Santa Anita Derby: One Lucky Dane, Bad Read Sanchez work

Santa Anita Derby hopefuls Bad Read Sanchez and One Lucky Dane had workouts at Santa Anita on Sunday.

The $1 million Santa Anita Derby has a probable field of six, and Bad Read Sanchez and One Lucky Dane are considered outsiders compared with Dortmund and Prospect Park, the first two finishers of the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 7. Dortmund is unbeaten in five starts, while Prospect Park made his stakes debut in the San Felipe.

Bad Read Sanchez has not raced since finishing third in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar last August. Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Bad Read Sanchez was sidelined over the winter with a “little of this and a little of that,” trainer Doug O’Neill said.

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Sunday, Bad Read Sanchez worked five furlongs from the gate in 59.20 seconds. O’Neill said the horse’s talent justifies a tough assignment in the Santa Anita Derby, which is run at 1 1/8 miles.

“He’s a special colt and he’ll need to be that kind to be in the Santa Anita Derby off a layoff,” O’Neill said. “It’s $1 million and it’s in your backyard and this is what you do with a special colt in your own backyard.”

One Lucky Dane earned a berth in the Santa Anita Derby by winning his 3-year-old debut in an optional claimer at a mile by 9 3/4 lengths on March 19. One Lucky Dane, who races for Michael Petersen, was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here last November.

Sunday, leading rider Rafael Bejarano was aboard One Lucky Dane for a six-furlong workout in 1:13.40. Trainer Bob Baffert said he timed One Lucky Dane in 1:14. Bejarano has the mount in the Santa Anita Derby.

“He’s a good horse,” Baffert said. “I think he’s improving.”

Baffert trains Dortmund, who will be a solid favorite in the Santa Anita Derby. The list of probable starters includes Bolo, who was third in the San Felipe Stakes, and Cross the Line, who won the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 17 and was second in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby there on Feb. 14.