Battle of Midway, Reach the World eye Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Battle of Midway and Reach the World finished a neck apart in an optional claimer for 3-year-olds in Thursday’s seventh race at Santa Anita. There is a good chance they will see each other again in early spring.

Trainers Jerry Hollendorfer and Bob Baffert said they are strongly considering the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8 for both colts, who had their third career starts Thursday.

Battle of Midway, third in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs Feb. 12, won his first start around two turns in Thursday’s race at 1 1/16 miles. Ridden by leading rider Flavien Prat, Battle of Midway raced wide before taking the lead in early stretch. He led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong to go and was tested in the final sixteenth by Reach the World.

Owned by Rick Porter, Battle of Midway was timed in 1:44.16.

“We’d look at a race like the Santa Anita Derby,” Hollendorfer said. “He could be up to it.”

Reach the World raced between horses in the field of eight for the first six furlongs and closed well under jockey Mike Smith. Owned by Don Alberto Stable, Reach the World is a colt who may prefer longer races, Baffert said.

“He seems like a Belmont kind of horse,” Baffert said, referring to the Belmont Stakes at 1 1/2 miles in June. “He could show up in the Santa Anita Derby.”

Reach the World, by Tapit, has yet to run in a stakes.

The $1 million Santa Anita Derby is run at 1 1/8 miles and is the West Coast’s leading prep for the Triple Crown.