Forbidden Kingdom, Messier clash in Santa Anita Derby; Santa Anita Oaks draws five

Apr 06, 2022 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

The debate over who is the West Coast's top prospect for the Kentucky Derby
(G1) will be decided Saturday in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) over 1 1/8
miles.

The Santa Anita Derby will mark the second meeting between Messier and
Forbidden Kingdom. Their prior showdown, in the seven-furlong Bob Hope
(G3) at Del Mar last November, resulted in a 3 1/2-length win for Messier.
However, Forbidden Kingdom has improved vastly since then, taking both the San
Vicente (G2) and San Felipe (G2) in dominating fashion.

Messier subsequently lost the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in a shocking upset
at odds of 1-2, but his 15-length win in the Feb. 6 Robert B. Lewis (G3) remains
the most emphatic of all Kentucky Derby prep performances this year. However, he
didn't earn any qualifying points due to trainer Bob Baffert's suspension from
racing at Churchill Downs.

With Baffert's legal challenges to delay a suspension by Kentucky stewards
unsuccessful, Messier has been transferred and will be saddled by Tim Yakteen in
the Santa Anita Derby. A win or a second-place finish would be enough for the
colt to continue on to the Kentucky Derby. Forbidden Kingdom, who earned 50
points winning the San Felipe, is already ensured a spot in the Derby starting
field.

Yakteen has also taken over training duties for Taiba, a debut winner
last month over six furlongs, and Armagnac, who regressed badly in the
San Felipe off a maiden win. Completing the lineup is another last-out graduate,
Win the Day, and Happy Jack, a distant third in the San Felipe.

Yakteen has the fillies to beat in the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks with the
former Baffert charges Adare Manor and Under the Stars. Adare
Manor captured the Las Virgenes (G3) by 13 lengths when last seen two months
ago, while Under the Stars finished second to stablemate Eda in the Santa Ysabel
(G3) last time.

The short field also includes Chandelier (G1) heroine Ain't Easy, who
should come on from her third in the Santa Ysabel following a layoff dating to
October, and recent graduate Micro Share.

The Santa Anita Oaks is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET, while the Santa Anita
Derby follows at 5:30. Each race offers qualifying points for their respective
Churchill Downs races on a 100-40-20-10 scale. Both races can be watched and
wagered on at
TwinSpires.com.