Sham and Linda's Chief, who were campaigning at Santa Anita Park, were considered the principal candidates from the West to contest 1972 Two Year Old champion and Horse of the Year Secretariat for the 1973 Kentucky Derby. On February 17, Sham earned his fourth consecutive win and first stakes win in the Santa Catalina Stakes at 1 miles. On March 1, Linda's Chief, trained by Robert Frankel, had established himself credibly with a track-record time of 1:33 4/5 in winning the mile San Jacinto Stakes. These two met for the first time March 17 in the 1 mile San Felipe Handicap, with Linda's Chief taking the win and Sham, the slight favorite, finishing fourth.