Iliad looks solid in seven-furlong workout for Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Iliad finished a lot better in a team workout Friday than he finished his most recent race, a distant second in the San Felipe Stakes that suggested he could be vulnerable when he starts favored in the Santa Anita Derby on April 8.

But skeptical analysis of Iliad may require revision after a sharp seven-furlong workout Friday at Santa Anita. Trainer Doug O’Neill worked Iliad in company after the 9 a.m. renovation break.

“He’s a horse that has tons of class, but he applies himself more in company,” O’Neill said. “We wanted to make sure we had a good foundation going into next weekend.”

Iliad and jockey Flavien Prat broke off outside allowance-caliber workmate Hoffenheim and ran away from that rival in the stretch. Iliad was timed in 1:26.60 (clockers credited him with a six-furlong work in 1:13.80) and was visually impressive late. Most workouts over the Santa Anita main track Friday were relatively slow.

“He galloped good into the work, he galloped great out of the work,” O’Neill said. “Man, I thought he worked great.”

Iliad won the Grade 2, seven-furlong San Vicente on Feb. 12, but when he stretched out to 1 1/16 miles March 11 in the Grade 2 San Felipe, he was left reeling. Iliad was dusted by Mastery and offered little indication that he wanted longer distances.

“Obviously, he got tired in the [San Felipe], first time going two turns,” O’Neill acknowledged while recognizing he “was chasing an unbelievably gifted horse in Mastery.”

Based on his Friday workout, Iliad is likely to improve in his second try around two turns when he stretches out to 1 1/8 miles in the Santa Anita Derby.

◗ Trainer Bob Baffert has finalized jockey assignments for his three runners in the Santa Anita Derby. Mike Smith will ride Reach the World, Rafael Bejarano has the mount on American Anthem, and Martin Garcia is booked on West Coast.

◗ Mopotism, a 3-year-old O’Neill-trained filly slated for the Santa Anita Oaks on April 8, worked in company Friday with Santa Anita Derby outsider Milton Freewater and was timed in 1:15.20 for six furlongs.

“It was the way she did it,” O’Neill said, clearly enthused at the filly’s condition going into the Oaks.

In her most recent start, Mopotism won the $75,000 Island Fashion Stakes at Sunland Park. Mopotism had finished second to Unique Bella in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes and third in the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos.