He Stays Cool in the Spotlight

A daily look at probable Kentucky Derby favorite Brother Derek, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby. Today, trainer Dan Hendricks, paralyzed in a motocross accident in 2004, talks to Times staff writer Robyn Norwood about getting acclimated at Churchill Downs.

I’ve run horses at Keeneland before, but my only other time at Churchill was for the 1984 Derby with Bedouin, when I was an assistant with Richard Mandella.

This year, it’s kind of neat. The attention is on you. Everybody knows Brother Derek. It’s kind of fun. But it all hinges on Saturday. If you’re not third or better, no one remembers what you did.

We got in Thursday, and went out for a light jog and a gallop Friday, a nice strong gallop. He’s getting over the track well. He shipped very well.

There are stairs up to the viewing stands on the backside, and I can’t get my chair up there, but nobody can see across the track with all the tents in the infield. I can go right up to the rail and see the horse gallop by. When he works, I’ll go around to the front side. Everybody does.

[Today] is supposed to be the big day, with the last works. Alex Solis is flying in to ride him. The tentative plan is to go a half-mile, depending on the track, with the weather. ...

I think the media crowd comes [today]. It was quite a shock the other day to see 20 photographers clicking left and right, but after the initial shock, I’m settling in. Brother Derek doesn’t mind it at all. He’s real cool about it all. He’s taken real well to Kentucky. He likes it. He’s probably thinking about permanent residence.