By Christie DeBernardis
Just Howard (English Channel) has won his last four races in a row and he will attempt to keep that hot streak Saturday in the GII Twilight Derby at Santa Anita. It took six tries before he broke his maiden at Pimlico May 29, but he has been unbeatable since, following suit with a trio of victories at Laurel in the state-bred Caveat S. July 15, the restricted Find S. Aug. 19 and the GIII Commonwealth Derby Sept. 30. His Maryland-based conditioner Graham Motion has been quite successful when shipping to California in the past, including wins in last year's GI Matriarch S. with Miss Temple City (Temple City) and GII Seabiscuit H. with Ring Weekend (Tapit).
The top three finishers from the GII Del Mar Derby–Sharp Samurai (First Samurai), Big Score (Mr. Big) and Bowies Hero (Artie Schiller)–rematch here. Prior to his score in the Del Mar Derby Sept. 3, Sharp Samurai captured the Rainbow S. June 10 and the GIII La Jolla H. Aug. 6. Posting a 10-1 upset in the GIII Transylvania S. at Keeneland earlier this term, Big Score checked in third in the GII American Turf S. May 6 and was second in the GII Penn Mile July 8, but failed to fire when eighth in the GI Belmont Derby July 8. Victor of the Singletary S. in May, Bowies Hero won the restricted Oceanside S. July 19.
Also of interest is Cowboy Culture (Quality Road), who enters off back-to-back wins in the GIII Arlington Classic May 27 and the Centaur S. Sept. 6.
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