Kentucky Derby 2019 Radar: Roadster re-announces himself

One of the first 2019 Kentucky Derby hopefuls on the radar — and you can thank trainer Bob Baffert’s famous TMZ interview for that — delivered a comeback performance Friday that should propel him toward a major prep for the May 4 race.

Sent off as a close second choice in Race 8 at Santa Anita Park, Roadster rated off the pace, ran between horses off the turn and showed nice turn of foot in  the final furlong to separate 2 1/2 lengths from the race’s favored runner-up, Nolo Contesto, another with Derby dreams running in the featured allowance optional claiming event.

Under jockey Mike Smith, the son of Quality Road they now call "the TMZ horse" around the barn completed a mile in 1:37.53.

“He’s back on the Derby trail,” Baffert said. “That was quite a performance off a layoff. We just want to see how he comes out of this.

"..When he worked in 10 and three (six furlongs in 1:10 3/5s) out of the gate the other day, that’s sick, for a horse to do that on this track.”  

"He's so talented," Smith added to TVG, "and I'm just glad to be kind of pointed back in the right direction again. We'll see where it takes us."

Roadster debuted an easy 4 1/4-length winner July 29 at Del Mar but faltered as the favorite next out in the Sept. 3 Del Mat Futurity (G1). Diagnosed with a breathing issue, he underwent throat surgery and headed to the sidelines.

“Since he’s come back, he’s looked really well — haven’t had any problem with his breathing,” Baffert said before Friday’s race, Roadster's first start in six months and his two-turn debut.

“…This time of year, it’s tough. You’re lucky if you can get an allowance race to fill. It looks like if he runs well, it’s like Justify. If he runs well in the allowance race, you can take a shot — throw him in the deep end and see what happens.”

Roadster adds to a stacked deck of 3-year-old colts Baffert is attempting to qualify for the Derby.

Game Winner, who won that Del Mar Futurity, and Improbable, another Grade 1 winner, are both targeting the March 9 San Felipe Stakes (G3) for their own sophomore debuts. Mucho Gusto is already a winner in the new year and could run next in either Oaklawn Park’s March 16 Rebel (G2) or the March 24 Sunland Derby (G3).

Baffert didn't indicate where we may next see Roadster, a $525,000 purchase for Speedway Stables who improved his record to 3: 2-0-1.

"There's some happy guys right now in Houston, Texas," Baffert said of the ownership group, "and I don't blame them because that was quite a performance off a layoff like that."

A sixth Kentucky Derby win would Baffert him atop the all-time list for trainers with the legendary Ben Jones.