California Chrome, a spectacular winner of the Grade 2 San Felipe on March 8, will look to carry his form forward when he lines up against seven rivals in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby. The Art Sherman-trained colt has a lot going for him but will be facing a couple of dangerous challengers in Candy Boy and Hoppertunity, who exit respective wins in the Grade 2 Bob Lewis and Grade 2 Rebel Stakes.
The Santa Anita Derby offers a total of 170 points to the top four finishers (100-40-20-10) as part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series. It will air on NBCSN from 5:30 to 7 p.m. (EDT).
Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks will see one filly trying to validate her past Grade 1 triumph and another looking for a return to the form that saw her win last November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. The race is also the ticket for one filly to earn a guaranteed berth in the Kentucky Oaks starting gate as part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, offering up 100 points to the winner.
Fashion Plate currently sits in 19th on the Oaks leaderboard with just 10 points to her credit. Those came via her gate-to-wire victory in the Las Virgenes on February 1. The Simon Callaghan-trained miss hasn’t competed since that contest and needs a win in the Santa Anita Oaks if she hopes to make the 14-horse Kentucky Oaks field.
Following the Santa Anita Oaks, 10 fellow sophomore fillies will line up in the Grade 3, $150,000 Providencia going nine furlongs on the turf. Diversy Harbor is two-for-two after taking the March 8 China Doll by a half-length over Nashoba’s Gold, and will face off against that rival as well as third-placer Tiz Kissable again in the Providencia.
Also on tap for this big day of racing is the $150,000 Providencia S. (G3), $200,000 Echo Eddie S. and the $200,000 Evening Jewel S.
2014 G1 $1,000,000 Santa Anita Derby Information (FREE Santa Anita Derby PP’s courtesy of Brisnet.com)
Date: Saturday, April 5
Where: Santa Anita Race Track, California
Post Time:
TV: NBC Sports Network
Distance: 1 1/8 Mile Dirt
Conditions: FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Purse: $1,000,000
Santa Anita Derby wagering may include: $1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta / $1 Rolling Pick Three (Races 8-9-10) $0.50 Pick 4 (Races 8-9-10-11) / $1 Superfecta (.10 min)
Bet Santa Anita horse racing online with TwinSpires.com and watch FREE Santa Anita horse race replays with TwinSpiresTV!
Field and odds for the 2014 G1 $1,000,000 Santa Anita Derby
| PP | Horse | A/S | Odds | M/E | Wgt | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rprettyboyfloyd | 3 R | 20-1 | L b | 122 | Bejarano Rafael | Breuer Denise E. |
| 2 | Friendswith K Mill | 3 C | 20-1 | L | 122 | Baze Tyler | O’Neill Doug F. |
| 3 | Hoppertunity | 3 C | 3-1 | L | 122 | Smith Mike E. | Baffert Bob |
| 4 | Big Tire | 3 C | 20-1 | L | 122 | Maldonado Edwin A. | Glatt Mark |
| 5 | California Chrome | 3 C | 6-5 | L | 122 | Espinoza Victor | Sherman Art |
| 6 | Candy Boy | 3 C | 9-5 | L | 122 | Stevens Gary L. | Sadler John W. |
| 7 | Schoolofhardrocks | 3 C | 10-1 | L | 122 | Talamo Joseph | Hofmans David E. |
| 8 | Dublin Up | 3 C | 30-1 | L | 122 | Desormeaux Kent J. | Miller Peter |