4/5 (SA): Santa Anita Derby (Gr. I) + 3 Gr. II Stakes

[Kasept]

6th (2:30) Santa Anita Derby (G1)

1 1/8 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $750,000

1 Yankee Bravo Solis A 122 L (4-1)
2 Signature Move Baze M C 122 L (30-1)
3 Coast Guard Talamo J 122 L (20-1)
4 Bob Black Jack Migliore R 122 L (6-1)
5 Colonel John Nakatani C S 122 L (2-1)
6 On the Virg Baze T C 122 L (15-1)
7 Shore Do Sutherland C 122 (20-1)
8 El Gato Malo Flores D R 122 L (5-2)
9 Polonius Espinoza V 122 L (10-1)
10 Meetingwithdestiny Rosario J 122 L (20-1)
11 Rosso Corsa Quinonez A 122 L (50-1)

[jcs11204]

2,5 exacta box should offer a lot of value, i like it

signature move has a chance to win, if he runs back to his allowance race, and the others run as slow as they did in their preps.

this race has had some bombs recently, and i think signature move would be a lot more logical then tiago was last year.

[Scav]

This has Yankee Bravo/El Gato Malo top 2 written all over it. A boatload of speed in this race.

Signature Move, Bob Blackjack, Polonius and those are just from memory, I am sure there is one more in there....

[Kasept]

MEET THE PLAYERS-2008 SANTA ANITA DERBY CAPSULES
By Santa Anita Press Office

BOB BLACK JACK – After initially planning to run in the Arkansas Derby on April 12, trainer Jim Kasparoff did an eleventh-hour switch and named Cal-bred son of Stormy Jack to Santa Anita Derby. The late defection of injured Georgie Boy helped to influence the change. Trying a route of ground for the first time after five sprints, the speedy bay colt ran third to Georgie Boy, losing by 1 ¾ lengths, in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles after setting much of the pace. . .Recent Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award winner Richard Migliore replaces David Flores, who was committed to El Gato Malo. Migliore rode King of the Roxy, his first Santa Anita Derby mount, to a second-place finish last year. . .



COAST GUARD – Trainer David Hofmans is inclined to write off a disappointing effort in Grade III El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows on March 8 when eighth as the 5-2 favorite. Explained jockey Aaron Gryder, “He never really leveled off in the race. It was the first time getting dirt in his face, so I don’t know if that had anything to do with it. I do know he is a better horse than he showed.”. . .“He didn’t handle the dirt at all,” said Hofmans. “He’s maturing all the time and is not nearly at his peak. He has a lot of talent, but he has to learn how to channel it the right way.”. . .The Stormy Atlantic colt was purchased by Amerman Racing Stables for $300,000 as a yearling. . .Hofmans has had two previous Santa Anita Derby starters including Sacred Light, fourth for John and Jerry Amerman in 2006. . . Joe Talamo, 18, assumes the mount and will be riding in his first Derby. . .



COLONEL JOHN – Kentucky-bred son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Tiznow has distance pedigree and experience routing. “I’m sure he can get a distance,” said trainer Eoin Harty following the WinStar Farm homebred’s victory in the Sham Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. . .Never worse than second in five starts that include three wins, the bay colt provides Harty with his first Santa Anita Derby starter. But having served as the top aide to Bob Baffert for seven years up to 2000, he is well versed with the demands of the Triple Crown trail. . .After 12 opportunities, jockey Corey Nakatani is still in search of his first Santa Anita Derby triumph. The winner of seven Breeders’ Cup races has ridden 12 Kentucky Derby starters without success. . .



EL GATO MALO – Sustained first setback in four starts when losing to Colonel John by one-half length in Sham Stakes at 1 1/8 miles after being boxed in through the stretch as the 7-10 favorite. “He absolutely leveled when we got out,” said jockey David Flores, who will be seeking his first Santa Anita Derby victory with his seventh mount. . .Trainer Craig Dollase feels the Sham was a beneficial learning experience. “I think he did learn a lot from it,” said the 37-year-old trainer (0-for-3 in Derby). “He was able to rate behind horses and finish, so we’re taking steps in the right directions, I think.”. . .The Kentucky-bred son of El Corredor was purchased for $95,000 as a yearling by West Point Thoroughbreds. . .



MEETINGWITHDESTINY – After racing four times on turf following his synthetic surface debut, the chestnut gelding connected at 1 1/16 miles over the synthetic to break his maiden at odds of 13-1 to earn a chance in the Derby. . .He will be top trainer Doug O’Neill’s second Derby starter after a fourth-place finish with Liquidity last year. . .Bongo Racing Stable purchased the Kentucky-bred son of Belong to Me last year for $85,000 . . .Joel Rosario, a 20-year-old product of the Dominican Republic, has the mount and will be riding in his first Santa Anita Derby. . .



ON THE VIRG – Pletcher, the nation’s leading trainer the last four years, saddled his first Santa Anita Derby starters last year when stablemates King of the Roxy and Sam P. ran second and third, respectively, to 23-1 shot Tiago. . .This lightly raced chestnut colt provided the 41-year-old trainer with his 2,000th career victory on Jan. 13 when breaking his maiden in a mild upset at 5-1 odds. . .Like early Kentucky Derby favorite Pyro and Santa Anita Derby opponent Yankee Bravo, On the Virg is a son of Pulpit. He was a $160,000 yearling purchase at the 2006 Keeneland September Sale by a partnership headed by Glencrest Farm. . .In his only previous Derby ride, jockey Tyler Baze was second aboard Indian Express in 2003. . .



POLONIUS – Having raced strictly on turf in his three career starts, the Florida-bred son of Broken Vow faces a stern test in his first over a synthetic surface. . .Trainer Michael Pender is anxious to explore the new territory. “He hasn’t even peaked yet,” said the 42-year-old conditioner who has been training horses for five years and currently has eight in his barn. “We need a good, solid race to find out just what we’ve got.”. . .The bay colt was purchased by B. J. Wright, of Pasadena, for $150,000 at last year’s Barretts March Sale. . .Victor Espinoza has been named to ride. He has ridden in the Santa Anita Derby three times with his best finish being a second aboard Imperialism in 2004. . .



ROSSO CORSA – Connections thought enough of homebred son of Ferrari to supplement him to Derby at a cost of $15,000. Longshot would need to run fourth or better to realize a profit for his owners. . .With only two races in his dossier, Cal-bred broke his maiden in his second start, a $100,000 maiden claimer, at odds of 10-1 after being stretched out to 1 1/16 miles. . .Trainer Darrell Vienna has saddled two previous Santa Anita Derby starters 26 years apart (Table Torch, 1981, and Medici Code, 2007). . .Chestnut colt serves as first Derby mount for jockey Alonso Quinonez. . .



SHORE DO – Chestnut gelding makes his first start for trainer Brian Koriner, who will be participating in his second Derby after saddling eight-place Black Seventeen last year . . .While in the care of trainer Bobby Frankel and previously Chuck Peery, the Kentucky-bred son of Include raced six times, three of them Grade I events. His best showing was a third-place finish behind Dixie Chatter and Salute the Sarge in Oak Tree’s 2007 Norfolk Stakes. That race marked his only previous competition over Santa Anita’s synthetic surface. . .Riding in her first Santa Anita Derby, jockey Chantal Sutherland has endeared herself to local longshot players with her winners averaging payoffs of over $20. . .



SIGNATURE MOVE – Had won a pair of races routing before sputtering behind Pyro in the Grade III Risen Star at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 9. “He bled and had a lung infection at the Risen Star,” observed trainer Eric Guillot. Recalling the Vindication colt’s previous win in an allowance race at Santa Anita, Guillot said of the 2 ¼-length win, “He looked like a runner to me.”. . .Was purchased for $625,000 as a yearling by Southern Equine Stable. . .Represents first Santa Anita Derby starter for jockey Michael Baze as well as trainer Guillot. . .



YANKEE BRAVO – After three wins over turf or synthetic surfaces, proved his versatility when finishing third to early Kentucky Derby favorite Pyro in the Grade II Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds on March 8. . .“His race on the dirt in Louisiana was very encouraging,” said trainer Paddy Gallagher. “Each time he’s run, he’s finished well.” Asked if he felt the Pulpit colt seemed ready to compete against the top 3-year-olds in the West, a confident jockey Alex Solis replied, “I think the other ones should worry about whether they’re ready to compete with him.”. . .Solis won the Santa Anita Derby with his first mount, Snow Chief, in 1986 as well as his last, Brother Derek in 2006 with nine setbacks in between. . .Gallagher has never saddled a starter in the race, but assisted Bill Shoemaker when the legendary rider, as a trainer, sent out Diazo to a fifth-place finish in the 1993 Kentucky Derby. . .

[XIIPointStables]

Count me in for some $$ on Signature Move, especially near 30-1.

El Gato Malo by 3.

[Kasept]

4th (1:30) Potrero Grande H. (G2)

6 1/2 Furlongs (All Weather Track) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $200,000

1 El Roblar Migliore R 118 L
2 Sailors Sunset Baze T C 115 L
3 Peace Chant Baze M C 115 L
4 Surf Cat Solis A 120 L
5 Greg's Gold Espinoza V 119 L
6 Johnny Eves Flores D R 117 L



7th (3:00) Arcadia H. (G2)

1 Mile (Turf) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Hyperbaric Baze T C 113 L
2 No Dream Espinoza V 113 L
3 Daytona (IRE) Solis A 120 L
4 Artiste Royal (IRE) Nakatani C S 118 L
5 Golden Balls (IRE) Blanc B 116 L
6 Crested (GB) Migliore R 115 L
7 Storm Military (ARG) Flores D R 115 L



9th (4:00) Providencia S. (G2)

1 Mile (Turf) | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Bel Air Sizzle Sutherland C 117 L
2 Briecat Court J K 119 L
3 Carnival Queen (GB) Solis A 115 L
4 Missit (IRE) Espinoza V 115
5 Theodora Flores D R 115 L
6 Porto Marmay (IRE) Baze T C 115 L
7 Sweeter Still (IRE) Garcia M 119 L
8 Gorgeous Goose Baze M C 119 L
9 Snow Delicious Rosario J 115 L
10 Starry Pursuit Talamo J 115 L

[Bobby Fischer]

The honest pace could hurt actually hurt El Gato Malo. Sometimes a horse with big distance limitations can get 9 furlongs with a slow pace, but when they have to cruise a little faster, they feel the distance. The public will tend to say that a pace would be to his advantage because of his running style. Small edge, and a dangerous one to back.

The Turf miler Yankee Bravo is kind of lukewarm here.

Polonious is interesting. He may have to rate just off the lead today. Seems to have a chance, and is the best of the pace.

Colonel John is the class here, but even he isn't untouchable. Still has to be the most likely winner. For the sake of the crop John needs to win with a strong effort. Polonious is a turf horse and El Gato shouldn't go more than 7furlongs on the dirt. John is the only thing still worth sending to the Derby.

Meetingwithdestiny could possibly plod into something minor.

Originally Posted by Bobby Fischer

Colonel John is the class here, but even he isn't untouchable. Still has to be the most likely winner. For the sake of the crop John needs to win with a strong effort. Polonious is a turf horse and El Gato shouldn't go more than 7furlongs on the dirt. John is the only thing still worth sending to the Derby.

I dont see how one can separate Col. John and El Gato right now, especially based on their last race. What indicates at this point that Col. John is superior to El Gato Malo?

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by pgardn

I dont see how one can separate Col. John and El Gato right now, especially based on their last race. What indicates at this point that Col. John is superior to El Gato Malo?

El Gato Malo has the lack of stamina in his pedigree, most importantly in his female family. The pace of the race and the synthetic surface were the only reasons that El Gato Malo was able to run a quality 9 furlongs in a competitive graded race.

My hunch is that the slow pace in the last race was relatively important. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe El Gato Malo can run in a faster paced 9 furlong synthetic race and not flatten out. It is a tough subjective call. I am not keying against him, only observing.

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fischer

El Gato Malo has the lack of stamina in his pedigree, most importantly in his female family. The pace of the race and the synthetic surface were the only reasons that El Gato Malo was able to run a quality 9 furlongs in a competitive graded race.

My hunch is that the slow pace in the last race was relatively important. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe El Gato Malo can run in a faster paced 9 furlong synthetic race and not flatten out. It is a tough subjective call. I am not keying against him, only observing.

I agree his pedigree suggests (to you & me anyway) that the distance should be a problem.

Playing against El Gato Malo.

[Mike]

I'm also with Polonius, expecting him to be on the lead after the demise of Bob Black Jack, who seems to have proven class limitations. So much for the 10-1 odds, as several here are on him

[wac]

Well now i have a problem b/c colonel john could not have looked more impressive and although he looks big(is he?) it seems like he has a pretty good ability to get through traffic. While im not thrilled w the trainer the horse did look good. Now what the heck am i gonna do with him on KD day??I have him in the 1st pool of futrue bet so i guess it would be dumb to bet him to win right??

[Cajungator26]

Everybody toss Colonel John. He's my Derby horse and I want good odds on him on May 3rd.