Flying Scotsman has proving to do in American Derby

Flying Scotsman long has struck his connections as a top-level turf horse, and a strong comeback race Saturday in the American Derby at Arlington will give him a chance to show that he is.

Flying Scotsman makes his first start since last November as the likely favorite in the 1 1/16-mile American Derby, a prep for the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes in August. To avoid conflicting with the newly created Saratoga Derby, the Secretariat has been cut back to one mile this year from its traditional 1 1/4-mile distance.

The early returns on that decision are positive. Despite a glut of races right now in the 3-year-old turf division, there were a glut of entries for the American Derby, 13 to be exact. Flying Scotsman drew post 11 and California-based Flavien Prat comes in to ride him. Flying Scotsman beat Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach in a highly rated turf maiden race late last summer, after which his connections tried to get him into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The Juvenile Turf overfilled and Flying Scotsman was excluded, coming back instead to win the $100,000 Cecil B. Demille Stakes by four lengths on Nov. 25.

Jerry Hollendorfer trained Flying Scotsman for his three starts and had him in his California barn until about one month ago, when Brad Kelley’s Calumet Farm moved him to trainer Jack Sisterson’s string at Keeneland. There, Flying Scotsman has breezed twice on turf, impressing Sisterson.

“He’s all class. He definitely showed signs that he’s a Grade 1-type horse,” Sisterson said.

Flying Scotsman appears to his trainer to be plenty fit to deliver a representative effort. Sisterson instructed his exercise rider to let Flying Scotsman get some air in his lungs galloping out after his Keeneland works.

“Both times the rider struggled to pull him up,” said Sisteron. “He’s showing signs that fitness shouldn’t be an issue.”

Fitness is no issue for Bundibunan, who has made nine starts in his career, six this year, and last raced June 27 at Churchill Downs. Midstretch trouble cost him victory in that first-level turf allowance, where he was beaten a head, and Bundibunan had no luck a month earlier finishing third in a similar race.

“I think that he’s a very good horse and that he’s on the way up,” said trainer Ignacio Correas, who first tried to make Bundibunan a dirt horse before settling on grass racing. “He’s maturing at the right time. He should be great for the summer and fall.”

The Last Zip scored a crisp Belmont maiden turf win in his most recent start but could get caught up in a hot pace Saturday. Crafty Daddy, who can be “tough to handle,” trainer Brad Cox said, has gotten favorable trips in a two-race winning streak.