by Tom Musgrave

Unbeaten El Gato Malo will try to solidify his credentials as a Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) contender when he stretches out to 1 1/8 miles in the $200,000 Sham Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

The El Corredor gelding has been a dominant force, winning his three prior starts by a combined 16 lengths. He enters off a 6 1/4-length victory in the one-mile San Rafael Stakes (G3) on January 12 for owner West Point Thoroughbreds and trainer Craig Dollase.

El Gato Malo will bid to become Dollase's second Kentucky Derby (G1) starter. The last Derby starter Dollase saddled was Wilko in 2005, who finished sixth in the classic after a third-place finish, a half-length behind winner Buzzards Bay, in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).

The Sham is a leading prep race for the Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

WinStar Farm homebred Colonel John is the only other stakes winner of the field. He enters off a runner-up finish in the CashCall Futurity (G1) on December 22. Trained by Eoin Harty, Colonel John won the Real Quiet Stakes prior to the CashCall Futurity.

Coast Guard and Reflect Times (Jpn), the second- and third-place finishers, respectively, in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) on February 2 at Santa Anita, also are entered in the Sham.

Tom Musgrave is internet content editor of Thoroughbred Times

The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:

1. El Gato Malo (El Corredor), David Romero Flores, 120, Craig Dollase;

2. Success Fee (Mineshaft), Michael C. Baze, 116, Doug F. O'Neill;

3. Coast Guard (Stormy Atlantic), Rafael Bejarano, 116, David E. Hofmans;

4. Trevor's Clever (Stephen Got Even), Tyler Baze, 116, Ted H. West;

5. Victory Pete (Five Star Day), Joseph Talamo, 116, Alexis Barba;

6. Colonel John (Tiznow), Garrett K. Gomez, 118, Eoin G. Harty; and

7. Reflect Times [Jpn] (French Deputy), Mike E. Smith, 116, John A. Shirreffs.