Brother Derek on Track With Bullet Work

Cecil Peacock's multiple grade I winner Brother Derek remains on track for his next start in the Oct. 7 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita, trainer Dan Hendricks said, and the sophomore son of Benchmark signaled his intentions with a bullet six-furlong work in 1:11 1/5 over Santa Anita's fast main track on Sept. 19.

In company with stablemate Smoocher, Brother Derek finished his breeze five lengths in front, a move that thoroughly impressed his trainer. Smoocher logged the distance in a final time of 1:12.

"He looked good, didn't he?" Hendricks said. "He was ahead by five at the wire."

"I had him in 1:10 and 4/5 but they got him 1:11 1/5. I think they got it wrong," joked the conditioner.

Brother Derek, who won this year's Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on his way to back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I), finished fourth as the 2-5 favorite in the Sept. 2 El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar. Hendricks said that despite his uncharacteristic performance last out, the goal for the California-bred remains the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) – Powered by Dodge at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.

"Everything's good to go," Hendricks said.

Brother Derek has banked $1,308,458 from a career line of 11-6-0-1. In addition to the Santa Anita Derby, he captured the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I), Norfolk Stakes (gr. II), Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II) and San Rafael Stakes (gr. II).