Brad Free’s top 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on March 30
California-based Bob Baffert trains the country’s two leading prospects for the Kentucky Derby – 2014 champion 2-year-old male AMERICAN PHAROAH and undefeated DORTMUND. American Pharoah romped in his March 14 comeback at Oaklawn Park, and will return to Oaklawn for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 11. Dortmund, meanwhile, is the early favorite for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby this Saturday, April 4.
A field of seven is likely for the Santa Anita Derby. Dortmund, 5 for 5, will open as the odds-on favorite according to track linemaker Jon White. Others expected in the Santa Anita Derby field include PROSPECT PARK, BOLO, OCHO OCHO OCHO, ONE LUCKY DANE, CROSS THE LINE and BAD READ SANCHEZ.
As for fillies, previously top-ranked CALLBACK finished first in a low-rated (77 Beyer) renewal of the Sunland Oaks on March 22, then was disqualified for interference and placed fourth behind Baffert-trained stablemate MAYBELLENE. Callback drops off the list.
:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays
A field of about six is expected for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on Saturday, April 4. STELLAR WIND, upset winner of the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel on Feb. 28, is expected to start favored over LUMINANCE, LIGHT THE CITY, WILD AT HEART, GLORY and CURLIN’S FOX.
Below are the top five colts and geldings, and top three fillies.
Top 3-year-old colts and geldings at Santa Anita
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree: Pioneerof the Nile-Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman
Last race: 1st in Rebel Stakes on March 14 at Oaklawn Park
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 100/101
Target race: Arkansas Derby on April 11 at Oaklawn Park
Comment: Widely considered the Kentucky Derby favorite, this colt returned from a layoff of more than five months to score a blowout Rebel win on a sloppy track at Oaklawn. American Pharoah lost his debut in August, but has won his three starts since then, all in graded stakes. He worked five furlongs March 29 in 58.60.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree: Big Brown-Our Josephine, by Tale of the Cat
Last race: 1st in San Felipe on March 7 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 104/104
Target race: Santa Anita Derby, April 4 at Santa Anita
Comment: Undefeated after five starts, Dortmund is expected to start favored in the Santa Anita Derby. Dortmund has been favored in every start, odds-on in his last four. He benefitted from an easy trip wiring the San Felipe, but also has run well from off the pace. He worked six furlongs in 1:11.60 on March 28.
Trainer: Cliff Sise
Pedigree: Tapit-Quiet Romance, by Bertrando
Last race: 2nd in San Felipe on March 7 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 102 / 102
Target race: Santa Anita Derby, April 4 at Santa Anita
Comment: After allowance win vs. suspect foes, Prospect Park established his class with a good runner-up finish in the San Felipe. He rallied from sixth, negotiated traffic, and finished evenly. Whether or not he wins the mile and an eighth Santa Anita Derby, he would enter the Kentucky Derby as a legit contender begging for a mile and a quarter.
:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker
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: 97/104
Target race: Kentucky Derby, May 2 at Churchill Downs
Comment: A blowout in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby – he won by more than 14 lengths – was the final prep for Firing Line. But his post-race body language was negative. He appeared exhausted returning to the winner’s circle. It will be interesting to monitor his training over the new few weeks. Will he even make the gate at Churchill Downs?
Trainer: Carla Gaines
Pedigree: Temple City-Aspen Mountain, by Chief Seattle
Last race: 3rd in San Felipe on March 7 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 101/101
Target race: Santa Anita Derby, April 4 at Santa Anita
Comment: A good third last out in his first start on dirt and first in more than two months gives Bolo a longshot look in the Santa Anita Derby. Bolo gave Dortmund a brief scare in the San Felipe before he retreated to third. Bolo needed the start, and can improve.
:: TOP 3-YEAR OLDS: Oaklawn | Aqueduct
Top 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita
1- STELLAR WIND
Trainer: John Sadler
Pedigree: Curlin-Evening Star, by Malibu Moon
Last race: 1st in Santa Ysabel on Feb. 28 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 91 / 91
Target race: Santa Anita Oaks, April 4 at Santa Anita
Comment: The jump from Laurel maiden to Grade 3 at Santa Anita did not deter Stellar Wind, who will be among the favorites in the Santa Anita Oaks. She has a long-distance pedigree, and was just getting warmed up last time at a mile and a sixteenth. Stellar Wind worked six furlongs March 28 in 1:13.60.
2 – LUMINANCE
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree: Tale of the Cat-Siren Serenade, by Unbridled’s Song
Last race: 1st in allowance on Feb. 28 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 81 / 87
Target race: Santa Anita Oaks, April 4 at Santa Anita
Comment: Everything went wrong for Luminance in her comeback, yet she won anyway. Off slow, wide, and won a stretch battle with a racing-fit filly while making her first start in seven months. Her relatively low Beyer does not do her justice.
3-LIGHT THE CITY
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Pedigree: Street Sense-Light From Above, by A.P. Indy
Last race: 2nd in Santa Ysabel on Feb. 28 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 86/86
Target race: Santa Anita Oaks, April 4 at Santa Anita
Comment: Runner-up in two graded stakes this winter, this improving filly enters as a below-the-radar upset candidate. She has speed, does not require the lead, and has improved each start this winter.