GAP CLOSING ON BROTHER DEREK?

Byline: Kevin Modesti Staff Writer

ARCADIA - Although Brother Derek is clearly the best 3-year-old in the West, the colt's trainer acknowledges that some of his challengers in Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby may be catching up.

"Point Determined is just learning what it's all about, and A.P. Warrior turned it around and ran a very good race (last time out)," Dan Hendricks said Tuesday in a national telephone news conference. "Both appear to be moving forward, and they should be formidable foes."

Hendricks could have included Sacred Light, a late-running second in Brother Derek's most recent victory, on the list of horses who might be gaining on the California-bred.

That improving trio is expected to be among five challengers for heavily favored Brother Derek when entries, post positions and morning-line odds are set this morning for the 69th Santa Anita Derby.

The projected field for the 1-mile race at Santa Anita, alphabetically: A.P. Warrior (Corey Nakatani riding), Brother Derek (Alex Solis), Indy Wildcat (Tyler Baze), Point Determined (Rafael Bejarano), Sacred Light (Aaron Gryder) and Wildfang (Omar Berrio).

The withdrawal of sprinter Fast Parade on Tuesday improves Brother Derek's chances of controlling the early pace.

Since 2-year-old champion Stevie Wonderboy was sidelined with an injury two months ago, Brother Derek has been No. 1 in most rankings of contenders for the May 6 Kentucky Derby. Brother Derek's 1-length victory over Sacred Light in the March 4 Santa Catalina Stakes was his third in a row and fifth in a seven-race career in which his starts have been carefully spaced to keep him fresh.

If he wins Saturday's 1-mile prep, he'll probably go to Churchill Downs as the Kentucky Derby favorite. On the morning line for this weekend's final round of Kentucky Derby futures betting, Brother Derek is 7-2, Florida Derby winner Barbaro 5-1, and Arkansas Derby (April 15) favorite Lawyer Ron and Blue Grass Stakes (April 15) favorite First Samurai each 12-1.

Fifteen horses have come out of the Santa Anita Derby to win the Kentucky Derby, including 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed. The past four were distinguished by the fact they lost the Santa Anita Derby - including Giacomo, fourth in the Arcadia race before his 50-1 upset in Louisville in 2005.

Giacomo trainer John Shirreffs is represented by A.P. Warrior this time.

The race is scheduled for 2:42 p.m. as the sixth of 11 on Saturday. Channel 7 coverage begins at 2 p.m.

Kevin Modesti, [phone]

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