O'Neill may run four in Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Doug O’Neill could have as many as four runners in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8.

Iliad, Milton Freewater, So Conflated, and Term of Art are under consideration for the $1 million race at 1 1/8 miles, the top California prep race for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6.

Iliad was second to Mastery in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 11. Mastery was pulled up with a leg injury immediately after the San Felipe, a circumstance that leaves Iliad a leading contender for the Santa Anita Derby.

O’Neill said that by having so many runners in the Santa Anita Derby, he can gauge their development before the Triple Crown.

“They’re all like late teenagers now,” O’Neill said. “They can jump up the ladder so quickly. They’re all talented horses.”

Iliad, owned by Kaleem Shah, won the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs on Feb. 12 in his first start of the year. Flavien Prat has been booked to ride Iliad.

Milton Freewater will be a longshot in the Santa Anita Derby. A California-bred, Milton Freewater was second in an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs last Sunday in his first start of the year. In 2016, Milton Freewater was third in three stakes for California-breds.

So Conflated won the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 21 but was sixth in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 4. Term of Art was a well-beaten third in the San Felipe.

O’Neill said Tiago Pereira will ride Milton Freewater, Mario Gutierrez has the mount on So Conflated, and Tyler Baze will ride Term of Art.

Other candidates for the Santa Anita Derby include Battle of Midway, Gormley, and Midnight Pleasure. Battalion Runner is a possibility, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. Trainer Bob Baffert said in a text message Thursday that he is considering American Anthem and Reach the World.