Derby works: So Happy drills ahead of Santa Anita Derby

Robusta, So Happy and Start the Ride are all pointed to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4, their respective trainers confirmed after the trio worked Saturday at Santa Anita – two weeks after running in the San Felipe Stakes (G2).

Robusta, trained by Doug O'Neill, finished second by a head at 67-1 in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe won by Potente. The colt by Accelerate worked an easy four furlongs in 51.0 seconds.

Also working for O'Neill was Civil Liberty, who is slated to run in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct on April 4. The colt by Independence Hall worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds.

So Happy, trained by Mark Glatt, finished third in the San Felipe when making his first start around two turns. By Runhappy, So Happy worked five furlongs with company in 1:00.0. Hall of Famer Mike Smith was aboard for the drill.

"I thought he worked excellent," Glatt said. "We're really pleased with the work and are proceeding to the Santa Anita Derby."

The decision to move forward to the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby with So Happy largely depended on his work Saturday, Glatt noted.

In the San Felipe, So Happy pressed pacesetter Brant in second through fractions of 22.88, 46.62 and 1:10.42. He was overtaken in the stretch by the first two finishers, crossing the wire about 2 1/4 lengths behind the pair.

"He's fit. We just wanted to see him work well off that last race and I think we got it," Glatt said. "The work was maybe even a step up to his workouts prior to his last race. I think we're moving in the right direction."

Start the Ride, trained by Dan Blacker, finished sixth in the San Felipe after winning the Cal Cup Derby for state-breds in January. By Upstart, Start the Ride worked four furlongs in 49.6 seconds.

"He's doing good. We're going to give him a shot in the Santa Anita Derby," Blacker said.

Start the Ride trailed the field after a slow start in the San Felipe and never got involved, finishing sixth in the seven-horse field.

"I felt he didn't run his best race in the San Felipe and have made some adjustments," Blacker said.

Blackout Time (Not This Time) worked four furlongs in 48.4 seconds at Oaklawn on Saturday morning. It was the 12th fastest of 98 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he placed fourth in the Rebel (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on March 1 for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Boss Dylan (Liam's Map) worked four furlongs in 50.2 seconds at Palm Meadows on Saturday morning. It was the 44th fastest of 70 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Palm Meadows. In his last start he placed sixth in a maiden race going one mile on the turf at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 8 for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Chambersville (Twirling Candy) worked five furlongs in 1:02.4 at Keeneland on Saturday morning. It was the 12th fastest of 15 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Keeneland. In his last start he placed third in an allowance race going one mile on the synthetic at Turfway Park on Feb. 7 for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Civil Liberty (Independence Hall) worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday morning. It was the 32nd fastest of 50 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed second in a maiden race going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on March 7 for trainer Doug O'Neill.

Crown the Buckeye (Yaupon) worked four furlongs in 50.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the slowest of eight works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Training. In his last start he placed second in the Gotham (G3) going one mile on the main track at Aqueduct on Feb. 28 for trainer Mike Maker.

Fifty Four Yarder (Violence) worked four furlongs in 47.6 seconds at Oaklawn on Saturday morning. It was the third fastest of 98 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed eighth in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Feb. 28 for trainer Kelly Von Hemel.

Final Score (Not This Time), a Grade 2 winner (2025 Bourbon), worked three furlongs in 39.7 seconds at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday morning. It was the ninth fastest of 10 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Bourbon (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Keeneland on Oct. 5 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Iron Honor (Nyquist), a Grade 3 winner (2026 Gotham), worked four furlongs in 49.8 seconds at Belmont Park on Saturday morning. It was the 38th fastest of 130 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he won the Gotham (G3) going one mile on the main track at Aqueduct on Feb. 28 for trainer Chad Brown.

Litmus Test (Nyquist), a Grade 2 winner (2025 Los Alamitos Futurity), worked four furlongs in 48.4 seconds at Oaklawn on Saturday morning. It was the 12th fastest of 98 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he placed third in the Rebel (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on March 1 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Nearly (Not This Time), a Grade 3 winner (2026 Holy Bull), worked four furlongs in 49.1 seconds at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday morning. It was the fastest of 16 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Palm Beach Downs. In his last start he won the Holy Bull (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 31 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Ottinho (Quality Road) worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Belmont Park on Saturday morning. It was the 11th fastest of 130 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed third in the Withers going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on Feb. 6 for trainer Chad Brown.

Quality Mischief (Into Mischief) worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Fair Grounds on Saturday morning. It was the 23rd fastest of 63 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he placed seventh in the Risen Star (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14 for trainer Brad Cox.

Renegade (Into Mischief) worked four furlongs in 49.5 seconds at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday morning. It was the sixth fastest of 16 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Palm Beach Downs. In his last start he won the Sam F. Davis going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Robusta (Accelerate) worked four furlongs in 51.0 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday morning. It was the 49th fastest of 50 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed second in the San Felipe (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on March 7 for trainer Doug O'Neill.

Romeo (Honor A. P.) worked three furlongs in 37.8 seconds at Fair Grounds on Saturday morning. It was the fifth fastest of nine works at the distance. His previous work was five days ago going three furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he placed sixth in the Hopeful (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track at Saratoga on Sept. 1 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Schoolyardsuperman (Practical Joke) worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Belmont Park on Saturday morning. It was the 11th fastest of 130 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed fourth in the Withers going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on Feb. 6 for trainer Chad Brown.

So Happy (Runhappy), a Grade 2 winner (2026 San Vicente), worked five furlongs in 1:00.0 at Santa Anita on Saturday morning. It was the second fastest of 63 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in the San Felipe (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on March 7 for trainer Mark Glatt.

Start the Ride (Upstart) worked four furlongs in 49.6 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday morning. It was the 37th fastest of 50 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed sixth in the San Felipe (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on March 7 for trainer Dan Blacker.

Stradale (Yaupon) worked four furlongs in 51.4 seconds at Oaklawn on Saturday morning. It was the 90th fastest of 98 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he won an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track at Oaklawn on March 5 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

The Puma (Essential Quality), a Grade 3 winner (2026 ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby), worked five furlongs in 1:01.8 at Gulfstream Park on Saturday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 21 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7 for trainer Gustavo Delgado.

Thunder Buck (Gun Runner) worked four furlongs in 50.5 seconds at Palm Meadows on Saturday morning. It was the 51st fastest of 70 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed seventh in the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7 for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Very Connected (Connect) worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Keeneland on Saturday morning. It was the 11th fastest of 45 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Keeneland. In his last start he placed eighth in the X (G3) going about one mile on the dirt at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 14 for trainer Kenny McPeek.