Tipsheet: 2026 Santa Anita Derby
Intrepido wins the American Pharoah at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)
April 1st, 2026
A high-quality and well-matched group of seven sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Santa Anita dirt in Saturday’s $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1). The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 structure.
Santa Anita Derby Picks
- #7 Intrepido
- #2 Potente
- #1 Cherokee Nation
- #4 Robusta
Santa Anita Derby Wagers
Santa Anita Derby Contenders
#1 CHEROKEE NATION (5-2): Talented Baffert pupil finally broke through with a huge maiden tally on the oval in his latest venture and seems to be getting good at the right time of the season. The $1.15 million son of Not This Time seems well suited to the nine-furlong distance, and he will be a formidable foe in the lane with any improvement if he can get a clean run throughout the tilt. Florent Geroux inherits the ride.
#2 POTENTE (2-1): Top prospect won on the front end at first asking prior to rallying from off the pace in a strong score in the San Felipe (G2) in his second showing. The $2.4 million son of Into Mischief has posted a string of swift morning moves leading up to the event, and the distance should be right in his wheelhouse. Juan Hernandez will pilot the bay colt.
#3 VITRUVIAN MAN (15-1): Longshot son of Vino Rosso is one of two in the field for O’Neill, who will make his three-year-old debut in this demanding spot. The colt has flashed potential and does come in with a bullet morning drill on the strip, but he will need to take a huge step forward to factor in this contest. Antonio Fresu will be in the saddle.
#4 ROBUSTA (8-1): Dangerous win threat has run big in two of four lifetime tries to date, which includes a fine second in the San Felipe (G2) in his most recent appearance. The Doug O’Neill pupil has good gate presence and might find himself on the front end in the tilt, and the son of Accelerate will be a menacing figure if he clears the cast from the break. He has posted two morning moves since his latest try and retains the services of regular pilot Emisael Jaramillo.
We are nearing the end of @KentuckyDerby prep races! 🤩
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 1, 2026
Not all Kentucky Derby prep races are equally productive. Some Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers yield Kentucky Derby winners with greater frequency than others.... 🌹 @j_keelerman shares some info. 📝…
#5 SO HAPPY (7-2): San Vicente (G2) victor contested the pace and stayed on to be a clear third in the San Felipe in his route debut for conditioner Mark Glatt. The Runhappy colt is a question mark at nine panels, but if he improves in his second run going long, then he will be in the hunt late with Mike Smith staying in the silks.
#6 STAR THE RIDE (30-1): California-bred son of Upstart broke his maiden in the stakes ranks two back and was last seen checking in sixth while never a factor in the San Felipe. The Dan Blacker trainee appears to be a cut below the major players in the cast, and I can’t endorse him on this occasion.
#7 INTREPIDO (7-2): Grade 1 victor commenced his 2026 campaign with a close second in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) on the course and will improve second time back with the added distance. The bay son of Maximus Mischief was dueling on the front in his seasonal debut, but figures to receive an excellent stalking trip on Saturday while in the clear every step of the way. Regular pilot Hector Berrios will be in the stirrups.
