West Coast scouting report: 18 Kentucky Derby hopefuls to know

While West Coast racing might be on a proverbial island, given its geography, that has not stopped horses from the region from winning six of the last nine runnings of the Kentucky Derby, including in 2020 with Authentic.

Of those six victories, three have been for trainer Bob Baffert (Authentic, Justify, American Pharoah), two for Doug O'Neill (I'll Have Another, Nyquist) and one for Art Sherman (California Chrome).

[RELATED: Midwest scouting report, East Coast scouting report]

As noted below, both Baffert and O'Neill again are well represented on the latest road to the Kentucky Derby, with multiple contenders already in play heading into the new year.  

There have been two California points races toward the 2021 Kentucky Derby — the American Pharoah (G1), which was won by Get Her Number for trainer Peter Miller, and the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) won by Baffert's Spielberg. 

Here’s a look at where the current contenders stand:

(best Las Vegas odds - sire - trainer - owner - Derby points)

The leader

Life Is Good (10-1 - Into Mischief - Bob Baffert - CHC Inc., WinStar Farm - 0)

This colt rocketed to favoritism for the 2021 Kentucky Derby after a smashing debut victory by 9 1/2 lengths at Del Mar on Nov. 22. Left in his wake was Wipe the Slate, who would come back to win impressively for O'Neill on opening day at Santa Anita. 

The $525,000 auction purchase is by the leading sire in North America, who also got his first Kentucky Derby winner in 2020 with Authentic. Futures bettors apparently liked what they saw upon unveiling as Life Is Good was bet down to the 5-1 favorite's role in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager last month and is the 9-1 favorite at Circa Sports, Las Vegas.

Handicappers will get their second look at Life Is Good in Saturday's one-mile Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, a points-paying prep for the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

First tier

Hot Rod Charlie (60-1 - Oxbow - Doug O’Neill - Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Strauss Brothers Racing - 8)

Graduated during the Santa Anita fall meet when going two turns on dirt for the first time. He edged the well-regarded Parnelli (see below) in that heat, and then came right back to nearly spring a 94-1 upset when a close second to Essential Quality in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The $110,000 auction purchase returned to work on Dec. 26 for an expected start at Santa Anita, according to his two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer.

Spielberg (50-1 - Union Rags - Bob Baffert - SF Racing, Starlight Stables, Madaket Stable - 12)

This $1 million auction purchase was the busiest of Baffert’s 2-year-olds, with eight starts beginning on Aug. 8 at Del Mar. After twice hitting the board in Grade 1s (Del Mar Futurity, American Pharoah), he finally broke through with a graded-stakes win in the Dec. 19 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). Baffert indicated this colt could return as soon as the Jan. 29 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita.

The Great One (80-1 - Nyquist - Doug O’Neill - Tom Fritz, Niall J. Brennan, William Strauss - Train Wreck AI Racing Stables - ERJ Racing - 4)

While still a maiden, he took a huge step up to be runner-up to Spielberg in the Los Alamitos Futurity in his second time going two turns on dirt. The $185,000 auction purchase is from the first crop of Nyquist, who won the 2016 Kentucky Derby for O’Neill. 

Get Her Number (100-1 - Dialed In - Peter Miller - Gary Barber - 10)

After making his first two starts on turf at Del Mar, he was switched to dirt and promptly became a Grade 1 winner when scoring in the American Pharoah. There could be some upside with this colt, who after a break returned to light training in late December. Miller said a start in early March, likely the San Felipe (G2), is a potential target.

Second tier

Red Flag (75-1 - Tamarkuz - John Shirreffs - Jerry and Tinam Moss - 1)

A scintillating 7 1/4-length winner of the Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar, he came back to be a disappointing fourth as the odds-on favorite in the Los Alamitos Futurity when going two turns for the first time. Distance is a question with this colt, given that performance and pedigree. Tamarkuz was strictly a miler and his dam-sire, Stormy Atlantic, was a sprinter. He does have a Kentucky Derby-winning trainer in his corner.

Classier (45-1 - Empire Maker - Bob Baffert - SF Racing, Starlight, Madaket - 0)

A $775,000 auction purchase, this colt graduated upon unveiling on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita. The effort was good enough to persuade the connections to jump straight to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. In the Nov. 6 Juvenile he helped prompt the pace for six furlongs before fading and finishing eighth in a 14-horse field. Out of a Bernardini mare, he is bred top and bottom to get 1 1/4 miles.

Rombauer (100-1 - Twirling Candy - Michael McCarthy - Diane Fradkin, John Fradkin - 4)

Finished second to Get Her Number in the American Pharoah to tally on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and then was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Those are his only two starts to date on dirt. After a brief freshening, he returned to the work tab on Dec. 20 at Santa Anita.

Medina Spirit (100-1 - Protantico - Bob Baffert - Zedan Racing Stables - 0)

This colt sports an under-the-radar pedigree and commanded just $35,000 at the 2020 OBS July 2-year-olds in training sale. However, he landed in the Baffert barn and proceeded to be an eye-catching winner at Los Alamitos when debuting Dec. 11. The Florida-bred is under consideration for the Jan. 2 Sham.

Wipe The Slate (65-1 - Nyquist - Doug O’Neill - Reddam Racing - 0)

After finishing a distant second to Life is Good on debut, he came right back to dominate a field of maidens going seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. The $175,000 auction purchase could resurface in the Jan. 30 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita for Reddam Racing, who also campaigned Nyquist.

Ones to watch

Parnelli (100-1 - Quality Road - John Shirreffs - CRK Stable - 0)

After tangling with some of the top 2-year-olds on the circuit, he finally broke his maiden in start No. 4 under a hand ride at Del Mar on Nov. 28. In his three prior tries, the colt was beaten a neck by Spielberg at Del Mar, a neck by Hot Rod Charlie at Santa Anita and on debut was second behind Superman Shaq. The $500,000 auction purchase is being considered for Saturday’s Sham.

Waspirant (200-1 - Union Rags - John Shirreffs - Pam and Marty Wygod - 0)

This regally bred colt is by a Belmont Stakes winner out of Life Is Sweet, winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. He broke his maiden at Del Mar going a mile on dirt in start No. 2 and came back to be a non-threatening fourth in the American Pharoah. The homebred for the Wygods could return in Saturday’s Sham.

Wyfire (200-1 - Dominus - Peter Miller - Gary Barber - 0)

This colt graduated in start No. 2 sprinting on dirt at Del Mar and came back to be beaten just a head in the grassy Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 26. It remains to be seen where the $47,000 auction resurfaces, as he shows no recent works.

Vittorio (90-1 - Ghostzapper - Simon Callaghan - Kaleem Shah - 0)

After splitting a field of maidens on debut at Del Mar on Aug. 1, he came back three weeks later with a sharp graduation win at the seaside oval. The future is unclear for the $750,000 auction purchase, who shows no recent works. 

Affable (80-1 - Flatter - Mark Glatt - Muir Hut Stables - 0)

This colt has run into a couple of tough customers in his first two starts. He was second to the Baffert-trained Saville Row when debuting at Del Mar on Nov. 8, and was again second-best to Wipe the Slate on opening day at Santa Anita. He was a $600,000 auction purchase.

Freedom Fighter (125-1 - Violence - Bob Baffert - SF Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, Robert E. Masterson - 0)

He was a debut winner going five furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 1. Subsequently given some time off, the $120,000 auction purchase has been working steadily since Thanksgiving weekend.

Savile Row (60-1 - Quality Road - Bob Baffert - SF Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, Robert E. Masterson - 0)

This colt was a debut winner going six furlongs at Del Mar when getting the better of Affable on Nov. 8. However, the $385,000 yearling purchase has yet to return to the work tab.

Dr. Schivel (150-1 - Violence - Luis Mendez - Red Baron’s Barn, Rancho Temescal, William Branch, William Dean Reeves - 0)

He earned his diploma at Del Mar in start No. 3 and came right back to knock off Spielberg when taking the Del Mar Futurity (G1). The $37,000 auction purchase was given a 90-day break after the Futurity and has just returned to light training. 

Remaining West Coast preps
Sham (G3) - Santa Anita - Saturday (10-4-2-1)

Robert B. Lewis (G3) - Santa Anita - Jan. 30 (10-4-2-1)

El Camino Real Derby - Golden Gate - Feb. 13 (10-4-2-1)

San Felipe (G2) - Santa Anita - March 6 (50-20-10-5)

Santa Anita Derby (G1) - Santa Anita - April 3 (100-40-20-10)