Practical Move noses Mandarin Hero in Santa Anita Derby
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ARCADIA, Calif. – After winning two graded stakes by open lengths, Practical Move had to gut it out Saturday in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. The result was the same.
Practical Move ($4) scored a narrow victory in the Santa Anita Derby, defeating Japan shipper Mandarin Hero by a nose. Skinner finished a half-length back in third while arguably running the best race considering ground loss.
National Treasure, making his first start in three months, sputtered. He finished a distant fourth and earned only 20 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, probably not enough to make the field.
The fifth- through eighth-place finishers in the Santa Anita Derby, all 30-1 or higher, were One in Vermillion, I Don’t Get It, Dazzlemesilver and Low Expectations. Geaux Rocket Ride spiked a temperature early Saturday and scratched.
Tim Yakteen trains Practical Move, whose 1:48.69 clocking for the 1 1/8-mile race was on the slow side. Races with blanket finishes, such as the Santa Anita Derby, typically earn low speed figures.
Practical Move’s jockey Ramon Vazquez acknowledged he moved earlier than preferred, challenging for the lead along the inside heading into the far turn.
“I had to use him early,” Vazquez said. “My perfect time to move a horse is the last quarter. I had to move a little early.”
Practical Move raced inside One in Vermillion, who led by a half-length after six furlongs in 1:11.25. Practical Move made the lead after the pacesetter faltered; he was challenged by Mandarin Hero into the lane. Skinner rallied wide as those three dueled the length of the stretch – Practical Move inside, Mandarin Hero in the middle and Skinner outside. Practical Move would not allow Mandarin Hero to pass.
Yakteen, who has trained Practical Move his entire career, said the colt’s “maturity, his understanding how to fight and compete, I think that’s what we’re seeing.” Yakteen noted that Practical Move had to be used a little bit (to maintain position inside).”
The Santa Anita Derby was the third graded stakes victory for Practical Move, owned by Jean Pierre Amestoy, Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley. The win was the third graded stakes for the son of Practical Joke, following victories in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity and Grade 2 San Felipe. Practical Move has won four races and $884,200 from seven starts.
With 60 qualifying points going into the Santa Anita Derby, Practical Move already was assured a berth in the Kentucky Derby. He earned 100 more on Saturday, and now has 160 points.
Mandarin Hero, making his first start in the U.S. after beginning his career in Japan, earned 40 points for his runner-up finish. “We’re going to the Kentucky Derby!” trainer Terunobu Fujita said. “Kazushi Kimura gave a really good ride.” Mandarin Hero saved ground, angled outside for the drive, and barely missed. He has four wins and two seconds from six starts.
Skinner, ridden by Victor Espinoza and trained by John Shirreffs, ran well in defeat. “He was a little bit wide, he didn’t get a chance to cut a corner anywhere, which would have helped,” Shirreffs said. Nonetheless, Skinner narrowed the gap on Practical Move. After finishing 3 3/4 lengths behind him in the San Felipe, the margin was only a half-length Saturday.
Skinner earned 30 qualifying points; his 45-point total is likely enough to make the Kentucky Derby field if his connections choose.
National Treasure, 5-2 second choice, finished fourth without a visible alibi. “I was really happy where I was,” jockey John Velazquez said. “At the three-eighths pole, I could not hold anybody. No excuse.”
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