Temple City colt powers to Hollywood Derby (G1) win

Annals of Time threaded his way between horses and exploded to the lead in the stretch of Saturday’s $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) to score a 1 1/2-length victory, the first graded stakes win for the 3-year-old son of Temple City.

Temple City, whose progeny have now topped the $4 million mark this year, is one of only four sires in North America with at least four Grade 1 winners in 2016, joining luminaries Tapit and Curlin, and the late Scat Daddy.

With just three starts prior to Saturday, Annals of Time had just a maiden debut win to his credit, but was a close third in the Hill Prince S. (G3) in early October. Faced with breaking from post 11 in the 12 -horse field, jockey Javier Castellano had little choice to take back early and was about 10 lengths off the lead after a half-mile that went in :47.81.

Castellano had a good hold on his mount on the far turn as he waited for room, and he finally came off the fence coming into the stretch. Annals of Time had to go through narrow openings twice in rapid succession before he burst to the front with about a sixteenth of a mile to go to finish up the 1 1/8-miles in 1:47.43.

“I tried to save ground as much as I could,” said Castellano. “I was covered up for most of the way. I give [trainer Chad Brown] all the credit for shipping out a young horse like this–a horse making only his fourth start–and shipping him to the west coast and having him ready to run a race like this. He was powerful. When I asked him in the stretch he put in a powerful kick. Very strong; very impressive. And he galloped out strong and straight. Distance will be no problem with him.”

With the win, Annals of Time upped his record to 2-1-1 in four starts and has earned $289,000 for co-owners Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence.

Pedigree Notes from the TDN:

A half-brother to stakes winner Sharp Sally (Posse), Annals of Time’s deeper female family includes two-time Grade I winner Hollywood Story (Wild Rush) and MGSW Seattle Fitz (Arg) (Fitzcarraldo {Arg}). Out of a half-sister to a pair of black-type performers, Annals of Time is the last listed produce for his dam Lemon Daze and is the fourth top-level winner for his sire. Miss Temple City is the morning-line favorite for Sunday’s GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar.