Baffert nominates Maymun, Imagination + 2 for Santa Anita Derby

The undefeated colt Maymun and San Felipe (G2) winner Imagination, both trained by Bob Baffert, were among 15 3-year-olds nominated to next Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.

Baffert also listed Wine Me Up and Wynstock among his nominees for the 1 1/8-mile race that is a Kentucky Derby 2024 qualifier.

Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Maymun would be making his stakes debut in the Santa Anita Derby. The Frosted colt improved to 2-for-2 when edging Imagination by a neck in a first-level allowance going a mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 11. It was the same track where he aired by 7 1/2 lengths in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden heat. Both wins came with Santa Anita’s leading rider Juan Hernández in the irons.

Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.

After his narrow loss to Maymun, Imagination made amends with a victory in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe on March 3. The Into Mischief colt won by a head over stablemate Wine Me Up. Imagination worked five furlongs Friday in 1:00.0. It was the fifth-fastest of 96 works at the distance.

Wynstock, a Solomini colt, won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in December but came back to finish last in the Southwest (G3) on a muddy track Feb. 3 at Oaklawn. Wynstock fired a bullet Friday when working four furlongs from the gate in 46.0 seconds. It was the fastest of 113 works at the distance.

Stronghold, trained by for trainer Phil D’Amato, looms as a major threat to the Baffert string. Owned by Eric and Sharon Waller, the Ghostzapper colt exits a win in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) on Feb. 18. Before that breakout victory, Stronghold ended last year with consecutive runner-up efforts in the Bob Hope (G3) going seven furlongs at Del Mar and in the Los Alamitos Futurity.

Even though he also nominated Stronghold for next Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, D’Amato said Friday that the Santa Anita Derby would be the target.

Tapalo for trainer John Sadler and Tessuto for trainer George Papaprodromou are other notable nominees expected to run.

Tapalo, a ridgling by Tapiture for Hronis Racing, broke his maiden going seven furlongs on the Santa Anita dirt on Jan. 12. He came back to finish second in the El Camino Real Derby on synthetic at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 10. Endlessly, the winner of the El Camino Real Derby, came back to win last Saturday’s Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on synthetic at Turfway Park.

Tessuto exits a 2 1/2-length, maiden win going a mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 25. It was his first time racing around two turns. The son of Munnings worked five furlongs Friday in 1:00.2. He is owned by Kretz Racing.

Trainer Doug O’Neill is considering running E.J. Won the Cup, who made it two straight wins when taking the 1 1/16-mile Turf Paradise Derby on March 14. The Omaha Beach colt is campaigned by Superfecta King Stable.

There is one potential, out-of-state invader among the nominees, according to the Santa Anita racing office. Trainer Danny Gargan nominated New York-based Society Man, who exits a three-length, maiden win going a mile on a muddy track at Aqueduct on March 9. The Good Magic gelding tried the Withers (G3) at 1 1/8 miles before his maiden win and finished eighth.

Entries for the 87th Santa Anita Derby will be taken on Wednesday. Qualifying points for Kentucky Derby 2024 will be awarded to eligible horses who finish in the top five. Points are paid on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10. Baffert horses are ineligible, and any points they may earn will be vacated.