Brother Derek, who races for Cecil Peacock, finished in a deadheat for fourth as the 7-1 third choice in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The millionaire son of Benchmark went into the race off a four-race win streak that started in the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) in December and went through the April 8 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I). Brother Derek is expected to be one of the Preakness favorites.Miss Soft Sell (Siyah Kalem--Solamente Un Vez, by Relaunch) is the dam of Brother Derek's stakes-winning full brother Don'tsellmeshort as well as stakes-placed Swissle Stick.
Miss Soft Sell, dam of Preakness Stakes (gr. I) contender Brother Derek, is booked to Giant's Causeway. The 13-year-old mare has arrived at Joseph and Vanessa Seitz' Foxborough Farm near Versailles, Ky., from California and is awaiting her date with Giant's Causeway, who stands at Ashford Stud near Versailles. Miss Soft Sell foaled a half-sister to Brother Derek April 25 at Martin and Pam Wygod's River Edge Farm near Buellton, Calif."She's going to be bred soon," said Cris Caldwell, whose mother, Mary Caldwell, is the breeder of Brother Derek and the newborn half-sister (by In Excess). "We looked at some of the dominant stallions, and Mom decided on Giant's Causeway."Miss Soft Sell is by a son of Mr. Prospector, and Giant's Causeway (by Storm Cat) has achieved some of his greatest success when bred to mares from the Mr. Prospector line. Stakes winners by Giant's Causeway out of Mr. Prospector-line mares include English champion Sharmardal, English group I winner Maids Causeway, and grade II winners Naissance Royale and Diamond Omi.