Colts to test potential in Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) _ With no clear-cut favorite for next month's Kentucky Derby, Came Home will try to stamp himself as a standout in Santa Anita Derby. <br><br>The 3-year-old faces seven rivals

Saturday, April 6th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) _ With no clear-cut favorite for next month's Kentucky Derby, Came Home will try to stamp himself as a standout in Santa Anita Derby.

The 3-year-old faces seven rivals in going 1 1-8 miles for the first time. Came Home has won five of six starts and was made the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $750,000 race.

Came Home isn't the only colt facing questions about his ability to cover the distance, which is an eighth of a mile shorter than the Kentucky Derby.

Mayakovsky, the early second choice at 3-1, and Danthebluegrassman, a 10-1 shot, also have their handlers wondering the same thing.

``We're all going to find out if we can go on to the next level,'' said Bob Baffert, trainer of Danthebluegrassman. ``Can he go that far? We don't know. Even if he wins, he's going to still have to show me something.''

John Toffan, part owner of Came Home, also is looking for a sign.

``If he runs well, we'll go to Kentucky. It's that simple,'' he said.

Does Came Home have to win to move on to Churchill Downs?

``It just depends on how the race goes,'' Toffan said. ``If we experience trouble or if we've got some kind of an excuse, I guess you'd have to take that into consideration.''

The Santa Anita Derby has been a solid barometer in recent years for Kentucky Derby success. Three of the last five races have produced Derby winners _ Charismatic in 1999, Real Quiet in 1998 and Silver Charm in 1997 _ although none of those horses won the Santa Anita Derby.

Baffert said Danthebluegrassman reminds him of the same doubts he had two years ago about Captain Steve, who finished third in the Santa Anita Derby and went on to Churchill Downs.

``Captain Steve wasn't doing that well when I ran him here, but when he got to Kentucky he started really blooming,'' Baffert said. ``So I'm hoping this horse will run well. He should be 1-2-3, hopefully.''

Mayakovsky, winner of two of three career starts, is expected to be on the lead Saturday under first-time rider Patrick Valenzuela, whose style is to charge out of the gate and steal races.

``Everybody knows that he's one of the best timing jockeys in the world,''' trainer Patrick Biancone said. ``He will do what he believes is best.''

Easy Grades, the early third choice at 9-2, will try again to beat Came Home, who finished ahead of second-place Easy Grades in the San Rafael Stakes on March 2.

Easy Grades returned to the dirt in the San Rafael after two starts on Santa Anita's turf course.

``We wanted to try him back on the dirt because he did show so much promise,'' said trainer Ted H. West, who will saddle his first Santa Anita Derby starter. ``Most of our horses that have been good 3-year-olds have been good later in the year.''

Each starter will carry 122 pounds.