by Mike Curry

El Gato Malo closed gamely in the stretch to reel in runner-up Leonides and pacesetter Samba Rooster for a half-length win in the $400,000 Lone Star Derby (G3) on Saturday at Lone Star Park.

The El Corredor gelding was on the outside looking in for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) due to insufficient graded stakes earnings after a fifth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 5.

El Gato Malo rebounded from the disappointing Santa Anita Derby effort with a determined stretch run in the Lone Star Derby to improve to four wins in six career starts.

Trained by Craig Dollase for owner West Point Thoroughbreds, El Gato Malo won his first three career starts by a combined 16 lengths, including a 6 1/4-length romp in the San Rafael Stakes (G3) on January 12 at Santa Anita Park. He subsequently finished second to Colonel John in the Sham Stakes on March 1 before flattening out in the stretch of the Santa Anita Derby as the 9-to-5 favorite.

In his first career start on a conventional dirt track in the Lone Star Derby, El Gato Malo showed the closing kick he exhibited while winning the San Rafael.

Bejarano rated El Gato Malo in fifth as Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2) runner-up Samba Rooster set a strong pace through an opening quarter in :22.98, a half-mile in :46.27, and six furlongs in 1:10.20.

Leonides, who stalked Samba Rooster from second, challenged for the lead approaching the eighth pole but El Gato Malo closed with a rush from the outside to seize command in the closing strides. He completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.04 and boosted his career earnings to $440,200.

Palos Verdes Stakes winner Leonides nipped third-place finisher Samba Rooster by a nose in the final strides.

Dollase and West Point President Terry Finley considered the Preakness Stakes (G1) for El Gato Malo before deciding to enter him in the Lone Star Derby. He is out of the winning Mountain Cat mare One Bad Cat.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor