Derby News

Photo By: Benoit

A.P. Warrior, under jockey Corey Nakatani, upsets the San Felipe field with a hard-fought half-length victory over Point Determined Saturday at Santa Anita Park

Arcadia, CA ( March 18, 2006) - A.P. Warrior jumped from obscurity into the Kentucky Derby picture, upsetting heavily favored Bob and John in today's $250,000 Gr. II San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. With the victory, A.P. Warrior is assured of a showdown with the west's top gun, Brother Derek, in the 1-1/8 mile Santa Anita Derby, to be run on April 8.

In the San Felipe, A. P. Warrior broke alertly from his inside post with new rider Corey Nakatani, who took a slight hold going into the first turn to lay fifth behind pace setters Simon Pure, Rackateer and Point Determined. A. P. Warrior continued to track on the outside of the leaders down the backstretch until the ˝ mile pole where he was asked to pick up the pace.

The son of A. P. Indy responded to the calling and joined the leaders at the top of the stretch and drew clear with some strong right handed urging inside the final furlong to win by a half length. Point Determined held on well to be second with even money favorite Bob and John after being shuffled back early, finishing third.

The win was third in seven starts for A. P. Warrior and raised his earnings to $285,185. The time for the 1-1/16 miles was 1:42.40 on a rain influenced track listed as fast.

Winning owner Stan Fulton of Las Vegas, the owner of Sunland Park in New Mexico, decided to switch trainers after a disappointing fourth place finish as the even money favorite in his last start, the El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows in Northern California. The $1.3 million dollar yearling purchase was shipped to Hollywood Park to be trained by last year's Kentucky winning trainer, John Shirreffs, who won with Giacomo at odds of 50-1.

Shirreffs really didn't have much time to get to know A.P. Warrior's since his last start on January 29, but was impressed with the morning activity of his protégé and still thought the only way to get really to know him better was through racing.

Shirreffs got much more than expected, a visit to the Santa Anita winner's circle for the usually shy trainer and perhaps a chance to win back-to-back Kentucky Derbys.

Winning jockey Corey Nakatani said, "It's the epitome of our sport to be on the Kentucky Derby trail." Nakatani continued, "Wherever he was at, just don't fight with him," referring to pre-race instructions from trainer John Shirreffs. "We're looking for bigger and better things with him down the road."

Nakatani continued, "Although this was my first time on him, I had been on him in the morning, and he worked unbelievable for me. He showed me then that he was a better horse than what he had been doing in the afternoon. I've been trying to get on him a long time, ever since I realized that Patrick Valenzuela wasn't going to ride him back last fall. I gave the connections a phone call and tried to get on him at that point, but they went through their channels. I finally was able to get on him when John Shirreffs got him, and, like I said, he worked unbelievable for me. I wasn't surprised by anything he did this afternoon. When that other horse (Point Determined) came to me, he pinned his ears and dug in like I thought he would. And he is a very, very versatile horse. I don't think he has to be up there close where he was today. I was four or five behind, just tracking them, and he was doing it all on his own. I could not have been more pleased with the way he was traveling underneath me. He was relaxed. I really think the sky is the limit with this horse. I'm excited."

Trainer John Shirreffs added, "I was really impressed with A.P. Warrior today." Giving the horse all the credit and taking the spotlight away from himself. "He's a classy horse. He is a very, very classy horse. We just didn't want to interfere with him (when asked about race strategy), just let him run his race."

Asked if the Santa Anita Derby (Grade I, $750,000, 1 1/8 miles on April 8) would be next: "Oh, yeah. Absolutely. We're not looking to go on the road. We'll stay home."Asked if he had to do much with the horse since taking over as trainer from Eoin Harty: "Not really, no. The same as normal."

Victor Espinoza, jockey of Bob and John, said, "I kind of lost my position right out of the gate. We got bumped a little bit, and my horse kind of lost his balance. So he jumped a little bit further back than I wanted. But he was running good at the end. There was just a little too much ground to make up. I think it turned out to be a good experience for him, getting dirt kicked in his face and all. It didn't seem to bother him. He'll be ready for the next one. I'm not disappointed at all." The next one Espinoza was referring to is the Santa Anita Derby on April 8.

Three time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert who trained the second and third place finishers in the San Felipe said, "At a mile and a sixteenth, I knew Bob and John is not real quick. He's one-paced, but he ran well. I just want to stay in the game right now. We're in the game. I just want to stay in the game."

Baffert went on saying, "Point Determined is a horse I've always liked. He's very immature and he's learning. Like I said, right now, you want to be in the game. If they can run one-two-three, you're in the game. I've never won this race and won the (Kentucky) Derby, so that's the only good thing about it. I guess I'll have to put the blinkers back on (Sky Diving). He didn't like that he was a total maniac without them."

The early fractions were: (:22.79, :46.50, 1:10.39, 1:35.84. A.P. Warrior paid $17.00, $7.40 and $3.60 for the win; Point Determined paid $5.20 and $3.00 to place with Bob and John paying $2.40 to show.

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