NEWS
Brother Derek cruises to Santa Anita Derby score
Posted: Saturday, April 08, 2006
Cecil Peacock's Brother Derek cemented his status as the probable Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Saturday with a powerful win in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
Only four rivals challenged Brother Derek after the scratch of Indy Wildcat. Jockey Alex Solis sent Brother Derek right to the lead as his two most serious challengers, A. P. Warrior and Point Determined, tracked the Benchmark colt. Sacred Light stumbled badly at the start and recovered but was never a threat.
Brother Derek and Solis never surrendered the lead as he coasted through fractions of 23:60 and :47.59 before completing six furlongs of the 1 1/8-mile contest in 1:11.21.
Turning into the stretch, Solis shook the reins at Brother Derek and they surged down the lane, their supremacy never in doubt. Solis eased up as they hit the wire in 1:48.00, a comfortable 3 1/4 lengths clear of runner-up Point Determined. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to A. P. Warrior.
"This horse is a monster," Solis said. "Just incredible. He keeps impressing me more and more each race he runs."
The victory was Brother Derek's fourth consecutive graded stakes victory since his fourth-place finish in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and his sixth victory overall from eight starts. The Cal-bred has now earned $1,162,080.
"It was super," trainer Dan Hendricks said. "He just relaxed real well and that's all he needed to do to get the mile-and-an-eighth. I don't think distance now is any question. We just have to keep doing what he's been doing and crank him up the first Saturday in May [Kentucky Derby day on May 6]."
Brother Derek is out of the Siyah Kalem mare Miss Soft Sell.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
