Santa Anita Derby - Potente Leads Solid Group
Potente wins on debut. A spot in the Kentucky Derby is up for grabs Saturday at Santa Anita - and we now know the contenders. The Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby will have 7 scheduled starters in the gate and will feature a rematch of the top two finishers in the San Felipe, last month’s prep for this race.
SANTA ANITA DERBY A MAJOR PREP The Santa Anita Derby has been an important prep for the Kentucky Derby, both historically and this century. While the Florida Derby (25) and Blue Grass (23) have more winners all-time, the Blue Grass has produced just one winner this century (Street Sense, 2007). Meanwhile, the Santa Anita Derby - 19 total Kentucky Derby winners all time - has four winners since 2012, and five since 2000.
SAN FELIPE REMATCH The top two finishers in the San Felipe - winner Potente and 2nd-placed Robusta - are both back to contest the Santa Anita Derby. Potente, who won the San Felipe, hails from the Bob Baffert barn. Baffert has the most Derby wins by a trainer in history, but his horses generally employ a front-running style.
Potente is a closer, and after his first race - a win in a sprint - Baffert was keen to tell anyone who would listen that Potente simply wanted more distance. Potente is sired by Into Mischief , who himself has sired 3 winners, a Derby record; his dam, Sweet Sting, is by Derby winner Awesome Again. Should he win Saturday, he’ll be amongst the favorites in Louisville.
Robusta did much of the work in March’s San Felipe, also contested at Santa Anita Park. Robusta broke well, sat near the pace-setters before making a move in the stretch - where he had the lead for almost an 1/8th of a mile - before being overtaken at the wire by a surging Potente. His dam, Urbane Legend - is by Into Mischief.