Barcelona Farms Crown Heights captured Sundays $1,000.000 GR-1 FLA Derby by an easy looking two lengths in a performance which propelled him to the 3yo division lead.

The pace setting Crown Heights made it look easy against perhaps the most accomplish field of all the derby preps that have been run thus for. That field included such notables as Noble Warrior, Jamaican Bolt and Willow Grove.

The final time for the 9f event was an excellent 1:48.92 which earned Crown Heights a 100 SRF speed figure. This is the first triple digit figure in Crown Heights career and is also the first triple digit figure in the KY Derby prep races run this year.  The ease and professionalism of the victory will likely make him the derby day favorite. In his last four starts he has pretty much dominated the races and in the end drawn off as pleased. His SRF figures have improved with every start. Crown Heights has now won six of seven starts and has a six race win streak going into the derby. Though his victory on Sunday was in a front running style Crown Heights prefers to lay just off the leader with an excellent tactical speed running style that could benefit him in the derby.

With all that said the 100 SRF figure does not guarantee a derby victory. As we mentioned four weeks ago when we placed Crown Heights as the #3 horse in the Top Five, he had to demonstrate the ability to increase his figures with added distance. The concern then was a lack of seasoning and amount of distance races run, lack of seasoning remains a concern. So far he has done just what was asked of him to do. Now he has one more big step, can he maintain this ability at 10f? That is a question that he faces as well as all of the 3yo's face. Right now he gives us little to doubt his ability.

Last weeks number one ranked 3yo Risen Ruler will slip just behind Crown Heights at #2 followed by stable mate Mai Mia Bambina at #3, Flyflyfly stays at #4 while Noble Warrior drops for a second time to #5 though he gave a very good account of himself in his third place finish just two lengths off the winner in the FLA Derby.

The SRF Top Five 3YO's

 (#) Top SRF figure over 1mile distance

1) Crown Heights (100)

2) Risen Ruler (96)

3) Mai Mia Bambina (97)

4) Flyflyfly (96)

5) Noble Warrior (98)

Contenders: Alien Drive (97), Jamaican Bolt (98) , Suave N Debonaire (95), Eight Alarm Fire (96), Halfling(92)

								SRF
DATE	TRK	Grade	Purse	Race Name	Dist	Sfc	Time	SR	Winner/Place
4/3/2011	GP	GR-1	$1,000.00	FL Derby	1-1/8m	fst	1:48.92	100	Crown Heights, Jamcn Bolt
3/27/2011	SUN	GR-3	$800.00	SUN Derby	1-1/8m	fst	1:49.22	96	Risen Ruler, Fnd duLacRiver
3/26/2011	FG	GR-2	$1,000.00	LA Derby	1-1/8m	fst	1:49.27	97	MaiMia Bambina, Alien Drive
3/26/2011	TP	GR-3	$500.00	Vinery St	1-1/8m	fst	1:50.20	95	Suave n Dbnre, Soviet Flash
3/26/2011	TP	NG-3y	$100.00	Rushaway St	1-1/16m	fst	1:44.01	95	Babayin, CosmicNNsty
3/19/2011	OP	GR-2	$300.00	The Rebel	1-1/16m	fst	1:43.59	93	Sabers Edge,Thrlng Star
3/12/2011	TAM	GR-2	$350.00	TAM Derby	1-1/16m	fst	1:43.77	96	EightAlarmFire, MLK
3/12/2011	SA	GR-2	$250.00	San Felipe St	1-1/16m	fst	1:44.46	96	Flyflyfly, Alexithymia
3/5/2011	AQU	GR-3	$250.00	The Gotham	1-1/16m	fst	1:43.58	94	Tropical Ldge, Star Bet
3/5/2011	TP	NG-3y	$100.00	BtglMemrial	1-1/16m	fst	1:44.90	92	NY Minute, Endorsemnt
2/26/2011	GP	GR-2	$400.00	FountainOfYth	1-1/8m	fst	1:50.31	95	Noble Warrior, Drvitlkyoustlit
2/26/2011	GP	GR-2	$150.00	Hutcheson St	7f	fst	1:23.97	94	Silent Rebllion, ComeOnVan
2/21/2011	OP	GR-3	$250.00	Southwest St	1mi	fst	1:36.76	96	Crown Hgts, Beafrking Star
2/20/2011	SA	GR-2	$150.00	San Vicente	7f	fst	1:23.78	93	Iditarod Diadme, Savabeel
2/19/2011	FG	GR-2	$300.00	Risen Star	1-1/16m	fst	1:43.81	92	Alien Drve, Jmcn Bolt
2/12/2011	SA	GR-2	$250.00	Lewis Stakes	1-1/8m	fst	1:50.40	92	Risen Ruler, OutofthePark
2/12/2011	GG	GR-3	$200.00	EL Camino	1-1/8m	fst	1:50.92	96	Wtch4 Sailor, Willow Grove
2/12/2011	TAM	GR-3	$225.00	Davis Stakes	1-1/16m	fst	1:43.84	95	Donative, Fnd duLacRvr
2/5/2011	AQU	NG/3y	$100.00	Whirlaway	1 1/16m	fst	1:48.89	91	Thrling Star, Rock Rules
1/30/2011	GP	GR-3	$400.00	Holy Bull	1mi	fst	1:37.14	93	Laffin Hyena, Jamcn Bolt
1/22/2011	FG	GR-3	$100.00	LeComte St	1m70y	fst	1:42.20	90	Montepulciano,ChipIn Birdie
1/22/2011	OP	NG/3y	$100.00	Smarty Jones	1mi	fst	1:38.18	92	Fnd du LacRvr, Jaxo
1/15/2011	SA	GR-3	$100.00	Sham St	1-1/16m	fst	1:43.78	97	Flyflyfly, BeafrkingStar
1/15/2011	GG	NG/3y	$100.00	CA Derby	1-1/16m	fst	1:45.00	93	Alien Drive, Sabers Edge