Startac, winning Hollywood Park's Generous Stakes.
Turf Paradise Derby winner Startac has been confirmed as a starter for Saturday's Kentucky Derby. The 3-year-old son of Theatrical is owned by the Allen Paulson Living Trust. He is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Monday morning from California. Trainer Simon Bray said Sunday his plans had called for Startac to run Friday in the Crown Royal American Turf (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. The decision changed on Sunday. "The owners expressed an interest in the Derby and the horse is doing good and has been training well," Bray said. "Like everybody says, there's only one Kentucky Derby so we thought we'd take a chance." Bray said Alex Solis would ride Startac in the Derby. Startac will be the first Derby entrant for Bray, a former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.Startac worked six furlongs in 1:14 4/5 on the Hollywood Park turf course Sunday under Solis. Startac scored his most important victory on Feb. 3, rallying from 10th to score a 4 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby in Phoenix. His past two races were disappointing losses in the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields and the California Derby at Bay Meadows. Startac made his first four career starts on the turf and won the Generous at Hollywood Park last fall. He has a career record of 3-2-1 in seven starts with earnings of $285,193.
