, where Consolidator put away Lucky J.H. and finished very strongly the final furlong to pull away for an easy win. Although Consolidator's rider Rafael Bejarano never used the whip in the stretch drive, he was aggressively hand-ridden and finished willingly while never being challenged.

3-1 Favorite Roman Ruler was making his three-year-old debut. Roman Ruler trailed early, but made a threatening move around the far turn only to weaken in the stretch drive and was eased to finish last in the field of eight runners.

B Wayne Hughes' Don't Get Mad, after looking so impressive finishing second in his last start the San Vicente (GII), was a distant third in today's San Felipe. Don't Get Mad may have had an excuse. He trailed early and made a bold move after going past the 3/8 pole, but ran into a wall of horses and was blocked until well inside the 3/16 pole. His rider, Tyler Baze, swung him out wide to find racing room, however, by that time the eventual winner was long gone.

Consolidator's final time of 1:40.11 is a new stakes record. The fractions were very fast. :23.44; :46.02; 1:09.74; 1:34.03 on a surface listed as wet fast. The son of Storm Cat earned $150,000 for the victory, bringing his total to $639,260.

Jockey Rafael Bejarano was reunited with Consolidator after a disappointing performance in his last start in the San Vicente.

In a post race interview Bejarano said, "Thanks to the owners and trainer for giving me this opportunity. This horse is a very nice horse. He's got a lot of speed and he stays close to other horses. When he changed leads he really felt good."

Consolidator's owner Bob Lewis stated, "It's mighty exciting to be back (on the Derby trail) again. That was a fantastic ride. Wayne said he was a different horse today and he was right on the button."

Trained D Wayne Lukas added, "I did a bad job getting him ready last time. I babied him too much but we got it corrected. That was really impressive. I was really pleased. We're on our way now. I feel pretty good about him."

Consolidator paid $16.40, $6.80, $4.20, Giacomo and Mike Smith, who ran another good race only to be second, paid $4.80, $3.20 and Don't Get Mad paid $3.20 to show. Breeder's Cup Futurity winner Wilko was a distant fourth making his first start of the year as a three-year-old.

No indication was given on when Consolidator's would race next be but if all goes well it will likely be the Santa Anita Derby to be run on April 9th.

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