Ax Man begins Kentucky Derby quest

ARCADIA, Calif. – What a difference a day makes. Had Ax Man made his first start on Dec. 31 instead of Jan. 1, he could win the Kentucky Derby. Instead, he can’t win the Derby, because no horse has won without racing at 2 since Apollo in 1882, and, well, Ax Man missed the cutoff.

Kidding, sort of.

It’s obviously a tall order to go from an unstarted maiden at the beginning of the year to a Derby winner, which is why no one has done it in 136 years. Ax Man will get his chance, though. There are two-turn races planned for him in coming months, but first he will take an intermediate step Saturday at Santa Anita when he goes seven furlongs in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes.

“It’s a good spot for him, and then I’ll stretch him out,” said Bob Baffert, who trains Ax Man.

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Ax Man flashed sharp speed to win his debut, checking in 9 1/2 lengths the best in the six-furlong race. The quality of that race was franked when third-place finisher Lombo came back to win his next start, as well as last week’s Robert Lewis Stakes.

Ax Man drew the rail. Five others are lined up outside him, including stablemate Nero, who won against maidens in his second start last time out, and the high-quality All Out Blitz, turning back to a sprint after finishing second to McKinzie in the Sham Stakes last month.

The other three all are promising runners. Kanthaka was a late-running winner against maidens on opening day Dec. 26, Kris’ Rocket Kat was an impressive maiden winner last fall at Del Mar, and Mr. Jagermeister makes his first start of the year – and on this circuit – after turning in several fast races last year at Canterbury and Prairie Meadows.

The San Vicente goes as race 6 of 10.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ax Man, by Misremembered
Beyer: 97

◗ His lone Beyer Speed Figure is the highest of anyone’s in this field, but he’s facing better competition this time and has to flee the inside.

◗ He is a half-brother to two-time Eclipse Award winner Indian Blessing.

Nero, by Pioneerof the Nile
Beyers: 79-63

◗ After an inglorious debut last summer at Del Mar, when he pulled himself up in deep stretch and blew a certain win, he came back to graduate 4 1/2 months later by adding blinkers and Victor Espinoza, who muscled him home.

◗ A sharp workout in 1:00.40 on Feb. 2, the best of 42 at the distance, earned him a start here.

“I wasn’t going to run, but he worked so well,” Baffert said.

All Out Blitz, by Concord Point
Last 3 Beyers: 91-87-81

◗ He raced courageously at a distance likely beyond his scope in the one-mile Sham, and now is back around one turn.

◗ He was not nominated to the Triple Crown, meaning his upcoming months will be sprint-oriented.

Kanthaka, by Jimmy Creed
Beyers: 78-76

◗ He ended up here when a first-level allowance did not go.

“This is what was available,” said his trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer. “It was our second-best choice.”