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KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT APRIL 8, 2010 by James Scully ESKENDEREYA (Giant's Causeway) ran away in the stretch of Saturday's Wood Memorial S. (G1), winning by only 9 3/4 lengths due to the restraint of John Velazquez, who took the prohibitive Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite in hand with a furlong left to run. He was clearly saving something for Churchill Downs. In other Saturday highlights, SIDNEY'S CANDY (Candy's Ride [Arg]) enhanced his credentials with a convincing 4 1/2-length victory in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). The front-running colt avoided the trouble behind him as he drew off on the far turn, with LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) nearly suffering disastrous consequences due to a retreating rival. The two-year-old champion was fortunate to salvage third. AMERICAN LION (Tiznow) ensured his participation with a wire-to-wire victory in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (G2). He finished 2 3/4 lengths clear of 6-5 favorite YAWANNA TWIST (Yonaguska), with BACKTALK (Smarty Jones) another 11 1/4 lengths back in third. Wood Memorial Eskendereya separated himself from the rest of the three-year-old division with a masterful performance in the Wood, registering a 110 BRIS Late Pace rating despite never being asked by Velazquez. Trainer Todd Pletcher offered an ominous observation for the colt's 19 rivals in the 1 1/4-mile Derby. "It's amazing. The further he goes, the stronger he gets," Pletcher said. "There was more there than what we saw, even as impressive as it was." Eskendereya rolled to an 8 1/2-length win in his previous start, the February 20 Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park. "He ran as well as he did in the Fountain of Youth," Pletcher said. "The thing Johnny (Velazquez) did today was take pretty good care of him from the eighth pole to the wire." Eskendereya must still enter the starting gate and face the potential hurdles in an oversized field with a mad dash to the first turn, but the chestnut's athleticism is a major asset. Velazquez has more than one gear at his disposal and will go around horses if necessary, utilizing his mount's natural speed to secure positioning behind the first pack of runners. If he settles into a comfortable trip, Eskendereya appears poised to carry his momentum forward in the Derby. JACKSON BEND (Hear No Evil) raced with Eskendereya until the far turn and never quit after being left in the dust, outfinishing AWESOME ACT (Awesome Again) by a head for runner-up honors. Second in the Fountain of Youth, the hard-trying colt will now head to Louisville, Kentucky, for two-time Derby winner Nick Zito. Ten furlongs may not be his optimal distance, but Jackson Bend is the type who puts himself in position to make an impact in the stretch drive. Awesome Act lost a shoe when stumbling at the start and was hurt by the moderate early pace (:24 1/5 and :49 1/5). A smart 1 1/4-length winner of the Gotham S. (G3) in his dirt debut, the chestnut's BRIS Speed ratings dropped from a 102 to a 92 on Saturday, but this wasn't a true indication of his abilities. Jockey Julien Leparoux was too close during the early stages, within three lengths of the pacesetter after the opening half-mile, and Awesome Act was left with little late punch due to the adverse trip. The one-run closer should receive the perfect set-up on May 1, so don't be surprised to see the Jeremy Noseda-trained colt rebound with a much-improved showing, and Awesome Act looms as an intriguing upset candidate due to his run style. The connections of fourth-placer SCHOOLYARD DREAMS (Stephen Got Even) severely compromised the colt's chances of making the Derby field by opting for the Wood over the Illinois Derby, where he would've had an excellent chance to finish at least second against a much lesser field. With only $137,500 in graded earnings, the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) runner-up appears more likely to join the Triple Crown fray in the Preakness S. (G1). Santa Anita Derby Sidney's Candy will bring terrific form into the Derby for John Sadler. He stylishly kicked for home on Saturday, registering a 116 BRIS Late Pace rating as jockey Joe Talamo cruised from midstretch to the wire, and the well-built colt has now posted three straight convincing stakes wins at Santa Anita. The Sid & Jenny Craig Trust homebred has a lot going for him, but he'll need to change tactics while making his dirt debut in the Derby. After stumbling slightly at the break, Sidney's Candy flashed to the front in the Santa Anita Derby and received no pressure for the second straight start, establishing pedestrian splits of :24 and :48 2/5 on an uncontested advantage. In his previous outing, the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe S. (G2), he got away with an unopposed six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 en route to his first victory at two turns. The front runner won't be setting the pace in the Derby -- there's too much quality speed in this year's field -- and all four career victories have come on or very close to the lead. In his lone attempt rating off the pace, albeit following a slow start in a December allowance, Sidney's Candy finished a non-threatening fourth. Despite concerns about his running style, Sidney's Candy remains a top contender for at least a top three finish. He's accomplished everything this year in spectacular fashion. After racing in last most of the way, SETSUKO (Pleasantly Perfect) offered a commendable rally for second, notching a 118 BRIS Late Pace number, and the one-run closer is in good hands with Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. A maiden winner in mid-December, the up-and-coming colt will still have class concerns if he makes the Derby field with only $180,000 in graded earnings. However, with the possibility of a blistering early pace, Setsuko would have at least a puncher's chance for the exotics. Lookin at Lucky nearly came to a stop on the far turn as jockey Garrett Gomez checked his way out of trouble, and his awful trip started a chain of events that included Gomez throwing a punch at jockey Victor Espinoza and Bob Baffert publicly chastising his rider for a "horrendous" ride. The bay colt showed once again why he's the perfect candidate to overcome trouble in a 20-horse Derby field, recovering nicely to post his sixth consecutive triple-digit Late Pace rating (106), but Lookin at Lucky will no longer compete for favoritism with Eskendereya following the third-place effort. He's still very dangerous. With the perfect run style and Baffert in his corner, Lookin at Lucky is a prime candidate to get involved when the serious running begins. Illinois Derby After establishing early splits of :24 4/5 and :49 1/5 on about a one-length lead, American Lion came under pressure from Yawanna Twist on the far turn of the Illinois Derby. The pair entered the long Hawthorne stretch locked in a head-to-head battle that looked like it could go either way, but Yawanna Twist began to run out steam upon reaching the eighth pole, allowing American Lion to drive clear late. The jockey switch to David Flores paid immediate dividends with the speedy colt, who proved unwilling to rate comfortably in his first two starts this year. With Rule (Roman Ruler) and Endorsement (Distorted Humor) already firmly within the earnings bubble, owner WinStar Farm is now guaranteed (barring injury) at least three starters in the Kentucky Derby, with the possibility of a fourth in Arkansas Derby (G1) contestant Super Saver (Maria's Mon). American Lion garnered a career-best 101 BRIS Speed rating on Saturday, but it's difficult to envision him sustaining his speed on Derby Day. New York-bred Yawanna Twist was a late nominee to the Triple Crown, but the Richard Dutrow runner will have serious class and distance concerns if he somehow makes the Derby field with $147,000 in graded earnings. Backtalk got up for third in the shadow of the wire, a long way back of the top two finishers, and was fortunate that fourth-placer TURF MELODY (Maria's Mon) experienced trouble on the first turn. He may make the field with $225,916 in graded earnings, but the late runner hasn't earned a BRIS Speed rating better than 91 in his last six starts. Upcoming Two big stakes, the Blue Grass S. (G1) and Arkansas Derby, will be offered this Saturday, and Pletcher will remain in the spotlight with top contenders in each event. He'll send out both AIKENITE (Yes It's True) and INTERACTIF (Broken Vow) in the Blue Grass, and the latter will take some beating off his excellent second in the San Felipe. The deep field will also contains Tampa Bay Derby hero ODYSSEUS (Malibu Moon); Florida Derby (G1) runner-up PLEASANT PRINCE (Indy King); multiple Grade 1-placed MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein), who opened his sophomore campaign with a victory in the grassy Pasadena S.; and PADDY O'PRADO (El Prado [Ire]), who broke his maiden in the recent Palm Beach S. (G3) on turf. Grade 1 winners NOBLE'S PROMISE (Cuvee) and DUBLIN (Afleet Alex) both have at least one start over the track and neither would be a surprise in the $1 million Arkansas Derby, but I like the Pletcher-trained SUPER SAVER wire to wire from the rail.
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