Roadster, Game Winner put in strong drills for Kentucky Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Shortly after Game Winner finished off a sharp drill on Saturday morning here at Santa Anita, his work coming a little more than an hour after Roadster also worked impressively, their trainer, Bob Baffert, turned to his wife, Jill, and said, "I'm having a good day, honey."

Then he did a jig. He's dancing his way to the Kentucky Derby.

Roadster and Game Winner, who finished one-two in the Santa Anita Derby on April 6, are two of Baffert's three entrants in the Derby on May 4, along with Improbable, the Arkansas Derby runner-up who already is at Churchill Downs. Roadster and Game Winner both turned in their penultimate drills for the Derby on Saturday under jockey Martin Garcia.

Roadster was up first, working after the initial renovation break. Baffert said he thought Roadster needed another race to be at his best for the Derby, so he gave him the equivalent, working him six furlongs from the gate, with an extended gallop-out.

The gate is set at the six-furlong start, and Roadster worked through the wire and nearly a furlong past before continuing out to one mile. Track clockers gave Roadster a six-furlong time of 1:13.60. Baffert had him going out the next furlong in 13.20 seconds, and then Roadster continued to gallop out.

Roadster had a workmate for the first five furlongs before leaving his company in the dust. Roadster broke like a shot out of the gate, then awaited his company prior to reaching the half-mile pole.

"I like the way he waited," Baffert said. "I love the way he flew out of the gate. He didn't get tired. I'm pretty happy with the way he went."

Baffert said the work was more demanding than what he'd normally do for a Derby runner, though Baffert does work his horses aggressively leading up to the Derby.

"I wanted to do a little more with him. He needed one more race before the Derby," he said.

Game Winner worked after the second renovation break. He also went in company, traveling five furlongs in 1:00.80 and also continuing out strongly.

Game Winner sat a couple of lengths off his workmate after breaking off near the half-mile pole and was six in front and pulling away with every stride at the wire. He worked down to the seven-furlong pole to complete the five furlongs and went on out another furlong.

Both Roadster and Game Winner will have one more drill next week. Baffert has yet to decide whether Roadster and Game Winner will remain at Santa Anita for their final drills or head to Churchill Downs. Baffert has one eye on his horses, the other on The Weather Channel.

"I do like the way it is here now, nice and cool," Baffert said.

Also Saturday, the top older horse Gift Box, who won a thrilling edition of the Santa Anita Handicap on April 6, had his first work since that race when traveling an easy half-mile in 49.60 seconds for trainer John Sadler.

Gift Box worked alone with assistant Juan Leyva aboard immediately after the morning's first renovation break. Sadler said Gift Box's next scheduled start is the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 27, at the same 1 1/4-mile distance as the Big Cap.