Early Flyer Will Be Entered In Santa Anita Derby

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Early Flyer, winner of the grade II San Vicente Stakes, will be entered in the Santa Anita Derby Apr. 7, trainer Ron McAnally said Thursday. The son of Gilded Time had been a possibility for the Arkansas Derby the following week, but it was decided to stay in California.

"We're going to enter him, but we're not sure if we're going to run there yet," McAnally said. "The owners decided they didn't want to go to Arkansas. We're just marking time with him right now. We'll look at the entries, and if it's a large field, we'll probably go up north to run (in the nine-furlong California Derby at Bay Meadows).

McAnally said if Early Flyer does run he'll be ridden by last year's champion apprentice rider Tyler Baze. The colt's regular rider Chris McCarron will ride Golden Ballet in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland the same day.

Definites for the Santa Anita Derby are Point Given, Crafty C.T., I Love Silver, Palmeiro, Scorpion, So Urgent (who would be used a rabbit for Point Given), and Cherokee Kim, with Early Flyer and Macabe listed as possibles.

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