Hollywood Derby

Lael Stables' SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission) powered to victory in Sunday's

$500,000

Hollywood Derby (G1) to remain unbeaten against fellow sophomores on the

turf. Striding comfortably just off the early pace beneath Cornelio Velasquez,

the chestnut ranged up four wide leaving the far turn and took charge in

midstretch, eventually crossing the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front. His final time

of 1:59.35 was a new stakes record for the 1 1/4-mile event on firm ground. Fully justifying his 4-5 favoritism,

the Barclay Tagg trainee returned $3.60, $2.60 and $2.20.

"I had a lot of horse at the top of the stretch," Velasquez said. "I asked

him a little bit, and he really wanted to go. He's got a huge stride. This was

his best race yet."

Obrigado (Fr) (Enrique) rallied from last to finish second by 1 1/2 lengths,

giving back $4.80 and $3.40 at 8-1. The nearly 6-1 Ivan Denisovich (Ire) (Danehill)

got up for third by a neck to return $3.60. Crested (GB) (Fantastic Light) stuck

his head in front in upper stretch but faded in the drive to wind up fourth. The

$1 exotics were worth $12.30 (exacta), $49.40 (trifecta) and $414 (6-10-7-5

superfecta).

Zann (Dynaformer) reported home fifth. It was another 4 3/4 lengths back to

Kip Deville (Kipling), followed by his entrymate Frost Giant (Giant's Causeway);

the pacesetting Dark Islander (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]), who dueled with Kip

Deville through splits of :24 1/5, :47 4/5 and 1:11; Big Mistake (Broken Vow)

and Vega's Lord (Ger) (Lord of Men). Brother Derek (Benchmark) was scratched

after suffering from colic early Sunday morning.

Showing Up added a fifth stakes score to his already impressive resume, and

his scorecard reads 9-7-0-1 with $1,610,500 in earnings. He started his career

on the dirt at Gulfstream Park early this year, easily breaking his maiden in

his debut and setting a new track record for a mile when clearing his first

allowance condition. The chestnut catapulted himself into Kentucky Derby (G1)

contention with a professional victory in the Lexington S. (G2) at Keeneland,

but his lack of experience compromised him in the Run for the Roses and he tired

to sixth.

Tagg then transferred Showing Up to the turf, and he has proven to be a

revelation. Posting a course record-smashing win in the Colonial Turf Cup S., he followed up with a wire-to-wire tally in the Secretariat S. (G1). After

finishing third versus older horses in the Man o' War S. (G1), Showing Up

returned to sophomore company and thrashed his foes in the Jamaica Breeders' Cup

H. (G2) last time out.

Bred by Nellie M. Cox and Rose Retreat Farm in Kentucky, the winner was

purchased by his current owners for $60,000 at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic

sale of two-year-olds in training. Showing Up is out of the winning Miss Alethia

(T. V. Commercial), making him a half-brother to six-time stakes victor

Gimmeawink (Elusive Quality) as well as an unnamed yearling filly by Proud

Citizen.