Hollywood Derby’s East Coast flair includes a formidable Brown trio

Six of the 12 in Saturday’s $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar are based on the East Coast, including three serious contenders from the Chad Brown stable. The leading conditioner will be represented by Camelot Kitten, Beach Patrol and Annals of Time as he pursues first win in the 1 1/8-mile turf affair.

Camelot Kitten keyed a 1-2-3 finish for the Brown trio in the October 8 Hill Prince (G3) at Belmont Park, edging Beach Patrol by a head. Annals of Time rallied to be another length back in his stakes debut.

A Ken & Sarah Ramsey homebred son of Kitten’s Joy, Camelot Kitten will be seeking his fifth graded stakes victory of the year in the Hollywood Derby. The bay colt is on the verge of millionaire status, with $963,520 in earnings, and will retain the services of Irad Ortiz Jr.

Beach Patrol captured the Secretariat (G1) two back in his third start for Brown and has experience on the West Coast, winning a maiden and allowance over Santa Anita’s turf last spring under the care of former trainer Phil d’Amato. Regular rider Florent Geroux guides the Lemon Drop Kid colt.

Annals of Time, a well-regarded but lightly-raced type with only three career starts, has attracted the services of Javier Castellano for his second stakes attempt, but the son of Temple City must overcome post 11.

French import Hayabusa One exits a commendable allowance tally in his first start stateside for new trainer Graham Motion, scoring by 3 ¾ lengths at Keeneland, and ships in from the Fair Hill training center in Maryland. The chestnut son of Siyouni adds Victor Espinoza. Grade 3 victor Isotherm and Saratoga allowance winner Revved Up have also traveled cross-country in pursuit of the nation’s final Grade 1 turf race. The former is trained by George Weaver while the latter hails from the Shug McGaughey barn.

Frank Conversation, a 36-1 winner of the Twilight Derby (G2) on the Breeders’ Cup Friday undercard, is a leading local contender along with Free Rose, who finished second by a half-length in the Twilight Derby after posting upset wins over the course in the Del Mar Derby (G2) and La Jolla (G3).

Twilight Derby third Blackjackcat, last-out stakes winner Defiantly are also entered. A pair of expected longshots, Diplodocus and Path of David, complete the field.

Camelot Kitten (left) edging Beach Patrol in Hill Prince courtesy of Chelsea Durand/Adam Coglianese Photography