Brad Free's top 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on March 9
DORTMUND remained unbeaten after five starts with a front-running triumph in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, which solidified his role as favorite for the Santa Anita Derby on April 4. PROSPECT PARK ran well to finish second in the San Felipe; he will benefit from the longer distance of the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby. Those two colts remain on top of the California 3-year-old division.
The only reason 2014 champion juvenile AMERICAN PHAROAH is not ranked higher than third is because he has not started since September. That will change when he ships to Oaklawn Park for the Rebel Stakes on March 14. LORD NELSON drops off the list after finishing fourth in the San Felipe. His place is taken by BOLO, a grass specialist who ran surprisingly well to finish third in the San Felipe.
The 3-year-old filly division remains a work in progress. CALLBACK and STELLAR WIND are expected to start as the two choices in the Santa Anita Oaks on April 4. A good runner-up finish by CURLIN’S FOX in a turf stakes propels her onto the filly short list. She replaces LUMINANCE.
Below are the top five colts and geldings, and top three fillies.
Top 3-year-old colts & geldings at Santa Anita
1 – DORTMUND
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: The San Felipe appeared to have plenty of pace, but Dortmund made the lead rather easily. He got the opening half in 46.98 seconds; six furlongs in 1:11.30. He worked harder in his previous start (46.80 and 1:10.70). If he was a need-the-lead type, Dortmund might be second-guessed. But he is versatile; he can rally from behind. Favored all five starts and odds-on in his last four, Dortmund is expected to be odds-on again in the Santa Anita Derby.
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2 – PROSPECT PARK
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: Prospect Park passed the class test; the San Felipe was his first graded stakes. He raced in traffic, and narrowed the gap on the front-running winner. It was a forward move by a developing colt who acts like he will benefit from added distance. Even if he loses again to Dortmund next out, Prospect Park could arrive at Churchill Downs as a legitimate threat from off the pace at 1 1/4 miles.
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3 – AMERICAN PHAROAH
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree: Pioneerof the Nile-Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman
Last race: 1st in Front Runner on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 101 / 101
Target race: Rebel Stakes, March 14 at Oaklawn Park
Comment: Unraced since September, the champion 2-year-old is working exceptionally well for his first start at 3. He won a pair of Grade 1’s last year, and will ship to Oaklawn for the Rebel. Based on how he looks training in California, he will be tough to beat in Arkansas. American Pharoah worked from the gate Feb. 27, a bullet six furlongs in 1:10.40. He is ready to fire, and figures to steamroll Take Charge Brandi.
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: 104 / 104
Target race: Sunland Derby, March 22 at Sunland Park
Comment: Firing Line lost back-to-back heart-breakers to Dortmund. That’s not such a bad thing considering Dortmund has never lost. Although the gut feeling is Firing Line has distance limitations, there is little doubt about his raw ability. Firing Line worked five furlongs March 8 in 1:00.80.
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5 – BOLO
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: Widely perceived to be a turf horse, Bolo switched to dirt and ran well. He gave Dortmund a scare in the lane, and retreated to third. His “trouble” was minor – he steadied at the sixteenth pole. The San Felipe was his first start since Dec. 27. Good comeback. Color him an upset candidate for the San Anita Derby.
Top 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita
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 steadily improving pattern led to a front-running win last out in a Grade 1 route. 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. She will enter spring fresh. The Las Virgenes was Jan. 31; her next is early April. Callback worked six furlongs March 6 in 1:11.80, third-fastest of 36.
2- 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: Purchased privately and shipped to California following an eight-length maiden win at Laurel, this filly’s Santa Ysabel victory stamps her as a Santa Anita Oaks co-favorite. At 1 1/16 miles, she was just getting warmed up. The competition will get tougher, but this filly figures to start as favorite, or second favorite.
3- CURLIN’S FOX
Trainer: Carla Gaines
Pedigree: Curlin-Foxysox, by Foxhound
Last race: 2nd in China Doll, March 7 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 79 / 79
Target race: Santa Anita Oaks, April 4 at Santa Anita
Comment: Although she lost as the even-money favorite, the runner-up finish by Curlin’s Fox was terrific. She was trapped in the back flight while the pace slowed up front, got clear too late, and finished with a rush. It was a good effort on turf by a filly who has worked well on dirt. She will get that opportunity next month in the Santa Anita Oaks. Like the filly replaced on the list, with Curlin’s Fox, the best is yet to come.