HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Corinthian came on with a rush in the stretch, and it appeared First Samurai was beaten in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

But an overaggressive Corinthian was disqualified Saturday for “squeezing” First Samurai, then forcing the Kentucky Derby hopeful into Flashy Bull before crossing the finish line first.

A steward’s inquiry ensued, and there was little argument after First Samurai was placed first, Flashy Bull second and Corinthian was dropped to third after finishing a length ahead of First Samurai.

“I thought he ran great,” said Corinthian’s dejected trainer, Jimmy Jerkens. “I don’t know why he did what he did.”

Corinthian jumped on the Derby trail with his effort and will run next in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 8.

“He’s a very hard horse to ride,” jockey Javier Castellano said, adding that Corinthian was hard to handle in the paddock before the race and in the starting gate. “He came out a little bit at the end, but as soon as he came out, I thought he was clear.”

First Samurai, meanwhile, moves forward on the road to the Derby on May 6. Next stop, according to co-owner Bruce Lunsford, is a return home to Kentucky for the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 15.

In another top Derby prep, Brother Derek cruised to victory in the $200,000 Santa Catalina at Santa Anita and staked his claim as the Derby favorite with his third straight victory. First Samurai trainer Frank Brothers was pleased with his colt’s first effort around two turns.

“I thought my horse ran a very good race. He showed a lot of courage,” Brothers said. “I’ve been on both sides of that fence when the inquiry comes. It’s a tough loss, but it was our day.”

First Samurai improved to five victories in seven starts. The son of Giant’s Causeway came into the race off a second-place finish in the Hutcheson.

“Winning like that takes a little of the taste out of it,” jockey Edgar Prado said.

. “But I think the stewards did a good job. His horse (Castellano’s) was supposed to maintain a straight course.”

First Samurai took command with a great start, and was cruising around the far turn when Corinthian challenged for the lead. Then, the colt moved in front just outside the eighth pole and cut in front of First Samurai, who was on the rail.

After First Samurai came on again, Corinthian veered out about four wide, moving several horses farther outside, including First Samurai and Flashy Bull.

“There’s not too much to explain. He squeezed him and he forced him out into the 10 (Flashy Bull),” Gulfstream steward Charlie Camac said in explaining the disqualification.

It was the first DQ from first place in 69 runnings of the Fountain of Youth.

My Golden Song was fourth, followed by Rehoboth, Can’t Beat It, Jazil, Hemingway’s Key, Itsallaboutthechase and Great Point.

The winning time was 1:49. First Samurai returned $3.40, $2.60 and $2.20. Flashy Bull, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, paid $6.20 and $3.80, and Corinthian paid $4 to show.

In the other 3-year-old stakes race at Gulfstream, 14-1 shot Sharp Humor held off favorite Noonmark by a neck and won the seven-furlong, $150,000 Swale in his first start of the year. Catcominatcha broke down on the backstretch after shattering his right front cannon bone and was euthanized.

Sharp Humor, a New York-bred, has now won three in a row and trainer Dale Romans said the colt’s next start would be around two turns to see if he belongs on the Derby trail.

“He’s just a fast, fast horse,” Romans said. “It seems like we have to have a little bigger plan now. There’s already been one Distorted Humor New York-bred to win the Derby (Funny Cide). Let’s see if we can get there.”

Beacon Shine, owned by Yankees boss George Steinbrenner and trained by Nick Zito, finished fifth in the 11-horse field.

Also, Harlington held off late-charging Contante by a neck and won the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap, giving trainer Todd Pletcher his third winner of the day.

Fan favorite Funny Cide, the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, finished seventh in the eight-horse race.

Harlington has won five of six career starts.

In three other stakes at Gulfstream, Mister Fotis ($10.80) won the $200,000 Richter Scale Breeders’ Cup, favorite Wend ($4.20) took the $100,000 Honey Fox Handicap and Dynamite Lass ($14.60) took the $100,000 The Very One Handicap.

FINISH LINES: Pletcher, who leads all trainers with 38 Triple Crown nominations, started the day with a couple of his 3-year-olds winning allowance races: Exclusive Quality, an $850,000 purchase by Marie and Aaron Jones, won at seven-furlongs in a track record time of 1:21.11; and Sunriver won at 1 1/8 miles, beating Zito’s favorite Superfly, who was third. Exclusive Quality could run next in the seven-furlong Bayshore at Aqueduct (April 8), Sunriver might run next in the Florida Derby (April 1) or the Illinois Derby (April 8). … Barbaro, still unbeaten, worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 Saturday at Palm Meadows Training Center as he trains up to the Florida Derby on April 1. … Zito was 0-for-11 with his Gulfstream starters Saturday.

AP-ES-03-04-06 1935EST