Study Guide: 2024 Santa Anita Derby
Apr 04, 2024
Stronghold wins the Sunland Park Derby (Photo by Coady Photography)
The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita is one of the most important Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races, awarding qualification points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis to the top five finishers.
The Santa Anita Derby has churned out four Kentucky Derby (G1) winners in the last dozen years, including fan favorite California Chrome. Let's review the entries for the 2024 edition:
Note: Since Bob Baffert is currently suspended by Churchill Downs Inc., horses trained by Baffert are ineligible to earn Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points.
Curlin's Kaos
Curlin's Kaos (Photo by Benoit Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 2
Owner: Zephyr Racing and Alfred Pais
Breeder: James Shenouda and Alfred Pais
Trainer: Antonio Garcia
Jockey: Diego Herrera
Top Speed Rating: (86) when breaking his maiden at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $82,520
Sire: Clubhouse Ride
Dam: It's Vengeance
Color: Chestnut
Curlin's Kaos joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a distant fourth-place finish in the Sunland Park Derby (G3). He scored his lone victory on turf and will be a longshot while stepping up in class for the Santa Anita Derby, though his stretch-running style could be a good fit for this speed-packed field.
Tapalo
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 1
Owner: Hronis Racing
Breeder: Saratoga Glen Farm
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing second in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.
Total Earnings: $62,020
Sire: Tapiture
Dam: Agent Romanoff
Color: Bay
Tapalo ran well in the El Camino Real Derby over the synthetic Tapeta track at Golden Gate Fields, finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths against Endlessly, who returned to dominate the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. But Tapalo has also run well on dirt and finished only a head behind future San Felipe (G2) winner Imagination (see below) when third in a Del Mar maiden special weight last year, so there's quite a bit to like about Tapalo's chances in the Santa Anita Derby.
Stronghold
Stronghold scored a new career high in the Sunland Park Derby (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 0
Owner: Eric M. Waller and Sharon Waller
Breeder: Eric Waller and Sharon Waller
Trainer: Philip D'Amato
Jockey: Antonio Fresu
Top Speed Rating: (99) when finishing second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos.
Total Earnings: $377,200
Sire: Ghostzapper
Dam: Spectator
Color: Bay
Stronghold nearly won his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), leading in midstretch before settling for second place against Santa Anita Derby rival Wynstock. But whereas Wynstock disappointed in his next start, Stronghold returned to win the Sunland Park Derby by 2 1/2 lengths, so he's progressing in the right direction and may turn the tables on Wynstock this Saturday.
Imagination
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 0
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom J. Ryan
Breeder: Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Top Speed Rating: (94) when breaking his maiden at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $256,800
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Magical Feeling
Color: Bay
Never out of the top two in five starts, Imagination showed a great deal of determination to win the San Felipe at Santa Anita by a head over stablemate Wine Me Up. Considering Imagination ran into some early trouble and overcame it all to prevail, he has to be ranked as a key win threat in the Santa Anita Derby.
Wynstock
Wynstock wins over Stronghold to win the the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), Saturday at Los Alamitos Race Course (Photo by Benoit Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Edward C. Allred and Jack Liebau
Breeder: Empire Equines
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos.
Total Earnings: $182,740
Sire: Solomini
Dam: Timberlea
Color: Chestnut
Wynstock posted a flashy 99 Brisnet Speed rating when defeating Stronghold by half a length in the Los Alamitos Futurity, but he struggled in his 2024 debut, finishing last of 11 in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn. However, the Southwest took place over a muddy track, and Wynstock may rebound if he encounters a fast track on Saturday. Quick workouts leading up to the Santa Anita Derby suggest he's sitting on a strong run.
Tessuto
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 2
Owner: Kretz Racing
Breeder: Stoneway Farm
Trainer: George Papaprodromou
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
Top Speed Rating: (85) when breaking his maiden at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $54,600
Sire: Munnings
Dam: Cayman Croc
Color: Dark bay/brown
Tessuto finished third in his first two starts sprinting, then broke through with a 2 1/2-length win in a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita. Stretching out in distance appears to suit Tessuto, though he'll need to improve upon his career-best 85 Brisnet Speed rating if he's going to challenge against tougher competition in the Santa Anita Derby.
Mc Vay
Start(s): 4
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: C R K Stable
Breeder: Band of Brothers
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Hector Berrios
Top Speed Rating: (84) when finishing third in the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $61,500
Sire: Constitution
Dam: Dothraki Sea
Color: Dark bay/brown
Mc Vay has yet to win a race from four starts, but he's earned Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points by finishing fourth in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and third in the San Felipe (G2). He's gradually progressing in the right direction and is eligible to record another top-four finish on Saturday.
E J Won the Cup
E J Won The Cup wins at Turfway (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 8
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 1
Owner: Superfecta King Stable
Breeder: Hoolie Racing Stable
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Jockey: Mike Smith
Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in a Del Mar maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $116,440
Sire: Omaha Beach
Dam: Firsthand Report
Color: Chestnut
E J Won the Cup lost his first six starts, but has since won two straight, most recently wiring the Turf Paradise Derby at Turf Paradise by 3 1/2 lengths. The competition will be tougher at Santa Anita, but E J Won the Cup's hot form is enticing. A fast five-furlong workout at Santa Anita last Friday suggests he's sitting on another sharp run for two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O'Neill.
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