Derby News

ARCADIA, CA. (March 1, 2006) - Leading Kentucky Derby hopeful Brother Derek is certain to be a short priced favorite in Saturday's (GII) 1-1/16 mile Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita. The race is the fifth race on the eleven race card that features the $1,000,000 (GI) Santa Anita Handicap.

Owned by Cecil Peacock, Brother Derek has never finished worse than fourth in his six race career while winning four times, including three graded stakes, with earnings of $592,080. The son of Benchmark is unbeaten around two turns and his worst effort came after a troubled trip in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile (GI) going 1-1/16 miles around a single turn last October at Belmont Park. Since the Juvenile, Brother Derek has won the Hollywood Futurity (GI) and the San Rafael (GII) in his most recent start, where he beat 2-year-old champion Stevie Wonderboy by a length on January 14. Brother Derek has trained impressively since his last start, including an effortless 1:12 1/5 drill on February 23 in his latest work. Stevie Wonderboy has since been sidelined after suffering a condylar fracture to his right foreleg following a workout at Hollywood Park and figures to be on the sidelines at least 90 days.

Brother Derek is trained by 47 year-old Dan Hendricks and is the first Kentucky Derby contender for Hendricks, who is a favorite among local horsemen for possessing such a positive approach to life and a terrific sense of humor since suffering a motorcycle accident on July 7, 2004 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Hendricks was back at his barn at Del Mar, Ca. within six weeks to resume training full-time following the accident.

The Santa Catalina's nine horse field figures to have an abundance of speed which may force Brother Derek and jockey Alex Solis to take back off what could prove to be a hotly contested pace.

Another contender appears to be Juddmonte Farm's Latent Heat, trained by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel. Latent Heat tries winners for the first time after an easy maiden win is his second career start, going seven furlongs over the Santa Anita oval as the 2-5, favorite. The son of Maria's Mon was second in his debut, beaten only ½ a length in quick time. Latent Heat gets his first try around two turns and figures to relish the added distance while retaining the services of Santa Anita's leading rider Patrick Valenzuela.

Hawkinsville could be another to make an impact in the Santa Catalina. He held on to be a game second in the 1-1/8 mile Sham Stakes (GIII) on February 1 after setting the pace for the first seven furlongs of the race. The shorter distance Saturday could make Hawkinsville tough to catch and the threat of rain in the forecast on Thursday could make for a speed favoring wet surface by Saturday.

The full field from the rail out with weights and riders are: Hawkinsville 115 (Mike Smith); Mister Triester 115 (Kent Desormeaux); Latent Heat 115 (Patrick Valenzuela); Wanna Runner 117 (Victor Espinoza); Niagara Causeway 115 (Felipe Martinez) Objective 117 Garret Gomez; Brother Derek 122 (Alex Solis); Blazing Sunset 115 (Tyler Baze); Sacred Light 115 (Aaron Gryder).

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