Thoroughbred Beat

Last updated: 12/27/05 12:58 PM

THOROUGHBRED BEAT

DECEMBER 28, 2005

by James Scully

Brother Derek won three of

five starts this year (Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com)

Brother -- BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark), one of two Breeders' Cup

starters to win a graded event over the weekend, flattered this year's

Juvenile (G1) with an impressive one-length score in Saturday's

Hollywood Futurity (G1). The Dan Hendricks-trained colt enjoyed a

perfect trip under Alex Solis, seizing control on the far turn and

easily holding YOUR TENT OR MINE (Forest Camp) at bay through the

stretch, and added the prestigious Hollywood Futurity to a victory in

the Norfolk S. (G2). A good fourth in the Juvenile at Belmont Park,

Brother Derek is now two for two around two turns but will have to

outrun his speed-based pedigree at longer distances. However, the

California-bred has certainly established himself as a major player for

next year's Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races and earned another

commendable BRIS Speed rating of 101 for the 1 1/16-mile race. The

Hollywood Starlet (G1) winner received only a 92 for her effort the

following day at the same distance. Those numbers mirror the Breeders'

Cup when Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even) got a 111 for the Juvenile

and Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Folklore (Tiznow) netted only a 98.

Fine second and third -- Your Tent or Mine wasn't going to

catch the winner but ran well for second in his third career start. A

debut maiden winner at 6 1/2 furlongs in early September, the Neil

Drysdale charge entered the Hollywood Futurity off a sharp score in the

seven-furlong Hollywood Prevue (G3) and looked good in his first

two-turn attempt, closing ground in deep stretch. The talented colt owns

plenty of room for improvement and didn't appear at the end of his rope

distance-wise Saturday, but Your Tent or Mine is bred for speed, not 10

furlongs. BOB AND JOHN (Deputy Minister) wound up another four lengths

back in third and will enter 2006 as a very dangerous Triple Crown

prospect for three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert. Disqualified from a

six-length win in the Real Quiet S. two starts back, Bob and John wasn't

a serious factor stepping up in class in the Hollywood Futurity and

remains well behind the top juveniles at this point. However, there is

plenty to like about the late-running colt. Bob and John has progressed

nicely this season and owns a terrific pedigree for the classics. He

could get much better with experience and added ground. A.P. WARRIOR (A.P.

Indy) was a big disappointment at 2-1, checking in fourth, and don't be

surprised to see a change in tactics. After Garrett Gomez took a hard

hold early, his mount showed little interest thereafter. Trainer Eoin

Harty will probably elect to give A.P. Warrior his head from the start

next time.

Hollywood Lady -- The Starlet featured a much less proven cast than

the Hollywood Futurity but drew a promising trio in BALANCE (Thunder Gulch),

SABATINI (Five Star Day) and MEETMEINTHEWOODS (General Meeting), who were all

off at less than 7-2 and the only runners in the 11-horse field under 10-1. They

wound up second, third and fourth, respectively, as DIPLOMAT LADY (Forestry)

stole the show on the front end. Now three for three at Hollywood Park, the

Christopher Paasch trainee was unplaced in her two starts elsewhere, both stakes

at Del Mar. The dark bay filly surprisingly got away to an uncontested advantage

early and was able to open up leaving the far turn with nice acceleration. She

turned in a very encouraging performance, but it will be interesting to see how

Diplomat Lady fares at Santa Anita this winter. Balance made a decent run for

second, falling a half-length short, but Sabatini looked better rounding out the

trifecta, closing with a flourish to be beaten only three lengths after dropping

too far back in only her second career start. Patrick Biancone has a strong duo

of Kentucky Oaks (G1) prospects in Wild Fit (Wild Wonder) and Sabatini.

Film star -- FILM MAKER (Dynaformer) finished second to Ouija Board

(GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) but

didn't capitalize upon that stellar effort this year, dropping the New York H.

(G2), Diana S. (G2), Glens Falls H. (G3) and Flower Bowl Invitational H. (G1) in

succession prior to a third in the Filly & Mare Turf at Belmont Park. The Graham

Motion-trained mare ran well every time, but she didn't distinguish herself. If

Saturday's La Prevoyante H. (G2) is any indication, Film Maker is set for a much

different campaign in 2006. The dark bay crushed her rivals at Calder,

unleashing a superb kick through the stretch to win in hand under Edgar Prado,

and the five-year-old has never looked better. Motion gave us all something to

look forward to by announcing that she'll be back for her six-year-old season,

and Film Maker appears poised to make the most of it.

Burning brighter -- ANDROMEDA'S HERO (Fusaichi Pegaus) earned a

measure of respectability with a runner-up finish in the Belmont S. (G1), but

the Nick Zito colt left a lot to be desired during his sophomore campaign,

losing nine straight and finishing unplaced in his four starts before Saturday's

Fred W. Hooper H. (G3). The chestnut showed signs of turning things around when

fourth following a wide trip in the Clark H. (G2) in late November, and he

carried his momentum forward in Calder's Grand Slam II program, gamely reeling

in stablemate Seek Gold (Touch Gold) in deep stretch to win the Hooper going

away by 1 3/4 lengths. Andromeda's Hero must still prove himself against better

company, beginning in the February 4 Donn H. (G1) next out, but it looks like

he's going to be much better at four and one to watch out for as he continues to

improve.

Positive spin -- Tyler Baze did a masterful job guiding Diplomat Lady

to a wire-to-wire score in the Starlet, slowing the pace down up front while

maintaining a comfortable advantage over his nearest challenger down the

backside, and the 22-year-old showed why he is one of the best front-running

jockeys in the business. Winner of the Eclipse Award as the nation's top

apprentice in 2000, Baze has had his ups and downs this season. He suffered

through a 62-race losing skein at Del Mar and failed a pre-race breathalyzer at

Hoosier Park prior to the October 1 Indiana Derby (G3), resulting in a seven-day

suspension. Baze decided to get his life back in order, joining Alcoholics

Anonymous and re-dedicating himself to his work. As a result, his business

picked back up during the Oak Tree meet and he remained the regular rider aboard

Mea Domina (Dance Brightly), guiding the Ron McAnally-trained filly to an

excellent score in the Las Palmas H. (G2) in early November. Sunday's Starlet

provided another bright moment for a young man who appears headed in the right

direction.

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