The Road to the Kentucky Derby returns to Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Cal. for Saturday’s Grade 2 $400,000 San Felipe Stakes. A field of 10 three-year-olds will contest the 1 1/16 mile route on the main track. The top four finishers will pick up points in Churchill Downs’ Road to the Kentucky Derby point system* to earn a spot in the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1).
A pair of undefeated colts heads the San Felipe, a prep race for the Santa Anita Derby. Bob Baffert’s Dortmund will take on James Cassidy’s undefeated colt, Ocho Ocho Ocho.
Dortmund has amassed an impressive collection of stakes victories, including the Feb. 9 Robert B. Lewis (G3) in which he dug in to regain the lead and take victory over Firing Line. Dortmund on the rail and Firing Line to his outside, the pair put more than 22 lengths between themselves and the rest of the field. Dortmond showed determination and heart not often seen in a lightly-raced young colt. Prior to the Lewis, Dortmund won the head-bob over Firing Line in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) Dec. 20. Dortmund, a son of Big Brown, will break from post three under regular rider Martin Garcia.
Ocho Ocho Ocho has three wins in as many starts and will make his sophomore debut on Saturday. After breaking his maiden, the son of Street Sense dominated the $100,000 Juvenile Turf Sprint in an authoritative 5 ¾-length victory. He returned three weeks later to win the Delta Downs Jackpot (G3), a nose over Mr. Z, in his last start Nov. 22. Although Ocho Ocho Ocho hasn’t raced in over three months, he comes into the San Felipe off of two back-to-back bullet works. He’ll break from post two under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
Bob Baffert has another entry in San Vicente (G2) winner, Lord Nelson. Although Lord Nelson has three wins in five starts and has never finished worse than fifth, his victories have come at seven furlongs or less. The two times Lord Nelson has attempted the San Felipe distance of 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and Frontrunner (G1)) he failed to hit the board. The question remains whether or not this Pulpit colt wants the 1 1/16 mile distance. He’ll break from the rail under jockey Rafael Bejarano.
The San Felipe field from the rail out is: Lord Nelson, Ocho Ocho Ocho, Dortmond, The Gomper, Kenjisstorm, Prospect Park, Bolo, Pulmarak, Sir Samson, and Pain and Misery. The race is the 7th on Santa Anita Park’s Saturday card with a scheduled post time of 6 p.m. Eastern Time. The race can be seen on HRTV and TVG. Click here for free PPs courtesy of Brisnet.
* The Kentucky Derby points system replaced the graded stakes earnings system as the determiner of Kentucky Derby entrants. In the first phase, the Kentucky Derby Prep Season that concludes February 16, the top four finishers in the pre-determined races are awarded points of 10-4-2-1, respectively. In the first leg of phase two, the Championship Series, the top four finishers in 8 pre-determined races are awarded points of 50-20-10-5, respectively. In the second leg of the Championship Series, the top four finishers in the 7 pre-determined races receive points of 100-40-20-10, respectively. The Apr. 11 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland is a wildcard race and offers points of 10-4-2-1, respectively.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Anita Park
