Road to the Triple Crown

ROAD TO THE TRIPLE CROWN

JANUARY 18, 2006

by James Scully

First place went to BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) in Saturday's San Rafael S.

(G2). Winner of the Hollywood Futurity (G1) in mid-December and one of the best

three-year-olds in training, the Dan Hendricks-trained colt also captured

October's Norfolk S. (G2) at Santa Anita and has improved significantly since

finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Brother Derek registered a

career-best 108 BRIS Speed rating for Saturday's 1 1/2-length victory over the

best two-year-old in 2005, STEVIE WONDERBOY (Stephen Got Even).

Success for Stevie Wonderboy wasn't measured by winning or losing on

Saturday. The first step toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) went perfectly for the

chestnut, who rallied strongly on the far turn, earning a 110 E2 Pace rating,

before engaging in a fruitless pursuit of Brother Derek through the stretch.

There was no catching the classy front runner. Brother Derek was the lone speed

in the four-horse field going a mile. He was easily up to the challenge.

Stevie Wonderboy will receive two more preps -- the 1 1/16-mile Santa

Catalina S. (G2) on March 4 and the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 8

-- prior to the May 6 Kentucky Derby. Saturday's 106 Speed rating was very

encouraging.

Jockey Garrett Gomez said Stevie Wonderboy got a little tired late in his

first start around two turns, but the jockey remains very optimistic for the future.

"The idea was to get a good race in him and try to get him to move forward,"

Gomez said. "You always want to win, but the ultimate goal is four months down

the road. He did everything the way we wanted him to."

Trainer Doug O'Neill was also upbeat and philosophical.

"Stevie came out of the race in great shape and ate up well," O'Neill stated.

"Speed kills in any sport and Brother Derek has speed that's hard to beat. We're

looking forward to the rematch in the Santa Catalina."

Everything looks good so far for both the winner and runner-up.

LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) ran away with Saturday's Risen Star S. (G3) at the Fair

Grounds at Louisiana Downs, posting an 8 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile

contest over MARK OF SUCCESS (Mt. Livermore). The Bob Holthus-trained winner

broke his maiden over a sloppy track at Keeneland in October, then raced twice

over the turf at Churchill Downs in November, finishing third in an allowance

and fourth in a listed stakes. The Kentucky-bred colt returned to the main track

for his next two starts, a pair of easy wins at Louisiana Downs and Evangeline

Downs, and stepped up in class on Saturday.

Lawyer Ron didn't beat highly rated opponents in the Risen Star, but he did

it impressively, finishing his final three-sixteenths in :31 2/5 with a final

sixteenth in 6 2/5 seconds. His final time (1:43) was three seconds faster than the

winner of the Silverbulletday S. (G3) for three-year-olds fillies at the same

distance two races earlier, and the chestnut received a 105 Speed rating.

Mark of Success entered the race two for two but didn't bring strong

credentials into the Risen Star, defeating maiden claiming rivals at Churchill

Downs before winning an 8 1/2-furlong allowance/optional claiming event in

Louisiana Downs in his previous outing. Third placer HYTE REGENCY (Diligence) is

another story. In his final juvenile appearance, the Kentucky Jockey Club S.

(G2), the gray colt traveled wide throughout and rallied into contention in

midstretch, momentarily threatening Private Vow (Broken Vow), one of the higher

rated Kentucky Derby candidates, before weakening to third, beaten only four

lengths. On Saturday, Hyte Regency got dusted by 9 1/2 lengths. He either

flatters Lawyer Ron or reflects adversely on Private Vow.

Gulfstream Park offered a 6 1/2-furlong allowance for sophomores on Saturday

that featured the unbeaten FABLED (Tale of the Cat), a Nick Zito-trained colt

who ended last season with a sharp allowance score over eventual Aventura S.

winner Doctor Decherd (Louis Quatorze) at Churchill Downs. Favored at even-money

on Saturday, Fabled offered a decent run for second but was no threat to

REHOBOTH (Wagon Limit), who rallied four wide on the far turn to grab the lead

and drew clear for a 3 3/4-length decision. Rehoboth, who earned a 105 for his

much-improved performance, hadn't been a serious factor in his previous four

starts, all stakes at Calder. Three were on the main track and the Frank Gomez

charge was exiting a 12th in the grassy Tropical Park Derby (G3) on January 1.

On Sunday, three-year-olds were featured in a pair of allowance contests at Gulfstream.

In the 9TH race, a one-turn mile, Darley's homebred BARBICAN (A.P. Indy) swept

four wide turning for home and pulled clear for a 4 1/2-length score. Unhurried

early, the dark bay displayed a good late turn of foot, recording a 101 Late

Pace figure and earning a respectable 98 Speed rating. Trained by Eoin Harty and

a full brother to 2001 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner and champion

Tempera,

Barbican was exiting a maiden special weight win at Calder in

early December and is now two for three overall.

Two races earlier, HESANOLDSALT (Broad Brush) offered an impressive late run

to to win by three parts of a length over 4-5 favorite SUNRIVER (Saint Ballado)

in a 1 1/8-mile test. The Live Oak Plantation homebred was caught in traffic

leaving the far turn, but Rafael Bejarano swung his mount out for the drive and

Hesanoldsalt responded with a powerful burst to collar and blow past the

runner-up. A maiden winner going 1 1/16 miles in mid-December at Calder, the

Nick Zito-conditioned colt improved his overall mark to 4-2-1-1 and received a

94 Speed rating. The runner-up, who was exiting an Aqueduct maiden triumph over

Count Fleet H. victor Achilles of Troy (Notebook), is a full brother to champion

Ashado with the same connections (trained by Todd Pletcher).

The next graded event for three-year-olds isn't until February 4, when the 7

1/2-furlong Hutcheson S. (G2) and 1 1/8-mile Holy Bull S. (G2) will both be

offered at Gulfstream. The nine-furlong Sham S. at Santa Anita will also take

place the same afternoon.