Anthony's Cross

Benoit & Associates

Date	Track	Race	Finish	Chart	Distance	Time	BSF	Video
4/9/11	SA	Santa Anita Derby	5th		1 1/8 mile	1:48.60	89
2/12/11	SA	Robert Lewis	1st		1 1/8 mile	1:48.60	91
1/15/11	SA	Sham	3rd		1 1/16 mile	1:40.20	81

Anthony's Cross Owner: A D K Racing Trainer: Eoin Harty Record: 7-2-0-2 Best Beyer: 91 Breeder: George Strawbridge Jr. Tomlinson Distance Rating: 277 Auction: $300,000 yearling (Fasig-Tipton Select, August 2009) Dosage Profile: 6-9-7-0-2 (24) Dosage Index: 3.36 Center of Distribution: 0.71

PROFILE
By Kenny Peck

Strengths
Maiden score over the notoriously tricky Churchill Downs strip gives him an edge on those runners who’ve never tried it. He was very game in the Lewis two back, as that was a stretch-long duel he figured to lose after the tough trip near the quick splits. The Beyer he earned in the Santa Anita Derby last time wasn’t all that bad, especially considering he was caught off the pace there, and that was a race lacking early pace. There should be no shortage of speed in the Derby, and though some of his best races have come when he’s been close to the pace he clearly doesn’t have to be on the front end, and his versatility should help him work out a trip. Kin to Fugitive Angel, a multiple-stakes-winning router, though she’s thus far been best on turf and synthetic.

Weaknesses
The horse he was all out to beat in the Robert B. Lewis, Riveting Reason, is 1 for 9. And where was this colt’s positional speed in the Santa Anita Derby? That was a race short on pace, and he was seventh early on. His top Beyer to date was the 91 he earned two back and he’d very likely have to take a big step forward in terms of his figures if he’s to threaten in the Derby.

Betting Value
He may be overlooked a bit in the wagering, since he finished fifth in his last race before the Derby, but those pace handicappers who believe he had little chance to close there will be using him in Louisville.

PEDIGREE ANALYSIS
By Dan Illman

Sire:
Favored in the 1998 Kentucky Derby, Indian Charlie crept to within a length of the leader after a mile before faltering to finish third behind stablemate Real Quiet. A brilliant debut winner going 5 1/2 furlongs as a juvenile at Del Mar, Indian Charlie successfully stretched his speed to 1 1/8 miles when winning the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby with a 111 Beyer Speed Figure.

At stud, Indian Charlie's progeny mostly excel as sprinters and milers. Indian Blessing earned an Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter of 2008 while Mr. Nightlinger won the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in 2010. On occasion, however, some of Indian Charlie's classiest performers are able to win at longer distances. Fleet Indian, the champion older female of 2006, won a pair of graded races at the Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles. Pampered Princess took the Grade 1 Spinster on dirt at 1 1/8 miles. My Pal Charlie won the Grade 2 Super Derby at nine furlongs, while Anthony's Cross's peer, Uncle Mo, scored in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles en route to champion 2-year-old honors.

Dam:
Anthony's Cross is a half-brother to Fugitive Angel, the winner of the Grade 3 Valley View Stakes on grass at 1 1/16 miles. The unraced dam is a half-sister to Deal Making, the winner of the Stanton Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Delaware Park. Another of her half-siblings, Smart Bid, recently won the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Jr. Handicap at nine furlongs on grass while half-sister Representing was stakes-placed on grass and a multiple winner at 12 furlongs on sod.

The second dam won the Grade 3 Sands Point at nine furlongs on turf, and the third dam prevailed in the Grade 2 Diana Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on grass.

Outlook:
There is a tremendous amount of stamina and class in this female family. A winner at nine furlongs, Anthony's Cross should find 1 1/4 miles within his range.

THE WIZARD'S PACE ANALYSIS:
His best two races have been when in close attendance of the pace. How hard he is used early on and how fast the fractions he will encounter will determine his fate.

The Wizard's Kentucky Derby Stakes Package
Detailed analysis for each horse, available on Thursday, May 5.