Rock Your World rolls on Santa Anita Derby dirt

ARCADIA, Calif. – It took several months of stealth, but on Saturday trainer John Sadler was ready to show everyone what he had long thought of Rock Your World.

After a pair of grass-race victories earlier this meet, a debut against maidens Jan. 1 and then a small stakes Feb. 27, Rock Your World made his first start on dirt in the Grade 1, $752,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Both in this race and for the immediate future, he never looked back.

Rock Your World outsprinted several other pace candidates for the early lead, set strong fractions throughout the 1 1/8-mile race, and drew clear impressively through the lane for an emphatic, 4 1/4-length victory over favored Medina Spirit in the West’s final major prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 1.

Rock Your World ($12.40) earned 100 points toward a berth in the Derby, where he will head next with a perfect 3-for-3 record.

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Before the meet started on Dec. 26, Sadler had high hopes for Rock Your World. But rather than go in a sprint on dirt to begin Rock Your World’s career, Sadler leaned on the colt’s pedigree – by Candy Ride out of Charm the Maker, whose prior runner prefers grass – and opted to start his career on turf, avoiding the usual killers that show up in maiden dirt sprints early in the meet.

“There’s different ways to hunt. We chose to stay in the weeds,” Sadler said. “It’s a nice way to develop a horse, run on the grass a couple of times. It was the plan and it worked out.”

Rock Your World was the third choice in a field of nine following the scratch of Roman Centurian, who had drawn the rail. Rock Your World had stalked the leaders in his prior races, but Sadler said the post draw for the Santa Anita Derby forced his hand.

“The post draw draw dictated strategy,” he said. “They scratched the 1, so now we’re 2.”

In the paddock Saturday morning, Sadler discussed strategy with Umberto Rispoli, who had ridden Rock Your World for the first time last time out in the Pasadena. Sadler’s parting words to Rispoli: “Go big or go home.”

“You have to come out of there,” Sadler said in the winner’s circle. “You don’t want to take a chance of half the field coming over on you.”

Even though there were several other pace candidates in the field, Rock Your World out-sprinted them through fractions of 22.42 seconds for the quarter and 46.11 seconds for the half. Parnelli was closest early, Medina Spirit stalked from the three path, and Dream Shake tucked in behind them.

Rock Your World began to creep away from his rivals heading around the far turn, and though Medina Spirit moved into second when Parnelli tired, he could never get to Rock Your World’s hip in upper stretch, and through the lane Rock Your World widened. He completed 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:49.17, getting a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Rispoli was winning his first Grade 1 race in this country. He celebrated by leaping off Rock Your World as would have his idol, Frankie Dettori.

Medina Spirit had to settle for second, as he did when chasing his Bob Baffert-trained stablemate, Life Is Good, in the San Felipe four weeks ago. Even though the field for this race expanded when Life Is Good was sidelined, both Rock Your World and Medina Spirit were always intended for the Santa Anita Derby.

“I was where I wanted to be,” said John Velazquez, who rode Medina Spirit. “Fast track, the winner kept going.”

Dream Shake was third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Medina Spirit. Defunded was fourth and was followed, in order, by Law Professor, Parnelli, The Great One, Back Ring Luck, and Ottothelegend.

Rock Your World was purchased as a yearling for $650,000, and looking at him it’s easy to see why. A dark bay, he’s tall and filling out, but nimble on his feet. “He’s a big, strong horse,” said Sadler, who trains him for owners Hronis Racing – brothers Kosta and Pete Hronis – and Michael Talla’s Talla Racing.

Sadler said one of the reasons he was first attracted to Rock Your World was familiarity with the pedigree of the colt, who was bred by Ron and Debbie McAnally and whose dam and first foal raced for McAnally.

“Big pedigree, a two-turn kind of horse, and knowing there was run in that family for Ronnie,” Sadler said.

McAnally has a 2-year-old full brother that he’s held on to and is about to ship in. He’s selling a yearling filly, by Curlin, out of Charm the Maker. That’s all down the line for the family. Right now, though, the Derby beckons, with a colt who might just rock the Derby world.