BREEDER’S CUP : JUVENILE : Best in the East at His Worst : Dehere, winner of four stakes in New York, is eighth as Southland-based Brocco wins by five lengths.

Brocco, undefeated in two starts but making his first stakes start, won by five lengths in the Juvenile, while the New York sensation, Dehere, finished eighth in the worst performance of his career.

Now Eclipse Awards voters, in considering their ballots for champion 2-year-old colt, must weigh Brocco’s victory over Dehere against Dehere’s four stakes victories in New York.

Neither jockey Chris McCarron nor trainer Reynaldo Nobles could explain Dehere’s dull performance as the 7-10 favorite. After an awkward start, Dehere advanced to third on the far turn, but never threatened beyond that. Brocco came from fifth, taking the lead in mid-stretch.

“At the half-mile pole, I let out a notch,” McCarron said, “but right after that I tapped him on the shoulder and there was no response. I still think he’s the best young colt in the country by far. He just didn’t run his race.”

Dehere had run six times before Saturday, and the Juvenile was his sixth start in three months.

“I hate to make excuses,” Nobles said, “but we did dance every dance before this one. The best horse won, and we have no excuse. I don’t think my horse had any problem handling the track. By the five-sixteenths pole, I knew he wasn’t going to win. He was running nice and easy, but he came up empty.”

Brocco races for Albert (Cubby) Broccoli and his wife, Dana. Cubby Broccoli has produced many of the James Bond movies. Brocco, a son of Kris S. and Anytime Ms., was picked out by trainer Randy Winick, his father, Arnold, and Gary Young, and the Broccolis paid $215,000 for him at a yearling auction. Cubby Broccoli, suffering from flu, watched Saturday’s race on television at home with Arnold Winick.

Ridden by Gary Stevens, Brocco was the second choice and paid $8, running 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 4/5. Blumin Affair, who went off at 42-1, finished second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Tabasco Cat, who was 33-1.

“He’s got a brilliant turn of foot when you need it,” Stevens said of Brocco, “and he lays up close, so he’s got the right style for any time of race.”

Randy Winick gave Brocco his first start on Aug. 28, and he won at Del Mar by 3 1/2 lengths. He followed with an 8 1/2-length victory in an allowance race at Santa Anita on Oct. 7.

“I’ll probably back off of him now, although I guess the Hollywood Futurity would be a possibility,” Winick said. “I don’t think he should have any problem with the Kentucky Derby distance (1 1/4 miles) next year. I think this is a router who can sprint rather than a sprinter who can route.”

Winick said he probably wouldn’t have entered Brocco if the Breeders’ Cup had been run in New York. Brocco races with Lasix to curb a bleeding problem, and that drug isn’t permitted there.