Brother Derek works toward rematch

Grade 1 winner BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) breezed four furlongs under

Francisco Alvarado in :49 2/5 Sunday morning for trainer Dan Hendricks. The bay

colt is preparing for a rematch with champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1)

hero Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even) in the March 4 Santa Catalina S. (G2).

"It was just what we wanted," Hendricks said after the move. "I got him in

:50, (but) either way, it was just what I wanted. He went great. I was happy

with it. Everything was right."

Brother Derek and Stevie Wonderboy first met in the Breeders' Cup, with

the latter getting the 1 1/4-length victory and Brother Derek running fourth.

Brother Derek came back to prove that his Norfolk S. (G2) win was no fluke, though, in the

December 17 Hollywood Futurity (G1), scoring by a length with Bob and John (Seeking the Gold),

a 4 1/2-length winner of Saturday's Sham S. (G3), in third.

Stevie Wonderboy and Brother Derek squared off for the second time when the two

were making their sophomore bows in the San Rafael S. (G2). Brother Derek evened

the score that day, with the juvenile champion finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind in

second. Trainer Doug

O'Neill said Stevie Wonderboy is set to work three-quarters on Monday at

Hollywood Park as part of his preparations for the rematch.

"We were considering something shorter, but this will be real pedestrian,"

O'Neill explained.