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Brother Derek getting attention

The 132nd Kentucky Derby is here and there's big talent in the field including the favorite and co-favorite Brother Derek and Lawyer Ron. Just off their flanks at the ticket window Barbaro and Bob and John will be strides apart.

Brother Derek has been the strongest horse in the West all year, sweeping the San Rafael, the Santa Catalina and the Santa Anita Derby with ease. The bay colt is bidding to become the first California bred to win the Derby since Decidedly pulled off the feat in 1962, andtagging himthe morning-line favorite.

Lawyer Ron is the best of the Southwest with a 4-for-4 mark in '06, including a sweep of the Southwest Stakes, the Rebel and the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. Smarty Jones did the same thing before winning the 2004 Derby. The chestnut colt couldn't win on turf or Polytrack, but is 7-for-7 on dirt and takes a six-race winning streak into Churchill Downs. When jockey John McKee climbs aboard, Lawyer Ron will be the most seasoned starter with 14 races to compete in this years Derby.

Barbarohas ownedthe South and will get solid support from bettors Saturday, with wins this year in the Tropical Park Derby, the Holy Bull and the Florida Derby. The big bay colt is 5-for-5 and will attempt to join the likes of Smarty Jones and Seattle Slew as undefeated Derby winners.

Bob and John couldn'trun downBrother Derek in California, so three-time Derby winner BobBaffert sent him East and the colt won the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Bob and John will likely be somewhere just behind the leaders before making a run at the lead.

Baffert will also saddle up Point Determined and Sinister Minister. Point Determined isa son of 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given, who finished second to Brother Derek in the Santa Anita Derby. He likely will make his move on the turn for home. Sinister Ministercaptured a lot of attentionin the Blue Grass with a 12 3/4 -length, gate-to-wire romp. There's no doubt the colt will try to wire the Derby field, just like Baffert's last Derby winner, War Emblem, did in 2002.

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