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Don’t Get Mad Is Another Derby Contender for Ellis

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Times Staff Writer

Declan’s Moon, who remained unbeaten with his fifth win in Saturday’s Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita, is the deserving early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, but he isn’t the only Triple Crown hopeful in trainer Ron Ellis’ barn.

Don’t Get Mad, who finished well to be second in the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes in his first start for Ellis on Feb. 13, will be one of the main contenders in the next local prep for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, which will be run for the 68th time April 9.

A son of Stephen Got Even, Don’t Get Mad, who worked six furlongs in 1:14 flat three days ago at Hollywood Park, is one of six candidates for the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 19. Consolidator, Roman Ruler, Wilko, Golden Shine and Giacomo are likely for the 1 1/16 mile race.

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Declan’s Moon, who beat Going Wild by two lengths in the Santa Catalina, finished his first start in more than two months in good shape, according to Ellis. He will run next in the local Derby, then it is on to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

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Shining Energy, the 9-5 favorite, won for the second time in as many U.S. starts Sunday at Santa Anita, dominating eight other 3-year-old fillies in the $111,400 La Habra Stakes.

Owned by Bernie Schiappa and Terry Lanni and trained by Julio Canani, the daughter of Rahy, who was winless in four starts in France before being purchased privately, won by 2 3/4 lengths under jockey Rene Douglas. She ran the roughly 6 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:13.61.

Kohar, the longest shot in the field at 31-1, finished second after setting the pace, and there was a dead heat for third between Royal Wave and Berbatim.

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About 60 minutes after Honey Ryder set a course record at Gulfstream Park in winning the $100,000 The Very One Handicap, Prince Arch, a 7-1 shot, broke the mark for 1 3/8 miles on turf when edging Gigli by a nose in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Handicap.

The 119-pound highweight, Prince Arch, a 4-year-old Arch colt, ran the distance in 2:11.44 for his sixth win in 14 starts for owner Ray Cottrell Sr. and trainer Ken McPeek.

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Trained by Todd Pletcher for Glencrest Farm LLC, Honey Ryder, the 7-2 second choice, prevailed by a neck over Briviesca in 2:11.71. She was ridden by John Velazquez.

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