El Gato Malo to Lone Star Derby

El Gato Malo, who had been under consideration for the Preakness Stakes, will instead make his next start in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Derby on Saturday, his trainer, Craig Dollase, said Tuesday. The horse is scheduled to fly from his Hollywood Park base to Lone Star Park near Dallas on Thursday.

Rafael Bejarano has the mount in the Lone Star Derby, said Dollase.

El Gato Malo last raced on April 5 and finished fifth to Colonel John as the favorite in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Prior to that race, he was second in the Grade 3 Sham and won the Grade 3 San Rafael, both at Santa Anita. In his final major prep for the Lone Star Derby, El Gato Malo worked six furlongs in 1:12.20 at Hollywood on May 3. The horse races for West Point Thoroughbreds.