Laid-Back Desert Party Should Handle Derby Uproar Well

Desert Party, who is scheduled to run in the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I),  was a star in the sale ring in 2008. He brought $2.1 million from John Ferguson to top the Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training. Since then, the son of Street Cry has become a standout for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation, winning last year's Sanford Stakes (gr. II) and this year's UAE. Two Thousand Guineas Sponsored By Gulf News (UAE-III).

In his most recent outing, Desert Party finished second in the March 28 UAE Derby Sponsored By Saeed & Mohammed al Naboodah Group (UAE-II).

As a yearling, Desert Party was offered by Hunter Valley Farm, agent for Sinatra Thoroughbreds and Wayward Wind Farms, at the 2007 Keeneland September sale. Hidden Brook, agent for Paul Pompa Jr., purchased the strapping bay colt for $425,000. The following year, Scanlon Training Center, as agent, consigned Desert Party to the Fasig-Tipton Florida auction. He worked an eighth of a mile in :10 2/5 prior to that sale.

"He was one of those horses that, as a consignor, you love because he made you look good, like there was some great thing you did to get him there," David Scanlon said. "When we took him to the sale, he didn't turn a hair. He was really good about things. He worked, came back to the barn, and there was no problem. He just did everything very effortlessly."

According to Scanlon, Desert Party's easygoing demeanor will help him cope with all the hustle and bustle surrounding the Run for the Roses.

"He was so laid-back that you didn't really know how fast he was going to be until you worked him plenty of times because you actually had to kind of push him to do it," Scanlon said. "You almost had to make him be aggressive. I think that's actually going to be his best attribute as a Derby candidate. He's got a great attitude, and he takes everything so well."