Vending Machine takes next step in California Derby

It’s that hopeful time of the year again for trainers with talented 3-year-olds. Dreams of derbies dance in the heads of owners, trainers, and jockeys. It’s a time for optimism but also a time for assessment.

On Saturday, eight 3-year-olds will continue the evaluation process in the $100,000 California Derby at 1 1/16 miles. Those who pass this test can go on to the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate, which is worth 17 Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 basis.

Vending Machine, who was claimed for $40,000 last year in his second start, has the top credentials in the California Derby. Vending Machine just won the Eddie Logan Stakes on the grass at Santa Anita after finishing third in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille over the main track at Del Mar.

The only other stakes winner in the field is Colonel Samsen, who won the Gold Rush here last month, then finished sixth, beaten 22 3/4 lengths, in the Grade 3 Sham over a sloppy track at Santa Anita.

Both Vending Machine and Colonel Samsen are based in Southern California.

More Power to Him, third in the Gold Rush and the winner of a strong allowance race Dec. 31, heads the locally based entries.

Vending Machine’s trainer, Peter Miller, used the El Camino Real Derby as a prep in 2011 when Comma to the Top went to the Kentucky Derby. Vending Machine is a half-brother to Comma to the Top, which is one reason why Miller claimed Vending Machine.

Miller said he’s not sure Vending Machine is a Kentucky Derby horse.

“I’ve been to the Derby, and it’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” said Miller. “That’s not where I am coming from. Let’s see what he can do and take it one race at a time. There are so many races out there and lots of people looking to buy. It’s great to have a nice 3-year-old.”

Faith Taylor, who took over Lloyd Mason’s barn last summer, trains More Power to Him. The Slew’s Tiznow colt graduated at 1 1/16 miles here in his third start and his first route. His third in the Gold Rush and win in the allowance race both came at one mile.

“He’s a late baby, born in late May,” said Taylor. “I broke him early, but we brought him in here last May and didn’t rush him.”

She has enjoyed watching More Power to Him grow and mature.

“They can change so much around this time,” she said. “Sometimes it’s like turning a switch on.”

Taylor, too, takes a one-step-at-a-time approach. Of course, she’d like to win the California Derby, but she’s looking at other things, too.

“If he’s controllable and does his best, as long as he runs his race, we’ll be happy,” she said. “If the jockey is happy with him and he comes out of the race good, that’s what we want.”

Steve Specht has entered Zakaroff, who ran third to More Power to Him in his route debut last time and has had a six-furlong bullet drill since. Specht said he expects an improved performance Saturday.

“He was kind of on the lazy side when he first started, but now he’s a little more aggressive,” said Specht. “That’s what you hope they’ll all do. The laid-back ones seem to get better when they’re older.”