Roadster targets Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. - Roadster, winner of his 3-year-old debut Friday in his first start since a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last September, will be pointed to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.

The $1 million Santa Anita Derby is run at 1 1/8 miles and is a key prep for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4.

Roadster joins a strong team of Baffert-trained Triple Crown prospects that includes Game Winner, the champion 2-year-old male of 2018; Improbable, who won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity in December; and Mucho Gusto, the winner of the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 2.
Baffert has won the Triple Crown twice – with American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018.

Game Winner and Improbable will have their first starts of the year in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

Roadster (4-5) won an allowance race Friday with an $80,000 claiming option by 2 1/2 lengths at a mile. Ridden by Mike Smith, Roadster closed from third in a field of five to take the lead in early stretch. He finished clear of Nolo Contesto, a January maiden race winner who was the slight favorite at 3-5.

Roadster, who was ridden by Mike Smith, had his first start around two turns Friday.

“I was relieved that we got a good race into him,” Baffert said. “We thought we had him pretty tight. He caught another gear when he turned for home. He passed the two-turn test.

“I think I’ll run him in the Santa Anita Derby. I’d rather run at home.”

Roadster underwent a breathing operation after the loss in the Del Mar Futurity, a race in which he was favorite. Owned by Speedway Stable, Roadster has won two of three starts.

Nolo Contesto will have his stakes debut in a Triple Crown prep in coming weeks, trainer John Sadler said Sunday. Sadler said he will assess the results of the San Felipe Stakes before finalizing plans for Nolo Contesto.

“We’ll watch the San Felipe and look around,” he said. “There are plenty of races around the first of April everywhere.”

Nolo Contesto, who was ridden by Joel Rosario, raced on the rail for much of the allowance race last Friday and closed some ground in the stretch.

“We had a less-than-ideal journey,” Sadler said. “Joel said he wasn’t comfortable on the inside. Smith did a good job to box him in. It was a good ride.

“I still think we have a nice horse.”