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 S. (G3) 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).