Santa Anita Derby shapes up as Stronghold vs. Bafferts

It’s less than two weeks until the 87th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6, and the potential field is starting to take shape.

Bob Baffert, who has won a record nine Santa Anita derbies, is expected to have at least two starters and potentially more.

As first reported by Horse Racing Nation on Friday, Baffert plans to run Zedan Racing’s unbeaten colt Maymun. By Frosted, Maymun dominated in his 6 1/2-furlong debut at Santa Anita when winning by 7 1/2 lengths Jan. 20. He returned in a one-mile allowance Feb. 11 and edged stablemate Imagination by a neck to stay perfect. That effort was flattered when Imagination, who also is a candidate for the Santa Anita Derby, came back to win the San Felipe (G2) at 1 1/16 miles March 3.

Other potential starters for Baffert include Wine Me Up, Coach Prime and Wynstock. Wine Me Up was beaten by a head by Imagination in the San Felipe. The Vino Rosso colt is owned by Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.

Coach Prime, also owned by Zedan Racing, has been working steadily but has not raced since finishing third in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) on Dec. 16. Wynstock won the Los Alamitos Futurity but came back to finish last in the Southwest (G3) on Feb. 3 at Oaklawn Park. By Solomini, Wynstock is campaigned by Los Alamitos owner Ed Allred and executive Jack Liebau.

The likely main rival to Baffert’s contingent is Stronghold for trainer Phil D’Amato. By Ghostzapper, Stronghold exits a sharp 2 1/2-length win in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) Feb. 18. He earned 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the victory, which puts him 16th on the leaderboard currently.

The Santa Anita Derby offers eligible horses 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.

D’Amato this week said there’s a small possibility Stronghold could ship to Keeneland for the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), also on April 6, but staying home was most likely.

“I think that win going two turns at Sunland, the light bulb came on,” D’Amato added of Stronghold, who is owned by Eric M. Waller and Sharon Waller. “Since then, he’s acted more professionally in his drills. He worked sensational last Monday.”

Trainer John Sadler plans to run Tapalo, most recently second in the El Camino Real Derby on synthetic Feb. 10 at Golden Gate. The Tapiture ridgling is owned by Hronis Racing. Sadler added it was “unlikely” Scatfiy returns in the Santa Anita Derby after running himself into trouble and being eased across the wire in the San Felipe.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said E.J. Won the Cup, who won the Turf Paradise Derby on March 14 for owner Superfecta King Stable, is possible to go in the Santa Anita Derby.

“He’d be a major long shot, but we’re considering it,” O’Neill said Saturday of the Omaha Beach colt.

McVay, who was third in the San Felipe, is possible for trainer John Shirreffs. The Constitution colt has 19 Derby points and ranks 25th on the leaderboard for owner C R K Stable.

Also pointed to the Santa Anita Derby is recent maiden winner Tessuto for trainer George Papaprodromou. A ridgling by Munnings, he graduated by 2 1/2 lengths in a one-mile maiden heat at Santa Anita on Feb. 25. He is owned by Kretz Racing.

Nominations for the Santa Anita Derby will be released Friday.