Err … nix that report of Henny Hughes racing this week.
Brisnet 1/18/06 - “Henny Hughes will skip Dubai Carnival opener”
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up HENNY HUGHES (Hennessy) will not make his sophomore debut in Thursday’s Shadwell Farm Trophy S. at Nad al Sheba. The Darley-owned colt was among the preliminary entries to the about seven-furlong dirt event on the opening day of the Dubai Carnival, but he was pulled from Tuesday’s final declarations.
and …
DRF Santa Anita notes 1/18/06
Round two will be in Santa Catalina
Brother Derek and Stevie Wonderboy are likely to have at least one rematch in coming months.
Their trainers said earlier this week that the colts will be pointed for the $200,000 Santa Catalina Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 4, a key prep for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 8.
In the San Rafael Stakes over a mile, Brother Derek led throughout, winning by 1 1/2 lengths over Stevie Wonderboy. The San Rafael was Stevie Wonderboy’s first start since he won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Belmont Park in October and his first start around two turns. Owned by Merv Griffin, Stevie Wonderboy is expected to be named the champion 2-year-old male of 2005 when Eclipse Awards are announced on Monday.
The ease with which Brother Derek won surprised trainer Dan Hendricks.
“I thought he’d be tested a little more than that,” he said.
Before the race, Hendricks hinted that Brother Derek had been overlooked among the nation’s top 3-year-old prospects. The colt was not among the three finalists for that division’s Eclipse Award, a list that included First Samurai and Henny Hughes.
After the San Rafael, Hendricks downplayed the issue.
“I can’t take anything away from the other three,” he said. "The other two won prestigious races in New York. I was wondering why we haven’t gotten more respect, but they had the right three horses.
“You can’t take anything away from Stevie,” he said. “Everyone wondered how Stevie would fare in his first race back, and it made them take a good look at my horse and realize what a solid horse he is. We knocked off number one. Where do you go from here?”
Hendricks said that Brother Derek will have a 10-day break, until early next week, before he returns to racetrack training. “I may pull his shoes off and train him barefoot for a couple of weeks,” he said.
The San Rafael was Brother Derek’s third graded stakes win around two turns in California. Owned by Cecil Peacock, Brother Derek won the Grade 2 Norfolk Stakes in October and the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity in December. In his only loss since the summer, Brother Derek was fourth behind Stevie Wonderboy in the BC Juvenile. “That was a one-turn race and a totally different race. I knew he’d be able to do this,” Hendricks said.
The absence of another speed horse in the field of four gave Brother Derek an uncontested lead and doomed Stevie Wonderboy’s chances of winning, trainer Doug O’Neill said.
“Speed kills,” O’Neill said. “He was tired after the race, which we didn’t see after his other races. He definitely got something out of that. We’re on for the Santa Catalina, but one thing Merv brought up is that if I see something appealing out of town to think of that as well.”
O’Neill later said that was unlikely. “I’m sure we won’t” travel, he said.
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