Brother Derek’s owner gets early birthday present

Brother Derek’s next stop is the Kentucky Derby (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) Cecil Peacock had more to celebrate than just his birthday on Saturday after his colt BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) captured the Santa Anita Derby (G1) by an easy 3 1/4 lengths. Peacock, who turned 79 on Sunday, joined trainer Dan Hendricks and family and friends to celebrate Brother Derek’s newest victory on his quest for Kentucky Derby (G1) glory. “We went to dinner at the Derby (Restaurant in Arcadia, California),” Hendricks said. “Mr. Peacock celebrated his birthday early.” Brother Derek took the lead out of the gate and never looked back en route to his easy win under Alex Solis. The bay colt, who earned his fourth straight score, came out of his last prep before the May 6 Kentucky Derby in good condition, according to Hendricks. “He had a good, easy race and ate up well,” the conditioner said. “The race set up just like we wanted it to.” “As to when he’ll ship, I’m not the only horse going back there, and Tex Sutton tries to ship when it’s best for them to take the most horses, and I believe that’s going to be eight to 10 days out,” Hendricks explained. “I’ll call Tex Sutton today and find out. I want to get the horse there and get him used to the paparazzi and everything else, all the media hordes.”

If Brother Derek won the Kentucky Derby, he’ll be the first Santa Anita Derby
winner to do so since Sunday Silence in 1989.

“You could probably take the circumstances of Point Given,” Hendricks said.
“Everyone admits he was the best horse in the race. There are just so many
circumstances in Kentucky. You can’t put that much credibility into that stat.
How many horses came out of the Santa Anita Derby and won the Kentucky Derby.
That’s the stat to go by. I can’t worry about it. I ain’t giving back the win.”

Including Giacomo’s (Holy Bull) win last year, a total of 15 horses have won
the Kentucky Derby after running in the Santa Anita Derby.

Hendricks added that Brother Derek would probably work a half-mile five to
six days before the Kentucky Derby.

A. P. WARRIOR (A.P. Indy), third by 4 3/4 lengths in the Santa Anita Derby,
also exited the race in good condition, but trainer John Shirreffs hasn’t made a
decision on his colt’s Kentucky prospects yet, saying he’s going to “wait a few
days.”

SACRED LIGHT (Holy Bull) went to his knees and hit his head on the ground
when the gates opened in the Santa Anita Derby, eventually finishing fourth in
the race for
trainer David Hofmans.

“I haven’t seen him yet but they tell me he came out in good shape,”
explained Hofmans, who is journeying back to California after saddling Balance
(Thunder Gulch) in the Ashland S. (G1) in Kentucky on Saturday. “We haven’t
ruled out the Kentucky Derby but we won’t make a decision for a few days.”