Santa Anita Derby fair odds: Imagination won’t run off with it

I had a hard time separating Stronghold and Imagination in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. The most likely winner nod falls on the former because of expected pace.

Both of Imagination's wins have been gate-to-wire, which can also be said for his uncoupled Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Wynstock and the Doug O'Neill pupil E J Won the Cup. That's a lot of gas in a 1 1/8-mile race and sets things up for Stronghold, who looked good pressing the Sunland Park Derby pace and kicking on to a 2 1/2-length score. The third-place finisher that day, Lucky Jeremy, came back to run OK on the lead in the Jeff Ruby Steaks.

Stronghold has a couple of seconds behind good Baffert-trained runners. He chased the aforementioned Wynstock in the Los Alamitos Futurity and was second to Nysos in the Bob Hope. But to reiterate, Wynstock will have a lot more company up front this time.

Imagination is the best of the speed to me, and I will be eager to see how Baffert deploys his pair considering E J Won the Cup's presence.

Speaking of E J Won the Cup, I am perhaps a bit biased considering my oldest child goes by EJ, but I do think he can stick around for a piece. A win would be a surprise, but his late pace ratings via Brisnet indicate an ability to stay on.

I will look to bet Stronghold to win at the fair odds and key E J Won the Cup with Stronghold and Imagination in exotics.

The biggest fans of the Baffert runners will be other Kentucky Derby hopefuls, as Baffert's charges are not eligible for points because of the Churchill Downs ban.