Life Is Good relaxes, runs rivals silly in San Felipe: Santa Anita Derby next

ARCADIA, Calif. – All the work in recent weeks to get Life Is Good to ration his speed paid off handsomely in the San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, as the brilliant 3-year-old colt showed why there has been so much fuss about him out here, with a romping, eight-length victory that left no doubt he’s the King of California.

Life Is Good, breaking from the rail, used his natural speed to open a clear lead into the first turn, and his six rivals never had a chance. He drew clear through the lane while drifting out, yet still stopped the timer in 1:42.18 for 1 1/16 miles, a time that compares favorably with the 1:43.86 recorded by his older stablemate, Mastering, when winning an allowance race earlier on the card on the fast main track.

“That’s a serious, serious time,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert.

Indeed, the fig should be big.

Big too are the hopes of those associated with Life Is Good – Baffert, jockey Mike Smith, and owners WinStar Farm and China Horse Club. Life Is Good, a colt by Into Mischief, has trained like a star since arriving at Baffert’s barn last year. In his two previous wins – sprinting against maidens at Del Mar’s fall meet, and in the one-mile Sham Stakes on Jan. 2 – he was way too keen for what was to be needed en route to the Kentucky Derby on May 1.

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So over the past two months, Life Is Good was repeatedly trained by Baffert and exercise rider Juan Ochoa – who works Life Is Good – to try and use that speed more judiciously, akin to being on cruise control as opposed to flooring it. Life Is Good indicated in his works that the lessons were taking, but the race provided confirmation.

Life Is Good set fractions of 23.63 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.83 seconds for the half, 1:10.55 for six furlongs, and 1:35.46 for one mile. He widened through the lane, but ended up well off the rail at the finish. He was given a 107 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He looks at the video board,” Smith said. “He did it in the post parade, too.

“It’s not on in the morning. Maybe we can get them to turn it off in the afternoon,” he said, joking. “He has his quirks. He gets to looking.”

Smith said Life Is Good was cooperative throughout in terms of rating.

“He’s fast. He has a high-cruising speed,” Smith said. “Early on he wanted to explode from the gate. He’s learning to get in a rhythm. Like Muhammad Ali said, he ‘floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.’ ”

Baffert watched the race from a suite near the finish line. Minutes before the race, he yelled down to a bystander. “Just hope to keep the balloon inflated,” he said.

It was no trial balloon; the race worked out ideally for Baffert. Not only did Life Is Good prevail, but his other runner, Medina Spirit, was a clear-cut second, 2 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Dream Shake. Roman Centurian was fourth, then came, in order, The Great One, None Above the Law, and Govenor’s Party.

“The dream continues,” Baffert said in a winner’s circle that allowed owners throughout the day for the first time this meet.

Life Is Good was an overwhelming favorite, and paid $3 to win. He picked up 50 points toward a berth in the Derby. He’ll have one more prep, in the Santa Anita Derby on April 3, when he’ll try to stretch out to 1 1/8 miles for the first time.

With further improvement, he becomes even more dangerous.

“He showed from Day One he’s an exceptional horse,” Baffert said. “I was hoping for something like this. He’s been doing some incredible things in the morning. The way he’s been breezing, I think he’s really special.”