Santa Anita Derby/Oaks Are Final California Springboards

By Emily Shields 

Small but strong fields have been assembled for the major grade 1 races at Santa Anita on Saturday, including the famed Kentucky Derby and Oaks preps, the Santa Anita Derby and Oaks. Originally run in March to serve as a possible springboard to the Santa Anita Derby itself – Winning Colors won both in 1988 – the Oaks now takes a backseat on the same card.

The 1 1/8 mile Santa Anita Derby (G1), worth $1 million, drew a field of six.

#1 Roadster (5-2) was the darling of trainer Bob Baffert’s stable before juvenile racing began last year, and he ran to his hype when winning his debut by 4 ¼ lengths. The son of Quality Road – who cost $525,000 as a yearling – finished third as the heavy favorite behind stablemate Game Winner in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) in September, then surgery forced him to the sidelines until March while Game Winner went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and is back in this race. Roadster won a one-mile optional claiming event on March 1 with his highest lifetime Beyer Speed Figure (91) in his first try around two turns under jockey Mike Smith. 

#2 More Ice (30-1) is the co-longest shot in the field. The son of More Than Ready is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and finished third in both of his last two starts, the Eddie Logan Stakes on grass December 28, and the El Camino Real Derby on synthetic February 16. This will be only his second try on dirt since finishing third at Los Alamitos last July while sprinting.

#3 Nolo Contesto (6-1) won a one-mile maiden race very impressively here January 4, and has always been well regarded by trainer John Sadler. The son of Pioneerof the Nile, a $385,000 yearling purchase, was then second behind Roadster March 1 after a slow start. The horse he beat in his maiden win was Omaha Beach, who went on to win the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn and is one of the choices for the Arkansas Derby next week.

#4 Synthesis (30-1) makes his first start for George Papaprodromou after racing for Keith Desoremaux. The son of First Samurai will be making his 10^thlifetime start but is seeking his second win. He was third in the grade 2 Best Pal Stakes last year as a maiden, and was fourth in the San Vicente Stakes sprinting last out.

#5 Instagrand (3-1) is Hollendorfer’s other entrant and a major player. Last year the superstar type won his first two starts by a combined 20 ¼ lengths, but then went to the sidelines before returning in the March 9 Gotham Stakes (G3) in New York over a mile. The time off, the ship, and the hot pace in the Gotham all created a perfect storm for Instagrand to lose that as the heavy favorite; he finished third. The $1.2 million son of Into Mischief looks to make amends here while stretching out for the first time.

#6 Game Winner (4-5) is the one to beat. The son of Candy Ride (Arg) was unbeaten last year, winning three grade 1 races, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and was named Eclipse Champion Two Year Old Male. He was beaten just a nose as the favorite in the Rebel Stakes (G2) off the layoff, is already a grade 1 winner over this course, and worked a bullet six furlongs here on March 31 for trainer Bob Baffert. Joel Rosario will ride.

The Santa Anita Oaks (G1) goes as race 3, and features #5 Bellafina (2-5) as the big choice. A dual grade 1 winner last year, including over the track, Bellafina was originally slated to make her final prep in the Sunland Park Oaks two weeks ago but stayed home while today’s rival #2 Chasing Yesterday (3-1) won that race and wheels back here. Bellafina owns two widening stakes victories here in 2019.