With the defection of star California colt Georgie Boy, the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) became a wide open affair. The field swelled to eleven, led by the dueling duo of El Gato Malo and Colonel John, the race favorites.

Colonel John in particular has stood out this week, looking like a beast in the morning at the track. He is coming off a win in the Sham Stakes (gr. III) run at the same distance as the Derby, 1 1/8 miles. El Gato Malo finished second by a half length in that race, but previously was undefeated, winning the San Rafael by an impressive 6 1/4 lengths. He worked a bullet on March 29th, two days before Colonel John worked five furlongs in :58.3.

The race is far from locked down, however. Jockey Alex Solis, riding Yankee Bravo for trainer Patrick Gallagher, is convinced that his mount is the next big thing. After being undefeated in his first three races on turf and synthetic, Yankee Bravo finished a good third, beaten less than four lengths, to the current Derby favorite Pyro in the Louisiana Derby. He ducked out in that race because of a clot of dirt hitting him and should run a straighter course on Saturday.

On the Virg could sneak up for Todd Pletcher. The Pulpit colt is 2 for 2 while going a route of ground, with his only career loss being in a sprint race he obviously didn't like. He worked a bullet five furlongs on March 30th and Tyler Baze will ride.

The speedy Bob Black Jack will be motoring on the front end. Earlier this year he set the world record for six furlongs in 1:06.53, and since then was able to stretch out effectively to 1 1/16 miles in the San Felipe Stakes where he was third beaten less than two lengths behind Georgie Boy. He has run well in every career start so far.

Polonious will make his synthetic track debut after doing all of his running on the turf course. He won the Pasadena Stakes by four over a mile on March 15th. Shore Do has had three trainers in five months, but was a solid graded stakes runner last year as a two-year-old, despite never having won since his turf maiden race back at Del Mar. Rosso Corsa will be a huge price on Saturday, but he stretched out after a dismal career debut to take a $100,000 maiden claimer on March 7th in good fashion for trainer Darrell Vienna.

Signature Move is a Vindication colt out of a nice mare from the last decade, Swinging on Ice. Michael Baze rides for Eric Guillot. Signature Move was the hot thing going into the Risen Star at the Fair Grounds but ran poorly in his dirt debut He has won twice on the synthetic surface at 1 1/16.

Coast Guard is the last horse with a live shot. He broke his maiden at Santa Anita going a mile, then ran very well to be second to Crown of Thorns earlier this year. He ran on the dirt at Bay Meadows in the EL Camino Real Derby and finished poorly, but should bounce back for trainer David Hofmans.