Oh Brother!!!!!
Brother Derek returns to the races Saturday in the El Cajon Stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar. Once atop the sophomore division, Brother Derek has since been passed by Preakness and Travers winner Bernardini and Belmont winner Jazil.
The sophomore class is turning out quite nicely, thank you, although it's still too early to tell just how strong a group it is. There's no doubt that a strong performance by Brother Derek on Saturday would further heighten the division. Brother Derek has already shown he runs his best races when on or very close to the lead, but speedster Da Stoops is entered in the El Cajon and it might be suicidal for jockey Alex Solis to go out and press the pace with Bob Baffert's colt. The guess here is that Brother Derek lays second and then pounces in the stretch to hold off a late charge by Bob and John and score his first victory since the Santa Anita Derby. Da Stoops, after quick early fractions, might not even be around at the end to pick up a minor award.
Sorry! Brother Derek broke my heart in the KY Derby. I was convinced he was going to win and perhaps even take the Triple Crown. I haven't been this high on a horse since Winning Colors way back when. I'll be looking elsewhere in this race.