2019 Santa Anita Derby Study Guide

Apr 05, 2019 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A compact but strong field of six will test the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1) on Saturday. The key Road to the Kentucky Derby event attracted a few serious Triple Crown contenders, and it makes up for its lack of quantity with high quality. The Derby points will distributed on a 100-40-20-10 basis to the top-four finishers.

FREE Santa Anita Derby PPs courtesy of Brisnet.com!

Here is the field:

Roadster Career Racing Stats

3 Starts
2 Wins
0 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $106,200

Top BRIS Speed rating (96) in maiden and allowance wins

Owner: Speedway Stable LLC
Breeder: Stone Farm (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Ghost Dancing
Color: Gray/Roan

This sophomore colt was an impressive allowance winner in his three-year-old debut and draws the rail for this event. The Kentucky-bred smoked a bullet six furlongs in advance of Saturday and will be forwardly placed from the start under Mike Smith.

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More Ice Career Racing Stats

7 Starts
2 Wins
0 Place
3 Show
Total Career Earnings: $96,033

Top BRIS Speed rating (88) for third in El Camino Real Derby

Owner: Kenwood Racing LLC, Hollendorfer LLC and Richard Robertson
Breeder: Hardacre Farm (FL)
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Jockey: Geovanni Franco

Sire: More Than Ready
Dam: Coal and Ice
Color: Chestnut

The Florida-bred has raced on dirt just once in preparation of this assignment. The El Camino Real Derby third will be doing his best work from off the pace and will need a lifetime-best to challenge this cast.

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Nolo Contesto Career Racing Stats

3 Starts
1 Wins
1 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $45,460

Top BRIS Speed rating (94) in maiden score

Owner: Hronis Racing LLC
Breeder: Ramona S. Bass LLC (KY)
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Joseph Talamo

Sire: Pioneerof the Nile
Dam: Applauding
Color: Bay

This talented three-year-old was a sharp allowance second behind Roadster in a local prep for the Santa Anita Derby. The $385,000 yearling purchase should appreciate the added ground to work with second time off the layoff. The contender will track the early proceedings.

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Synthesis Career Racing Stats

9 Starts
1 Wins
1 Place
4 Show
Total Career Earnings: $117,400

Top BRIS Speed rating (89) for second in allowance tilt

Owner: Decker Racing, Kretz Racing LLC and Selby
Breeder: Cahterine Zoc (KY)
Trainer: George Papaprodromou
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

Sire: First Samurai
Dam: Trust in Hope
Color: Dark Bay

This ridgling debuts for his new connections as a longshot in the field. The Kentucky-bred was a distant fourth in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) most recently and looks to be a cut below his foes at this stage of his development.

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Instagrand Career Racing Stats

3 Starts
2 Wins
0 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $180,000

Top BRIS Speed rating (100) in Best Pal Stakes (G2) win and Gotham Stakes (G3) third

Owner: OXO Equine LLC
Breeder: Stoneway Farm (KY)
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Assets of War
Color: Bay

This Grade 2 star has never run a bad one in preparation of his two-turn debut. The $1.2 million juvenile purchase is the speed of the field and is training in swift fashion for his biggest test to date. He could be the one to catch turning for home. Flavien Prat inherits the live mount.

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Game Winner Career Racing Stats

5 Starts
4 Wins
1 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $1,646,000

Top BRIS Speed rating (103) in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) triumph

Owner: Gary and Mary West
Breeder: Summer Wind Equine (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: Indyan Giving
Color: Bay

This champion colt was a nose second in the Rebel Stakes (G2) in his seasonal debut and gets a fine draw outside in the small field. The Kentucky-bred was a Grade 1 winner in his lone local appearance and he looms large as the class of the race. The one to beat scorched a bullet six panels to ready for this spot.