Mark DeDomenico LLC’s and West Point Thoroughbreds’ talented 3-year-old Shivermetimbers steps onto the Kentucky Derby trail in Saturday’s $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. The top four finishers in the earn Derby qualifying points. Eight West Point Partners (and a group of about 30 people total) will be out at the “Great Race Place” to cheer on their colt named after a pirate expression.

Mark DeDomenico LLC’s and West Point Thoroughbreds’ talented 3-year-old Shivermetimbers steps onto the Kentucky Derby trail in Saturday’s $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. The top four finishers in the earn Derby qualifying points. Eight West Point Partners (and a group of about 30 people total) will be out at the “Great Race Place” to cheer on their colt named after a pirate expression.

Trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, the colt put in two solid efforts sprinting before getting the job done in his first time around two turns on November 23. The son of Shanghai Bobby earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure and 7.75 on the Ragozin Sheets — really fast numbers for a 2-year-old. Runner-up in that race, Richard Mandella trainee Peace, came back to break his maiden on December 30.

We’re looking to turn the tables on Sham favorite McKinzie, a Bob Baffert trainee who beat our colt two starts back before winning via disqualification in the Los Al Futurity (G1) in early December.

There’s quite a bit of early speed on paper, but Shivermetimbers is a kind horse who should be able to rate under jockey Flavien Prat. Prat was out to work the leggy dark bay on January 1, and it was a move that received high praise from both pilot and trainer.

Shivermetimbers is one of eight West Point sophomores who broke their maidens as 2-year-olds. Other top youngsters in the barn include Jerome Contender Seven Trumpets, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) runner-ups Untamed Domain and Best Performance, Damon Runyan Stakes contender Empire Line, and recent maiden winners Kanthaka and Septimius Severus.

The Sham is race five with a 2:30 PT post time. Shivermetimbers breaks from post five in the field of seven carrying West Point’s black and gold silks.