A Great chance for the Derby

The first Saturday in May is shaping up rather interestingly for J. Paul Reddam and even more so for Doug O’Neill.

As things stand in the wake of Great Hunter’s impressive victory Saturday in the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, Reddam, who owns the brown 3-year-old, has three lively prospects for the Kentucky Derby -- Great Hunter, Notional and Liquidity.

O’Neill, who trains all three -- and who also trained Lava Man to his second consecutive Santa Anita Handicap victory Saturday -- could have one more runner at Churchill Downs on May 5.

“Merv Griffin has a horse named Cobalt Blue, so not to get greedy, but we might even have four that could show up if we get really lucky,” O’Neill said.

In Arcadia on Saturday, the focus was on Lava Man, but there was as much attention paid to Great Hunter, who, in the wake of Nobizlike Shobiz’s third-place finish behind winner Scat Daddy in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park in Florida earlier in the day, suddenly becomes the early favorite among Kentucky Derby hopefuls.

Flawlessly ridden by Corey Nakatani, Great Hunter was held off the lead in the field of nine for most of the race. Then, when asked by Nakatani, the Pennsylvania-bred stormed past the leaders in the stretch, comfortably winning the 1 1/16 -mile race by a length and a quarter in 1:42.89 on a fast track.

Sam P., with Garrett Gomez aboard, finished second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Saint Paul, ridden by Alex Solis.

Reddam said Great Hunter probably would run only once more -- in the Blue Grass Stakes in Kentucky -- before the Derby. “He likes that track and he would go there . . . and just stay for the Derby,” he said.

Notional probably will run in the Florida Derby, Reddam said, and Liquidity will be pointed at the Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

“We’re trying to keep them all separate,” Reddam said. “Everyone’s got theories about what’s the best way to win the Derby. So we’re going to give one five weeks going into the Derby, one four weeks and one three weeks.”

O’Neill said all three are distinct.

“Notional is the lighter-framed of the three,” he said. “He’s one who needs his races spaced out a little bit more ...

“Liquidity is like one of those 6-foot-4 eighth-graders. He’s a big, beautiful horse but he has no clue what he’s doing.

“Great Hunter is just very professional and acts like an older horse.”

On Saturday, he acted like the Kentucky Derby favorite.

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grahame.jones@latimes.com