Colonel John marches on in Sham

WinStar Farm's homebred COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow) took the lead at the head of the lane and held off a closing El Gato Malo (El Corredor) to record a measured half-length win in the $200,000 Sham Stakes (GIII) at Santa Anita on Saturday. Trained by Eoin Harty and piloted by Garrett Gomez, the talented three-year-old finished nine furlongs over the Cushion Track in 1:50. The 3-2 second choice rewarded backers with mutuels of $5, $2.40 and $2.10.

Victory Pete (Five Star Day) broke best and led the field through moderate opening splits of :24 4/5, :50 and 1:14 1/5, with Colonel John tracking him on the outside and El Gato Malo saving ground behind the pacesetter. Colonel John took command leaving the turn and opened up a clear edge, but 3-5 choice El Gato Malo was just kicking into gear after swinging out wide in the stretch. El Gato Malo made up ground late but could not do enough to collar the winner, finishing three lengths clear of his nearest foe.

"I just wanted to let (Colonel John) have the smoothest trip possible and have him come home, and he really did," Gomez said. "He did things very nice and came home really well. I heard David's horse (referring to Flores aboard El Gato Malo) coming, and I floated out to him. This colt kept running, and he even galloped out real good. The other horse never got to him. I was very proud of him."

Harty emphasized that the tactics played a role in the outcome, and he was generous in his appraisal of his rival, El Gato Malo.

"I didn't want (Colonel John) taken off the pace and get caught in that position that David (on the runner-up) got caught in," the winning trainer said. "When you get away with three-quarters in (1:)14, you're sitting pretty good if you're close to the lead. David, unfortunately, got caught up in traffic. (El Gato Malo's) a very good horse, too. Not taking anything away from Colonel John, but I think if David had gotten out earlier, it would have been a little tighter than it was."

Flores lamented his trip.

"I wanted to move a little bit sooner," Flores said, "but I was in a spot where I just had to be patient before making a run, and then see if I can catch them. He absolutely leveled when we got out, but he just had too much to do. It was a very good race for him, though."

El Gato Malo paid $2.20 and $2.10 while completing the paltry $3.90 exacta ($1). Victory Pete held off Reflect Times (Jpn) (French Deputy) by one length and paid $2.60 at 12-1. The $1 trifecta (6-1-5) was good for $15.10. Success Fee (Mineshaft) wound up last in the five-horse field, which was reduced by the scratches of Trevor's Clever (Stephen Got Even) and Coast Guard (Stormy Atlantic).

Colonel John improved his mark to 5-3-2-0, $375,300, with all five starts coming on synthetic ovals. The Kentucky-bred colt broke his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths in his second career outing and followed that up with a daylight score in the Real Quiet S. He was last seen finishing a solid second in the CashCall Futurity (G1).

The bay is out of the winning Sweet Damsel (Turkoman) and is a half-brother to the Grade 3-placed Caroline's Gold (Touch Gold). Colonel John has a pair of full siblings, a two-year-old colt named Mr. Hot Stuff and a yearling filly named Kayce Ace. This is the same family as multiple Grade 2 star Imperialism (Langfuhr), who finished third in the 2004 Kentucky Derby (G1).

A rematch between Colonel John and El Gato Malo is in the cards, with both aiming for the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (G1).