Parnelli latest to jump into Santa Anita Derby

Parnelli, well beaten in two graded stakes for 3-year-olds in January, will start in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3, joining a field that has increased in size in recent days following the defection of race favorite Life Is Good.

Parnelli worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Wednesday at Santa Anita.

“He was very strong and into the bridle,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “He galloped out nicely.”

Shirreffs said the absence of Life Is Good due to injury has influenced the decision to start Parnelli, who will be a longshot.

“The complexion of the race changed when Life Is Good was announced as not running,” he said. “Parnelli has run against the best 3-year-olds in California. He’s got experience in that regard.

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“He will have to improve. The way he’s training I know he’s improved.”

Parnelli races for Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stable. Last June, Honor A. P. won the Santa Anita Derby for CRK Stable and Shirreffs, beating Authentic who later won the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic and was named 2020 Horse of the Year. Honor A. P. was fourth in the Kentucky Derby in his final career start.

Parnelli, purchased for $500,000 as a yearling, has made six starts. He won a one-mile maiden special weight at Del Mar in November. Parnelli was third of five, beaten 13 3/4 lengths by Life Is Good in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile on Jan. 2 at Santa Anita; and fifth of six, beaten 19 1/4 lengths by Medina Spirit, in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 30 in his latest start.

Medina Spirit, second by eight lengths to Life Is Good in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 6, is a leading candidate for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles.

Other projected runners are Dream Shake, Roman Centurian, and The Great One, who were third through fifth in the San Felipe Stakes; Rock Your World, who won the Pasadena Stakes on turf Feb. 27; Rombauer, who won the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 13 at Golden Gate Fields; Get Her Number, a troubled seventh in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes on March 13 at Oaklawn Park; and Defunded, winner of a maiden race March 6.

Defunded, Life Is Good, and Medina Spirit are trained by Bob Baffert. Wednesday at Santa Anita, Defunded worked six furlongs in 1:12.40.