Master David Wins the Sham

Both the winner and the marquee horse in Sunday’s $81,400 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita are Derby-bound. Not the Kentucky Derby -- yet -- but other derbies that could lead to Churchill Downs on May 1.

Surprisingly, Master David, winless in two U.S. starts, was the even-money favorite in the Sham, while Action This Day, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, came up the 19-10 second choice when a lot of late money was dropped on Master David. Trained by Bobby Frankel, fresh from a big day Saturday at Gulfstream Park, Master David was a one-length winner over Borrego, while Action This Day, in his first start in 3 1/2 months, finished fourth, beaten by less than two lengths.

Frankel said that the Florida Derby, on March 13 at Gulfstream Park, would be the next start for Master David, who paid $4.20 after running 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 1/5. Mandella was less certain about Action This Day’s next race, but indicated that it could be the Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

Frankel failed to win the Sham last year, when Empire Maker ran second to Man Among Men, but Empire Maker went on to win the Florida Derby, finish second in the Kentucky Derby and win the Belmont Stakes, spoiling Funny Cide’s bid for the Triple Crown.

Frankel, who won a pair of stakes at Gulfstream on Saturday, including Medaglia d’Oro’s victory in the Donn Handicap, said that Master David is his best Kentucky Derby hopeful. After a 2-year-old season that started in England, Master David had been second in the Remsen at Aqueduct in November and third in the Santa Catalina at Santa Anita last month.

“He ran a lot like he did last time,” Frankel said. “It looked like he stopped, but then he got running again. He showed a lot of guts.”

Master David, a $100,000 buy a year ago at an auction for unraced 2-year-olds, races for New Yorkers Peter Minikes, Stephen Mack and Andrew Rosen. In the Sham, the colt was ridden by Alex Solis for the first time.

“We had a great trip, laying second the whole way,” Solis said. “At the quarter pole [Borrego] came up outside of me, and my horse kept trying. Down the stretch, he found another gear. He ran a very game race.”

Mandella had said before the Sham that he didn’t have Action This Day completely cranked up for nine furlongs.

The colt was five horses wide when he tried to rally at the top of the stretch.

“A mile and an eighth is a long way after a layoff,” said David Flores, who rode Action This Day, an Eclipse Award winner after his Breeders’ Cup win.

“It’s a good prep for him. I kept him outside. I didn’t want him to get beat up with dirt [in his face] right now. We’re just building a little confidence. He’s slow, he’s not fast at all, that’s the way he is. But he made his run.”

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Ryan Fogelsonger, whose six-month stay in Southern California ended Sunday, is headed back to Maryland. Fogelsonger, who won the 2002 Eclipse award for best apprentice, finished sixth in the Oak Tree standings last fall, but seemed to lose his momentum when he was injured in a Hollywood Park spill in mid-December.... Azeri, horse of the year in 2002 and best older filly or mare last year, went three furlongs in :35 1/5, her first workout for new trainer Wayne Lukas. The Lukas barn is winless with 44 starters at the meet.