Scrimshaw Punches Ticket to the Derby

Trying to complete the same Coolmore Lexington Stakes-Kentucky Derby parlay they did four years ago with Charismatic, owners Bob and Beverly Lewis and trainer Wayne Lukas got the first half home Saturday with Scrimshaw.

Making his first start since finishing fourth in the Hutcheson Stakes two months earlier at Gulfstream Park, the 3-year-old Gulch colt earned himself a spot in the Derby in 13 days with a three-length victory in the $363,675 Lexington at Keeneland.

In danger of not having a Derby starter for only the second time in 23 years, Lukas will instead enter with what looks like one of the better alternatives to Empire Maker, who will be favored on May 3.

After his disappointing effort in the seven-furlong Hutcheson, which came less than a month after he had finished third in the Santa Catalina in his first race around two turns, Scrimshaw underwent a minor operation to correct a breathing problem.

Obviously, the procedure made a difference. The $550,000 2-year-old purchase took over from a tiring Trust N Luck in the stretch and drew away. Ridden for the first time by Edgar Prado, Scrimshaw paid $14.60 as the fourth betting choice in a field of seven. He completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.47.

“I thought Edgar rode him well,” Lukas said. “He had to sit and wait and he showed great patience.

“This race fits our program. I knew I was behind the eight ball with this horse, but he has a lot of talent. I always thought he was our best horse. But now we have to put it all together in a couple of weeks. It’s a challenge.

“I’m looking forward to the Derby. It will be an exciting two weeks.”

One of the things Lukas will be doing in the coming days is looking for a new jockey. Prado is the rider of Louisiana Derby and Blue Grass winner Peace Rules and trainer Bobby Frankel is one of his primary clients.

Eye Of The Tiger, who was nearly 8-1, beat 7-2 third choice Domestic Dispute by a neck, then came Trust N Luck, Ministers Wild Cat, the 2-1 favorite, Most Feared and Ocean Terrace, who was eased two weeks after finishing 47 1/2 lengths behind Buddy Gil in the Santa Anita Derby.

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Medaglia d’Oro suffered a foot injury in his stall at Hollywood Park and will miss the Pimlico Special on May 10.

Trained by Frankel for owner Ed Gann, the 4-year-old son of El Prado and winner of the Strub Stakes at Santa Anita wasn’t hurt seriously and will be pointed for the Stephen Foster Handicap on June 4 at Churchill Downs.

“He’s doing fine,” Frankel said. “Hopefully, it won’t take too much time to heal up and he’ll probably be OK for the Foster.”

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Not only did Frankel win the $250,000 Santa Barbara Handicap for a third time with 13-10 favorite Megahertz, the trainer also finished second with pacesetter and 9-2 fourth choice Trekking.

Last after a mile, Megahertz got the lead with less than an eighth of a mile to run and prevailed by three-quarters of a length over her stablemate. Ridden by Alex Solis, who was winning the Grade II for the first time, the 4-year-old Pivotal filly, who is owned by Michael Bello, won for the seventh time in 18 starts while covering the 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:00.08. It was her fourth victory in six races at Santa Anita.

Noches De Rosa, the upset winner of the Santa Ana, finished third, then came Notting Hill and Garden in the Rain, the 2-1 second choice.

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Frankel also won the day’s supporting feature, the $137,500 San Simeon Handicap, with 2-1 second choice Speak In Passing.

Making his first start since Jan. 4, 2002, the 6-year-old Danzig horse, who is owned by Juddmonte Farms and was ridden by David Flores, beat 6-1 Spinelessjellyfish by half a length in 1:12.87 for the distance of about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf.

The Santa Barbara-San Simeon sweep gave Frankel a meet-high 11 stakes victories entering the final day.