San Felipe Rematch Likely in Santa Anita Derby

It’s on to the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4 for undefeated Dortmund, who roared to a front-running, 1 ¼-length victory in the Grade I San Felipe Stakes Saturday.

“It was a walk in the park for him,” trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday morning of the well-chiseled chestnut who is a perfect five for five.

Speaking of parks, runner-up Prospect Park, who was beaten 1 ¼ lengths, is scheduled to re-engage with Dortmund in the Santa Anita Derby, according to trainer Clifford Sise, Jr.

“He came out of the race great,” said Sise. “I talked to Marty (co-owner/breeder Martin Wygod) and he’s very happy with the way he ran. We feel like he’ll run all day and with the trip he had yesterday, we’ve got a pretty fresh horse this morning.”

Ditto for lightly raced third-place finisher Bolo, who finished a half-length behind Prospect Park in his first start on dirt for trainer Carla Gaines.

Although beaten for the first time, eighth-place finisher Ocho Ocho Ocho remains on target for the West Coast’s premier Kentucky Derby prep, according to trainer Jim Cassidy.

“He’s a little cut up,” Cassidy said Sunday morning of the son of Street Sense, who was the $4.30-1 third choice in a field of 10 three-year-olds with Triple Crown aspirations. “Both front legs have some lacerations on them. He had a rough trip.

“It happened from the gate and then at the first turn. Mike (Smith) said, ‘Just throw the race out. I never got a chance.’” Asked if maybe the Santa Anita Derby would be next, Cassidy said, “No maybe about it. If he’s breathing, he’s running.”

Another still under consideration for the Santa Anita Derby is Firing Line, twice a tough-beat head loser to Dortmund. “We could run there or the Sunland Derby (March 22),” trainer Simon Callaghan said after Firing Line worked five furlongs Sunday in 1:00.80 with owner Arnold Zetcher on hand. “We haven’t made up our minds yet. I was very happy with the work.”

Baffert, asked which horse is better, Eclipse Award champion 2-year-old male of 2014 American Pharoah or Dortmund:

“That’s like asking which kid I love more. Come on. They’re two different kinds of horses. They’re really nice horses. We’ll find out if they hopefully make it the (Kentucky) Derby.”

Source: Santa Anita Stable Notes