There’s no star in this Derby

No wonder the field size for the Santa Anita Derby, which will be run for the 70th time Saturday, is double what is was in 2006.

Unlike Brother Derek, who kept the lineup small last year and prevailed by more than three lengths as the 1-2 favorite, the two 3-year-olds who are the shortest prices on the morning line for the 2007 Derby have not proven themselves to be stars.

Liquidity, who is the 5-2 favorite on Jeff Tufts’ line, is coming off a sixth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. His only victory came against maidens in his career debut last Sept. 27 at Santa Anita.

The 3-1 second choice is King Of The Roxy, an Ohio bred who was impressive in his latest -- a 2 1/4 -length win in the Hutcheson on March 3 at Gulfstream Park -- but who is an unknown around two turns. In his only previous try beyond 7 1/2 furlongs, King Of The Roxy finished eighth, defeated by 38 1/2 lengths by Street Sense in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.

This is why the 1 1/8 -mile Derby is scheduled to have 10 starters for only the third time in the last 11 years. Without a star, owners and trainers are inclined to take a shot in a race with a $750,000 purse.

One of the longshots is Tiago, a Pleasant Tap colt who is a half-brother to Giacomo, surprise winner of the 2005 Kentucky Derby. Hardly accomplished before his shocker at Churchill Downs, Giacomo had done more at this point of his career than has Tiago.

Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, Tiago has one win in three starts, but the victory came on a disqualification. In his last appearance, he finished seventh of nine in the Robert Lewis on March 3.

Mike Smith, Giacomo’s regular rider, will be aboard Tiago for the first time as Victor Espinoza, who had been aboard for his first three races, will be aboard Cobalt Blue in the Illinois Derby.

“We waited 30 years to be here and now we’re here for the second time in three years with Giacomo’s half-brother,” Jerry Moss said. “The horse is doing well and training well. We have good thoughts and we’re hopeful.”

In terms of wins, the hottest horse entering the Derby is Bwana Bull. A son of Holy Bull owned by Mark DeDomenico, Dan Jelladian and Dr. George Todaro and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Bwana Bull has yet to win -- or run -- outside Northern California.

He picked up his first graded stakes victory in the El Camino Real Derby, a Grade III, on March 10 at Bay Meadows. Russell Baze, the world’s winningest jockey, will be aboard the $140,000 yearling purchase. It will be the rider’s third appearance in the Santa Anita Derby, but his first in 17 years. He finished ninth on Flying Victor in 1988 and ninth with Balla Cove in 1990.

The Derby is the sixth of 11 races on the card and post time is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. The two other stakes on the program are the $100,000 Providencia, the $150,000 Arcadia Handicap and the $200,000 Potrero Grande Breeders’ Cup Handicap.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com

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The field

Horses in post position order for Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby. First post is noon; the Derby is race No. 6 on an 11-race program. Scheduled post time is 2:45 p.m. (Channel 4):

*--* PP Horse Jockey Odds 1. Court The King Valdivia 20-1 2. Sam P. R. Dominguez 4-1 3. Bwana Bull R. Baze 8-1 4. Boutrous Desormeaux 12-1 5. Liquidity Nakatani 5-2 6. Black Seventeen Potts 15-1 7. Level Red Gryder 5-1 8. King Of The Roxy Migliore 3-1 9. Tiago M. Smith 20-1 10. Medici Code J. Chavez 30-1

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