ARCADIA, Calif. – A second-time starter whose $2.4 million auction price as a yearling suggested he could be more than just a maiden sprint winner jumped onto the Kentucky Derby trail Saturday at Santa Anita.
Potente ($18.20) upset the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes under Juan Hernandez, giving trainer Bob Baffert his record-extending 10th victory in the 1 1/16-mile race. Potente won by a head over 67-1 longshot Robusta.
So Happy finished 2 1/4 lengths back in third; Secured Freedom finished fourth; Baffert-trained favorite Brant set the pace and tired to fifth.
Potente’s final time was 1:42.92, which is likely to translate to a Beyer Speed figure in the 90 range.
Potente is owned by Peter Fluor’s Speedway Stables, and despite a 79 Beyer debut sprint victory on Jan. 31, Fluor and Baffert were confident the son of Into Mischief could improve running long.
“When we bought Potente … he’s bred for the distance, you just cross your fingers,” Fluor said, acknowledging the colt’s debut victory was modest. “The first race wasn’t that fast,” Fluor said.
For Potente, the longer, the better.
“He’s bred for that far,” Baffert said. “I put a really great foundation in my horses before I run them, so he was ready for something like that.”
Potente tucked inside just off the pace set by Brant, and waited. Potente rallied outside in the stretch, and wore down a stubborn Robusta in deep stretch.
Hernandez was riding Potente for the first time. “He’s big, he’s strong, and he showed up today,” Hernandez said. “He breaks really, really good and relaxes well behind the other horses. Last time he ran on the lead, but today he was travelling really good behind horses, like a professional.”
Potente is short on seasoning, having made only two starts. Baffert said after the San Felipe that he plans to start the colt once more before the Kentucky Derby. He earned 50 qualifying points Saturday, which all but guarantees a Derby berth.
Robusta, sixth last out in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis, improved with the addition of blinkers. He pressed the pace three-wide, made the lead in the stretch, and got worn down while finishing more than two lengths clear of third.
“Blinkers made the difference,” Robusta’s trainer Doug O’Neill said to track publicity. “We’re going to the Santa Anita Derby, we’re going to the Kentucky Derby. Let’s go!” Robusta earned 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, and probably needs more to make the field.
So Happy, 2-1 second favorite after winning the seven-furlong Grade 2 San Vicente last out, pressed the pace two-wide and could not keep up late. Sired by Runhappy, So Happy’s third-place finish suggested he might prefer one turn.
The same probably is true for Brant, though his four-month layoff gives him a built-in alibi. Brant sped to the lead, took pressure, and gave way into the lane. He was ridden by Florent Geroux.
“I broke on top, so my hands were a little bit forced,” Geroux said. “I tried to slow down a little bit, but my horse probably needed the race and my gut feeling is he’s probably better going shorter.” Brant won the seven-furlong Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last summer and was making his first start since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Start the Ride, winner of the Cal Cup Derby last out, broke slowly and finished sixth. Flashy Fritz finished last of seven.
The San Felipe leads to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4. The Santa Anita Derby is expected to include Grade 1 winner Intrepido and 100-Beyer maiden winner Cherokee Nation; neither ran in the San Felipe.
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