Kentucky Derby 2018 trail: Justify tops Santa Anita Derby

The 2018 Kentucky Derby may have its favorite in Justify.

“On a dizzying ascent to greatness” — words of race caller Michael Wrona — the colt moved his record to 3-for-3 and did so with a major score Saturday, taking the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby.

A son of Scat Daddy, the colt went wire to wire under jockey Mike Smith and was never much challenged by multiple Grade 1 winner Bolt d’Oro, the runner-up.

“I have so much respect for Bolt d’Oro, and I knew it was going to come down to those two,” said Justify’s trainer, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. “…We were always hoping he’d run like that.”

Justify’s final time was 1:49.72 after he received a friendly pace setup, running to an opening half mile in 47.85 seconds and three-length lead up the back stretch.

Jockey Javier Castellano shook up Bolt d'Oro through the turn, cut along the rail and appeared ready to make a challenge. But a head-and-head duel never emerged, with Justify posting a three-length win.

Nonetheless, Bolt d'Oro's owner and trainer, Mick Ruis, said he was "very proud" of his horse.

“I didn’t think the fractions were real, real fast," Ruis said. "I think it was a good race. It was what we needed. Hopefully we come out of it well, move on to a mile and a quarter.”

Longshot Core Beliefs got up for third in a field of seven.

Bolt d’Oro entered Saturday off a victory in the Grade 2 San Felipe stakes and, thus, had the points to move on to the Kentucky Derby in hand. Justify, however, needed either a win or runner-up finish to punch his own ticket to Churchill Downs.

Campaigned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, SF Racing and others, Justify was purchased for $500,000 but didn't make it to the races until February. He won his first two starts by a combined 16 lengths.

Thanks to his connections -- mainly Baffert, who has now won a record eight Santa Anita Derbys -- the colt went into his stakes debut favored.