San Rafael - Brisnet

Last updated: 1/13/06 4:29 PM

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

SAN RAFAEL S. (G2), 6TH-SA, $150,000, 3YO, 1M, 3:08 P.M. PST, 1-14

1	WOODY BE QUICK, 3, c, by WoodmanBeauty Runs, by The Prime Minister O-Mrs June H Daniels; B-Devenport Roger (Ky)
2	BROTHER DEREK, 3, c, by BenchmarkMiss Soft Sell, by Siyah Kalem O-Cecil N Peacock; B-Caldwell Mary H. (Ca)
3	M. J. PKAY, 3, c, by Gold KnucklesMaji Jesi, by Ivan Phillips O-Peter P Kay; B-Kay Peter P. (Ca)
4	WANNA RUNNER, 3, G, by El CorredorShebandowana, by Mt. Magazine O-Mike Pegram; B-Yvonne Schwabe (On)
5	STEVIE WONDERBOY, 3, c, by Stephen Got EvenHeat Lightning, by Summer Squall O-The Merv Griffin Ranch Co; B-John Gunther, Tony Holmes & Walter Zent (Ky)
6	SAILORS SUNSET, 3, c, by PetionvilleCayman Sunset, by Wolf Power (SAf) O-Everest Stables Inc; B-Everest Stables, Inc. (Ky)

All eyes will be on STEVIE WONDERBOY (Stephen Got Even) as he makes his first
start at three in Saturday’s $150,000 San Rafael S. (G2), and the one-mile test
is the first of three planned prep races before the Kentucky Derby (G1) for the
likely juvenile champion. He faces a worthy adversary in BROTHER DEREK
(Benchmark), but we believe the Doug O’Neill-trained colt will be able to
prevail in the end.

Stevie Wonderboy will try to, yet again, live up to his name

(Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

A lively pace appears likely with SAILORS SUNSET (Petionville), who dueled
through splits of :21 4/5 and :44 4/5 going six furlongs last out, leading
the way and Brother Derek and WANNA RUNNER (El Corredor) in close attendance.
Stevie Wonderboy enters off two sharp six-furlong breezes and his connections
have marveled publicly about his current conditioning. This will be the chestnut
colt’s first start around two turns, but he’s bred to handle a route of ground.
Both his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Del Mar Futurity (G2) performances are
a pleasure to behold as Stevie Wonderboy practically inhales his rivals on the
far turn and powers into the stretch full of steam. He courageously ran down an
ultra-game Henny Hughes (Hennessy) to win the Juvenile by 1 1/4 lengths, earning
a 113 BRIS Late Pace rating, and there have been no setbacks since late October.

Brother Derek weakened to be a respectable fourth in the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile but won’t be returning from a 2 1/2-month layoff like Stevie Wonderboy.
The Dan Hendricks-trained colt captured the Hollywood Futurity (G1) in
mid-December, prompting the early pace before taking the lead on the backstretch
and opening up a sizable advantage on the far turn. The California-bred colt
finished up in a smart manner, easily holding runner-up Your Tent or Mine
(Forest Camp) at bay for a one-length decision, and earned a 101 BRIS Speed rating.
Brother Derek looks very sharp at present and would be a huge threat to take
this wire to wire if he was the controlling speed, but there is other speed
present. He’ll likely dispose of Sailors Sunset at some point and will have to
be caught by Stevie Wonderboy.

Wanna Runner disappointed in his first two starts sprinting at low odds, but
he’s really turned it around since stretching out to a route two starts
back, including a 1 3/4-length tally over entry-level allowance rivals last out.
The improving chestnut gelding showed speed in his last two efforts and will
likely be forwardly placed under Victor Espinoza. He’s a top candidate to hold
on for third.

M. J. PKAY (Gold Knuckles) ships in from Bay Meadows where he exits a couple
of decent efforts against pretty soft company. His Speed figures aren’t very
formidable, but his experience could pay off if he rallies for a small share.

Sailors Sunset has never been a route and will likely have Brother Derek
chasing him on the front end. He earned a commendable 96 Speed rating last time,
but it came against $62,500 maiden claimers. WOODY BE QUICK (Woodman) defeated
$62,000 maiden claimers last out and appears overmatched.