The Colonel and The Cat

The West Coast has been noticeably silent on the list of top derby prospects this spring. Saturday this should change when 2 of the top 4 colts on the west coast battle in the Sham Stakes. Colonel John is a legitimate colt with the pedigree and past performances that are capable of winning the Derby.

El Gato Malo is undefeated but has shown the kind of speed and brilliance that will now be tested for class as he moves forward this spring.

The Sham has come up with a 7 horse field, with no confirmed front runner, Victory Pete may take the lead, the fractions should be slow. I expect Colonel John to get the first jump on El Gato Malo, but the 2nd scenario that could play out is that El Gato Malo, reverts back to to his maiden win and try to take this field by being up on the pace and using he quick speed to an advantage.

Colonel John has shown a lot of talent in his lightly raced career. His maiden victory was powerful, just galloping and widening down the stretch with ease. In the Real Quiet Stakes, he was 4th going into th turn and in trouble and then in a couple of strides he was in front and drawing off. A troubled trip and laying a little farther back in a full Cash Call field, left him runnign late for 2nd place.

El Gato Malo has also done little wrong to this point, he simply overpowered his field in the maiden victory, outclassed his opponents down at Golden Gate. His last race set up perfectly for him, but just like Denis Of Cork, any lightly raced horses who can trail horses by 6 to 7 lengths and than just go after them on demand is a strong contender.

I'm picking Colonel John to win the Sham Stakes, he is another horse looking at just 2 starts before the Derby, but he has been working bullets in the morning and should be ready, a close loss to El Gato Malo, would still put him in a good position.

If El Gato Malo wins, we would have another unbeated contender for the roses heading into the Santa Anita Derby.

War Pass is still the speed and the class of this crop of 3-year olds. I'm still not sold on his ability to wire this crop at 10 furlongs. Pyro has looked good, but will get tested by J be K, Majestic Warrior, Tale of Ekati and others next week in the Louisiana Derby.

Elysian Fields and Cool Coal Man keep progressing, but Elysian Fields may have more scope to improve in the Florida Derby.

The Battaglia has again disappointed this week. Miner's Claim was supposed to start, but came up with a "fever" so will miss this race, it looks like the Rushaway and maybe the Blue Grass for him now. He had 4 "5" furlong works into him. He may have to go the Dominican route or wait until the Preakness.

Into Mischief has still not worked out west since his last race, Dixie Chatter had one work and then has not worked in 10 days.

More power to them but Pyro and War Pass have not had any training set backs in there careers, if they can keep that up for 60 more days maybe it is just the Derby gods being lucky to them.

Meanwhile:

Colonel John, El Gato Malo, Denis of Cork, Into Mischief, Miner's Claim still remain under the radar and still in my top 5.