Brother Derek Follows Script

Widely considered the top two 3-year-olds in the country, Brother Derek and First Samurai did what they were supposed to on Saturday.

Both won at short prices. However, only one of the two crossed the wire first.

Remaining unbeaten in four races around two turns, Brother Derek, the 1-2 choice in the $200,000 Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita, was workmanlike in the Grade II. He defeated 19-1 shot Sacred Light by 1 3/4 lengths in a solid 1:41.96 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Minutes later, First Samurai, the 7-10 favorite, was awarded the victory in the $300,000 Fountain Of Youth at Gulfstream Park after the stewards disqualified original winner Corinthian and placed him third.

Although Corinthian raced erratically in the final eighth of a mile and deserved to have his number taken down, there was little doubt he had asserted his superiority over First Samurai, who had been unchallenged while setting the pace in his first start around two turns.

Trained by Dan Hendricks, Brother Derek, a California-bred son of Benchmark, now has five wins in seven starts.

Ridden by Alex Solis, Brother Derek was positioned on the outside just off Latent Heat, the 3-1 second choice who finished third, and Mister Triester for most of the trip, and took the lead into the stretch.

“We got the trip we wanted,” said Hendricks. “We wanted to be sitting third on the outside and it’s almost like we scripted it.”

The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 8 will be Brother Derek’s last stop before the Kentucky Derby four weeks later. After the colt’s fourth win at the Santa Catalina distance, Hendricks isn’t concerned about the extra sixteenth of a mile he will be asked to negotiate in the local Derby.

“I don’t foresee it being a problem,” he said. “Now, a mile and a quarter,” the distance of the Kentucky Derby, “is something we all to have worry about.”

In Florida, Frank Brothers, who trains First Samurai, was happy with the son of Giant’s Causeway’s effort. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:49.

“It’s not a lot of fun winning by disqualification, but the stewards probably made the right call,” he said.

Brothers indicated First Samurai would make his next start either in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream or the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Both races are in April.

Corinthian, who was placed behind Flashy Bull, who finished a neck behind First Samurai, will probably return to New York for next month’s Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

“I don’t know why he did what he did,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkens. “It was clear that he was the better horse. He’s a hard horse to handle and to have him run like that and you don’t get to win, it’s tough.”

*

Milk It Mick, who hadn’t won a race since 2003, scored a 12-1 upset in the $300,000 Kilroe Mile, the other Grade I on the card at Santa Anita.

This was the second victory in five years in the race for jockey Kent Desormeaux, who had scored with Decarchy in 2002.

A 5-year-old English bred, Milk It Mick won by a head over 15-1 shot Aragorn, with 25-1 shot Chinese Dragon third. Cacique, the 7-5 choice, was a much-troubled fourth in his U.S. debut.

*

In the other local stakes race, Fast Parade, a 5-1 shot, won the $100,000 Baldwin Stakes, which was moved from turf to dirt and reduced to seven starters. Favored Da Stoops finished third.

*

At Gulfstream, Harlington won the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap, Dynamite Lass upset favored Olaya to win the $100,000 Very One Handicap, Sharp Humor won the $150,000 Swale Stakes, Mister Fotis took the $200,000 Richter Scale Breeders’ Cup Sprint Championship and Wend won the $100,000 Honey Fox Handicap.