ARCADIA, Calif. – Only five entered the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, the smallest Santa Anita Derby field since Brother Derek wired a five-runner field in 2006. That was before the Kentucky Derby points scheme was introduced. This year, Derby points guidelines erode the relevance of the Santa Anita Derby.
Although major preps offer Kentucky Derby points on a 100-50-25 basis for the top three finishers, points are reduced in smaller fields. With five runners, it drops to 75-37.5-18.75. This is not an issue for Santa Anita Derby favorites Citizen Bull and Journalism, with 60 and 47.5 points, respectively. They are virtually guaranteed to make the Kentucky Derby field.
But points are an issue for Barnes and Baeza. Barnes must finish second to increase his points total to 56.25. A third by Barnes would give him just 37.5 total points.
Baeza is in a must-win situation. Baeza has zero points and a runner-up finish in the Santa Anita Derby would net only 37.5 points.
From the rail out, the Santa Anita Derby field is Journalism, Citizen Bull, Westwood, Barnes, and Baeza.
Barnes passes the test
It was only a half-mile workout by Barnes on March 31 at Santa Anita, but after being outworked in two previous drills without blinkers, trainer Bob Baffert re-equipped Barnes with blinkers and got the work he was looking for. It helped that the workmate for Barnes was an unraced maiden filly.
Barnes broke off six lengths behind the filly, who purposely drifted off the rail at the top of the stretch to allow Barnes to rally inside. It was a choreographed workout, and Barnes delivered. His official time was 48 seconds.
“I liked his work. He likes to run with a hold [from the rider],” Baffert said. “Last time, he was having to push him all the way. If I’m going to get an extra eighth out of him, he can’t be pedal to the metal.”
Barnes finished second to Journalism last out in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes.
Journalism’s dam was rugged
Mopotism, dam of Santa Anita Derby contender Journalism, never did win a Grade 1. But the durable filly did place in four Grade 1s and won the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita during a 26-start career. She was trained by Doug O’Neill.
“We didn’t miss many dances, did we?” O’Neill said. “She was a big, good-looking filly. She was a pretty filly. Obviously being by Uncle Mo and out of a Bernardini mare is huge. She shipped around, and was just rock solid.”
Paul Reddam owned Mopotism, who raced at 10 tracks, won three races, and earned $876,090. She sold for $1,050,000 to Don Alberto Corporation after her racing career was finished. Journalism, sired by Curlin, is her first runner.
Lightly raced runners
Lightly raced Tappan Street and Grande must overcome a lack of experience if they make to the Kentucky Derby. Each will have made only three starts. But it’s not impossible to win the Derby in career start No. 4.
Since the turn of the century, not counting 2020, when the Derby was in September, three Derby runners with three starts or fewer have won the race: Mage, 2023; Justify, 2018; and Big Brown, 2008. One other placed, 2007 third-place finisher Curlin.
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Relatively inexperienced horses have entered the Derby with regularity. The first two decades this century, 10 entered with three starts or less. But the past four years, 12 entered with three starts or less.
This year, two prominent Derby contenders are short on seasoning. Tappan Street won the Florida Derby in his third start; Grande makes his third start Saturday in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial.
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