ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) -The Pamplemousse ran to the lead out of the gate and dared his 10 rivals to come and get him. No one did.
The gray colt romped to a six-length victory in the $200,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, solidifying his status as one of California's top 3-year-olds and a leading Kentucky Derby candidate.
A month after leading from start to finish in winning the one-mile San Rafael for his first stakes victory, The Pamplemousse and jockey Alex Solis did it again.
The colt covered 1 1-8 miles in 1:47.86, the same distance as the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 4, the West Coast's major prep for the Kentucky Derby.
``I've never ridden anything like him,'' Solis said. ``The way he's been training, I expected something like this. He has such a high cruising speed and he's getting more and more amazing. He has such a good mind and he was real relaxed the whole way.''
The Pamplemousse is co-owned by Solis' son, Alex II, and trained by Julio Canani, who has never saddled a Kentucky Derby starter in his long career. The elder Solis has yet to win the Derby, either.
Canani said The Pamplemousse's next start will be in the Santa Anita Derby.
``Every race, this horse is improving more,'' he said.
Asked if The Pamplemousse could handle having horses in front of him, Canani replied, ``Who cares?''
The winner paid $3, $2.60 and $2.40 as the 2-1 wagering favorite.
Take the Points, who shipped in from Florida for trainer Todd Pletcher, tracked the winner all the way around and returned $4 and $3.60. Mr. Hot Stuff was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $3.60 to show. Bourbon Bay was fourth.
``The winner looks like he's the real deal, and my horse had to come to his playing ground,'' said Garrett Gomez, who rode Take the Points. ``As he gets older and he gets stronger, he's going to get better.''
Trainer Bob Baffert scratched Ventana from the race.
Unbridled Roman was fifth, followed by Smart Bid, Mark S the Cooler, Hi Flyin Indy, Tiz True and Balfour Park.
The Pamplemousse and Take the Points are both nominated for the Triple Crown.
Mike McCarthy, who saddled Take the Points in place of Pletcher, said he would see how his horse came out of the race before committing to the Santa Anita Derby.
Solis tapped The Pamplemousse with a left-handed whip, then put it away for a rail-hugging ride in the stretch.
``If you want to get an idea of how he'll do going a mile and a quarter, I switched to my left stick and hit him one time at the eighth pole and he just took off,'' Solis said. ``He's unbelievable.''
The Pamplemousse, which means grapefruit in French, is named after Pamplemousse Grille, a high-end restaurant across the street from Del Mar racetrack. Jeffrey Strauss, the restaurant's owner-chef who owns part of the horse, was among the crowd celebrating in the winner's circle.
``I think I'm the only animal sweating more than the horse,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Medzendeekron won the $100,000 Crystal Water Handicap by a head over Liberian Freighter.
Ridden by Gomez, Medzendeekron ran one mile on the turf in 1:34.35 and paid $9, $4.60 and $3.40.
Liberian Freighter returned $4.40 and $3.40, while Swift Winds was another one length back in third and paid $4.20 to show.
