Colonel John Rallies To Win Santa Anita Derby

Posted on Saturday, April 5th, 2008

Trainer Eoin Harty, a transplant from County Kildare, was trying to put Colonel John’s Santa Anita Derby victory into perspective.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet, but it feels like I won the million dollar St. Patrick’s Day horseshoe toss,” Harty said with a grin Saturday after the colt rallied late to beat Bob Black Jack by a half-length.

“Historically, any horse that’s run well here and come out of this race in one piece usually shows up and runs a very good race on (Kentucky) Derby day. That’s what we’re hoping for.”

In the West Coast’s major prep for the 2008 Kentucky Derby or Run for the Roses, the Santa Anita Derby, Colonel John added to his credentials as the best in the West and a massive on-track crowd of 50,358 was on hand to attest. Across the country, Tale of Ekati caught a tiring War Pass in the final six strides and won the Wood Memorial at New York’s Aqueduct Racetrack in another major Kentucky Derby prep race.

“There’s no question in my mind this horse has the ability to win the Kentucky Derby, and he underscored that today,” said jockey Corey Nakatani, who rode Colonel John to victory.

Striding smoothly and strongly when Nakatani asked him to turn it on, Colonel John blew past pacesetter Coast Guard and then pulled ahead of Bob Black Jack near the wire to win. Coast Guard held on for third, another length behind.

“I was just biding my time,” Nakatani said, adding that he fell in behind Yankee Bravo, found an opening on the outside and “from there on, I was able to let Colonel John do his running.”

El Gato Malo, sent to the post as the favorite in what was billed as a two-horse matchup with Colonel John, finished fifth.

A Kentucky-bred son of Tiznow, Colonel John will be heading home as one of the leading 2008 Kentucky Derby contenders. The colt has won four of six starts and was second in the other two.

“I’ll give him two works here at Santa Anita and ship to Churchill about 12 days out, give him one work over the track, and pray,” Harty said.

The win ended Nakatani’s 0-for-12 record in the Santa Anita Derby and was the first time Harty had a horse in the race.

“I guess you could say I’ve got this little monkey off my back,” Nakatani said. “Now I’ve got something to get really excited about.”

He’s 0-for-13 in the Kentucky Derby.

Colonel John was clocked in 1:48.16 for 1 1-8 miles and paid $7.20, $4 and $3.20 as the second choice in the wagering. Bob Black Jack, ridden by Richard Migliore, returned $7.20 and $5.40. The show payoff on Coast Guard, with Joe Talamo up, was $7.80.

Colonel John had beaten El Gato Malo in the March 1 Sham Stakes, finishing a half-length in front after El Gato Malo got boxed in and had to swing to the outside. That was the first loss in four races for El Gato Malo.

In the rematch, El Gato Malo rider David Flores made his move earlier, passing horses, including Colonel John, early in the final turn. Colonel John got a clear path then charged past him and the others ahead of him.

“Some days they don’t have it, and this was one of those days,” jockey David Flores said. “He just didn’t have the extra kick I was expecting.”

Jockey Richard Migliore, meanwhile, was very pleased with his ride on Bob Black Jack, initially scheduled to run in the Arkansas Derby and a late entry at the Santa Anita Derby.

“I really couldn’t be happier with his performance,” Migliore said. “I just feel gutted because it’s tough to lose like that. The horse ran as game as a horse could run.”

Jockey Joe Talamo, who rode the front-running Coast Guard, also was happy with his horse.

“He ran a winning race, he really did,” Talamo said. “He gave me a thrill at the quarter-pole. I thought we were going to steal it.”

Yankee Bravo was fourth, followed by El Gato Malo. Rounding out the finish were On the Virg, Shore Do, Meetingwithdestiny, Polonius, Rossa Corsa and Signature Move.

www.santaanita.com

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"Colonel John Rallies To Win Santa Anita Derby" was posted on Saturday, April 5th, 2008 at 8:57 pm and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Santa Anita Track, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.