Brad Free's top 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on Feb. 16

A foot abscess derailed Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner TEXAS RED; his status for the Santa Anita Derby and/or Kentucky Derby is uncertain. He will attempt to maintain fitness with a swimming regimen at a layup facility.

Meanwhile, champion 2-year-old male AMERICAN PHAROAH has not raced since late September, but he is working steadily for a comeback. The next major local stakes for Derby aspirants is the Grade 2 San Felipe on March 7.

The San Felipe also is the target for allowance winner PROSPECT PARK, undefeated Delta Downs Jackpot winner OCHO OCHO OCHO and San Vicente winner LORD NELSON.

As for the fillies, the local Oaks division is shallow. Las Virgenes winner CALLBACK is the top local filly. The next major stakes for fillies is the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel on Feb. 28.

Top 3-year-old males

1 – DORTMUND
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree: Big Brown-Our Josephine, by Tale of the Cat
Last race: 1st in Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 7 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 103 / 103
Target race: Santa Anita Derby, April 4 at Santa Anita
Comment: Undefeated after four starts, the large-sized son of Big Brown displayed exceptional tenacity in his most recent start, re-rallying to win after he was passed by Firing Line. Dortmund showed an affinity for Churchill Downs, winning a one-mile allowance in his second career start.

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2 – PROSPECT PARK
Trainer: Cliff Sise
Pedigree: Tapit-Quiet Romance, by Bertrando
Last race: 1st in allowance race on Jan. 30 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 93 / 93
Target race: San Felipe, March 7 at Santa Anita
Comment: It took five starts for the light to go on; he exploded to a visually impressive allowance win last out. A sibling to a Grade 1 winner, he exited the allowance in top shape and has trained well since. Though he has yet to run in a graded stakes, his last-out win suggests he is up to the challenge.

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3 – AMERICAN PHAROAH
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree: Pioneerof the Nile-Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman
Last race: 1st in FrontRunner on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 101 / 101
Target race: San Felipe, March 7 at Santa Anita or Rebel Stakes, March 14 at Oaklawn
Comment: After successive Grade 1 blowouts at age 2, an autumn setback ended his campaign and required a layoff that will extend to more than five months. He will be ready soon. A five-furlong workout Sunday puts him closer to a comeback. Short on seasoning (three starts), there is no doubt about his ability.

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4 – FIRING LINE
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
Pedigree: Line of David-Sister Girl Blues, by Hold for Gold
Last race: 2nd in Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 7 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 103 / 103
Target race: Santa Anita Derby, April 4 at Santa Anita or Sunland Derby, March 22 at Sunland Park
Comment: This colt’s speed figures have improved with each subsequent start; he is two heads away from a three-race win streak. Two recent losses to Dortmund include a gut-wrenching loss last time that suggests distance limitations. He had a one-length lead at the eighth pole, but did not finish the job.

5 – LORD NELSON
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree: Pulpit-African Jade, by Seeking the Gold
Last race: 1st in San Vicente on Feb. 1 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 91 / 92
Target race: San Felipe on March 7 at Santa Anita
Comment: He is 3 for 3 sprinting, unplaced in both routes. However, both route losses were forgivable – fourth in a comeback and a wide-trip debacle at Churchill Downs. He might be a notch below the best, but his current form is sharp and he will be among the favorites in the San Felipe.

Honorable mention: BOLO, OCHO OCHO OCHO, and TEXAS RED

Top 3-year-old fillies

1 – CALLBACK
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree: Street Sense-Quickest, by Forest Wildcat
Last race: 1st in Las Virgenes on Jan. 31 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 85 / 90
Target race: Santa Anita Oaks, April 4 at Santa Anita
Comment: A steady pattern of improvement produced a front-running win last out in a Grade 1 route, albeit over a suspect field. Sired by Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, her dam is a sibling to Derby winner Super Saver. Callback is versatile, has speed, and likely will continue to improve.

2- GLORY
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Pedigree: Tapit-Ki Maniere, by Sadler’s Wells
Last race: 2nd in California Oaks on Feb. 7 at Golden Gate Fields
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 81 / 86
Target race: Undetermined
Comment: This lightly raced filly followed a sharp maiden sprint win with a good runner-up finish in her first route try in a $50K stakes on synthetic at Golden Gate. Her maiden win was validated when the runner-up won next out; the filly that beat her last time (Sharla Rae) has won three stakes.

3- FANTASTIC STYLE
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree: Harlan’s Holiday-Ruby Summer, by Mr. Greeley
Last race: 1st in maiden special weight on Jan. 19 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 93 / 93
Target race: Undetermined
Comment: She has started only twice and won only one, but there is no telling how good she might be. Her front-running maiden win was in fast time and was validated when the runner-up Never Ends returned to run well. Fantastic Style continues to train well and is likely to jump into a stakes soon.

Honorable mention: CURLIN’S FOX, ENTRECHAT, SEDUIRE, SHARLA RAE, WILD AT HEART