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Field Taking Shape For Santa Anita Derby
It’s less than two weeks until the 87th running of the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 6.
A potential steppingstone to the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby will be part of a stakes-laden card at the Arcadia, Calif. track. Supporting stakes that day include the Santa Anita Oaks (G2), an official prep for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 3, the Monrovia (G3) for older fillies and mares on the hillside turf course, and a pair of stakes for California-bred or sired horses.
As the Santa Anita Derby approaches, the potential field is starting to take shape. Trainer Bob Baffert, who has won a record nine Santa Anita Derbys, is expected to have at least two starters and potentially three.
As first reported by Horse Racing Nation on Friday, Baffert plans to run Zedan Racing’s unbeaten colt Maymun. By Frosted, Maymun dominated in his 6½-furlong debut at Santa Anita when winning by 7½ lengths Jan. 20. He returned in a one-mile allowance Feb. 11 and edged stablemate Imagination by a neck to stay perfect. That effort was flattered when Imagination, who is also a candidate for the Santa Anita Derby, came back to win the San Felipe (G2) at 1 1/16 miles March 3 at Santa Anita.
Other potential starters for Baffert include Wine Me Up, Coach Prime, and Wynstock.
Wine Me Up was beaten just a head by Imagination in the San Felipe. The Vino Rosso colt is owned by Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman.
Coach Prime, also owned by Zedan Racing, has been working steadily but has not raced since finishing third in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) Dec. 16.
Wynstock won the Los Alamitos Futurity but came back to finish last in the Southwest (G3) Feb. 3 at Oaklawn Park. By Solomini, Wynstock is campaigned by Los Alamitos owner Ed Allred and executive Jack Liebau.
The likely main rival to Baffert’s contingent is Stronghold for trainer Phil D’Amato. By Ghostzapper, Stronghold exits a sharp 2½-length win in the Sunland Derby (G3) Feb. 18. He earned 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the victory, which puts him 16th on the Leaderboard currently.
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D’Amato this week said there’s a small possibility Stronghold could ship to Keeneland for the Blue Grass (G1), also on April 6, but staying home was most likely.
“I think that win going two turns at Sunland, the light bulb came on,” D’Amato added of Stronghold, who is owned by Eric M. Waller and Sharon Waller. “Since then, he’s acted more professionally in his drills. He worked sensational last Monday.”
Trained John Sadler plans to run Tapalo, most recently second to Saturday's Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) victor Endlessly in the El Camino Real Derby on synthetic Feb. 10 at Golden Gate. The Tapiture ridgling is owned by Hronis Racing.
Sadler added it was “unlikely” Scatfiy returns in the Santa Anita Derby after running himself into trouble and being eased across the wire in the San Felipe.
Trainer Doug O’Neill said E J Won the Cup, who won the Turf Paradise Derby March 14 for owner Superfecta King Stable, is possible to go in the Santa Anita Derby.
“He’d be a major longshot, but we’re considering it,” O’Neill said Saturday of the Omaha Beach colt.
McVay, who was third in the San Felipe, is possible for trainer John Shirreffs. The Constitution colt has 19 Derby points and ranks 25th on the Leaderboard for owner C R K Stable.
Also pointed to the Santa Anita Derby is recent maiden winner Tessuto for trainer George Papaprodromou.
A ridgling by Munnings, he graduated by 2½ lengths in a one-mile maiden Feb. 25 at Santa Anita. He is owned by Kretz Racing.
The Santa Anita Derby offers eligible horses a total of 200 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10 to the top-five finishers. Nominations for the Santa Anita Derby will be released Friday.
