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KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT MARCH 6, 2008 by James Scully Just like the Bob Lewis (G2), San Rafael (G3) and San Vicente (G2) before it, Saturday's Sham S. (G3) featured another small field at Santa Anita, but the top two Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders in California, COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow) and EL GATO MALO (El Corredor), turned out for the 1 1/8-mile event. With no early speed in the five-horse field, a tedious pace developed from the start (opening quarter in :24.97) and you could've thrown a blanket over the tightly bunched group entering the first turn. Colonel John was up close, under heavy restraint on the outside in second, and trailed by only head through a half-mile in :50. El Gato Malo settled into a stalking trip along the rail in fourth, about two lengths back, down the backstretch. The two runners naturally began to quicken upon reaching the far turn, and a thrilling stretch battle ensued. Colonel John got the jump on his rival, and despite drifting in and out a bit in the final furlong, was able to withstand El Gato Malo's stout rally by a half-length on the wire. Off since a commendable runner-up finish in the December 22 CashCall Futurity (G1), Colonel John displayed no signs of rust while returning at nine furlongs. He dug in gamely in the final yards and appeared unwilling to ever allow El Gato Malo past, continuing to gallop out ahead of his rival past the wire. The slow pace contributed to his low BRIS Speed rating (90), but Colonel John registered a 115 Late Pace, his fourth straight century-topping Late Pace number. The Eoin Harty runner now owns a 5-3-2-0 career mark, and Colonel John owns an appealing Kentucky Derby pedigree. He's by two-time Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Tiznow, and his dam's sire, Turkoman, is the broodmare sire of dual classic winner Point Given. The April 5 Santa Anita Derby (G1) will be the final Kentucky Derby prep for Colonel John and El Gato Malo, and their connections can only hope that a decent-sized field shows up instead of a handful of runners, along with a legitimate pace. Colonel John will get only two prep races this year, and the next one will be very important. He received a stiff late test in the Sham, displaying plenty of resolve, but he was taken out of his running style by the slow early fractions. We'll find out whether the Sham took anything out of him in the Santa Anita Derby, but you have to like his chances. Colonel John is eligible to keep moving forward with another strong showing next time, and he looks like a colt who could really be coming to hand for Harty on the first Saturday in May. The WinStar homebred owns tactical speed and a strong late kick. The great unknown will be dirt because he's raced strictly on synthetic surfaces. El Gato Malo enhanced his Kentucky Derby credentials in defeat. He broke his maiden going six furlongs at Hollywood in mid-November and beat nothing when taking the one-mile Gold Rush S. at Golden Gate Fields in mid-December. Everything fell into place for the Craig Dollase-trained gelding in the one-mile San Rafael on January 12, with the front runners dueling themselves into defeat as El Gato Malo swooped to an impressive 6 1/4-length decision. The Sham represented his first real class test, and the 1 1/8-mile distance loomed as an obstacle. The slow pace conspired against him as Colonel John received the better trip, and El Gato Malo was stuck down on the rail, with nowhere to go, behind pacesetter VICTORY PETE (Five Star Day) throughout the far turn. When El Gato Malo finally got the opportunity to run, swinging out wide for the stretch drive under jockey David Flores, the response was immediate. The dark bay finished up very well, notching a 117 Late Pace rating, but his rival just had too much in reserve. El Gato Malo owns a questionable pedigree for a classic distance, but the Sham was encouraging. He looks like a major player in the Santa Anita Derby. Gulfstream Park hosted a pair of 1 1/8-mile allowances over the weekend that served as preps for the March 29 Florida Derby (G1), and the exciting HEY BYRN (Put It Back) made the best impression. By sprint sire Put It Back, I didn't give him much chance of stretching out successfully to a route following an impressive one-turn, one-mile allowance score on February 10, and it was no surprise to learn that his connections didn't nominate him to the Triple Crown. He proved me wrong on Sunday, and his connections will now spend $6,000 to make him a late Triple Crown nominee. The influence of broodmare sire Skip Trial -- sire of Breeders' Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Skip Away -- was apparent in the six-length romp. Hey Byrn relaxed off a slow pace in the six-horse field, but the bay colt suddenly had his hand forced along the backstretch when ALAAZO (A.P. Indy) accelerated from the back of the pack toward the front. Hey Byrn responded to his rival, surging forward with a premature move to reach contention for the lead, but Edgar Prado was able to gather up his mount and settled Hey Byrn once again, dropping a few lengths back as they entered the far turn. His second move would come in the stretch drive. Prado entered the straightaway with a ton of horse beneath him and Hey Byrn easily overtook the pacesetting SLEUSE (Grand Slam), rolling past his rival in gallant fashion. He drew off to an easy six-length score, never appearing to take a deep breath, and the Florida-bred colt stamped himself as a major contender for the Florida Derby. His final time Sunday can be criticized (his Speed rating dropped from a last-out 101 to a 96), but Hey Byrn was visually impressive and gave every indication that there was plenty left in the tank. He loves Gulfstream, capturing his previous start by 14 1/2 lengths, but there's no room for error in the Florida Derby with zero in graded earnings. The intriguing Hey Byrn will be tested for class that afternoon. On Saturday, NISTLE'S CRUNCH (Van Nistelrooy) earned his second lifetime win with a two-length decision. Conditioned by Kenny McPeek, the New Jersey-bred colt made his first two starts on Polytrack and the next two on turf. Nistle's Crunch finished second to the promising Face the Cat (Tale of the Cat) when making his dirt debut in a January 30 allowance at Gulfstream, and he moved forward on Saturday. It wasn't a particularly fast effort -- Nistle's Crunch earned only a 91 Speed rating -- but he was under a hand ride the entire time, cruising to the wire full of run under Jose Lezcano. The improving colt owns some potential. Upcoming Saturday's Louisiana Derby (G2) promises to be a dandy. Risen Star (G3) winner PYRO (Pulpit) headlines the nine-horse field, but he'll face a deep cast of rivals over the 1 1/16-mile trip. Top challengers include TALE OF EKATI (Tale of the Cat), MAJESTIC WARRIOR (A.P. Indy), BLACKBERRY ROAD (Gone West) and YANKEE BRAVO (Yankee Gentleman). Unbeaten Count Fleet S. hero GIANT MOON (Giant's Causeway) will return to the races in Saturday's Gotham S. (G3) over the Big A's inner track. The 8 1/2-furlong event marks the first graded test for the Richard Schosberg-trained colt, and Risen Star third-placer VISIONAIRE (Grand Slam) and Whirlaway S. runner-up ROMAN EMPEROR (Empire Maker) will provide opposition. The second Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool will also take place this weekend, and future wagers are a place for value. If you're promoting Pyro or WAR PASS (Cherokee Run) in anticipation of them being lower odds on Derby Day, you're chasing a small profit with plenty of risk over the next two months. Z FORTUNE (Siphon [Brz]) is one I'm considering if the price is right. Listed at 20-1 on Mike Battaglia's morning line, Z Fortune figures to be overlooked this weekend, and I expect his odds to drift upward by the conclusion of Sunday's betting. The Steve Asmussen-trained gray will make his next start in the March 15 Rebel S. (G3). Top 10 1) PYRO -- Late runner will get a legitimate pace in Louisiana Derby 2) DENIS OF CORK -- Impressive Southwest (G3) winner will face much better company in Rebel 3) COLONEL JOHN -- Finally got back to the races with a nice win in the Sham 4) WAR PASS -- Speedy colt is headed to the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) 5) EL GATO MALO -- Excellent effort in defeat last time 6) TALE OF EKATI -- Barclay Tagg runner will tackle Pyro in return 7) COURT VISION -- Terrible ride and trip in Fountain of Youth (G2); expect improvement next time 8) MAJESTIC WARRIOR -- Late runner needs a good showing in Louisiana Derby 9) GIANT MOON -- Unbeaten colt's stock could rise significantly in Gotham 10) COOL COAL MAN -- Fountain of Youth winner loves Gulfstream
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