Kentucky Derby Preparation
In 1973 at the age of three, Sham won the Santa Catalina Stakes (G2) and took second place in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) beating Secretariat, who finished third. Prior to the Santa Anita Derby, he was easily beaten by Linda's Chief in the San Felipe.
On March 31, 1973, in the Santa Anita Derby (GI), California's primary Kentucky Derby prep race, Sham scored a 2 ½ length surprise victory over 1-2 favorite Linda's Chief under jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. and equaling the Santa Anita Derby record for the 11⁄8 miles of 1:47 in front of 49,654 fans, which was set in 1965 by Lucky Debonair. Sham provided Pincay with his third win in the Santa Anita Derby and was greatly helped by his stablemate Nightly Dawn cutting off Linda's Chief and forcing him back, causing him to lose many lengths just after the start.
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