Derby Radar: Wipe the Slate erases competition at Santa Anita

Doug O'Neill and Reddam Racing know what to do with a good 3-year-old, having teamed up to win the 2012 and 2016 Kentucky Derby with I'll Have Another and Nyquist, respectively. 

The duo could have another top prospect on their hands after the impressive victory by Wipe the Slate, a son of Nyquist, in his second start in a maiden special weight affair at Santa Anita Park on Dec. 26.

Wipe the Slate finished a distant second on debut behind Bob Baffert's runaway winner Life Is Good. Though he has raced only once, Life Is Good ended up as the favorite among individual horses in the first Kentucky Derby Future Pool.

Wipe the Slate was the third choice is the wagering on Saturday behind another Baffert runner, Barraza, and Mark Glatt's Affable.

The two top choices battled for the lead on Saturday, with Barraza securing a narrow advantage from the rail through an opening half mile of 45.03.

Wipe the Slate, who was making his first start in blinkers, sat a perfect stalking trip in third under the guidance of Mario Gutierrez.

Turning for home, the 2-year-old colt showed nice acceleration when asked and drew away from Affable for a sharp victory.

Wipe the Slate paid $7.40 to win, completing seven furlongs in 1:23.42.

He earned a lofty 88 Beyer Speed Figure for his 3 1/4-length victory.

Wipe the Slate could make his next start in The Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) on Jan. 30 at Santa Anita.