ARCADIA, Calif. - Fitted with blinkers for the first time, Test Score was back to familiar habits in Saturday’s Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita – winning his third graded stakes of 2025.
Test Score closed from fourth of five to win the $200,000 Twilight Derby as the 3-5 favorite. The victory ended a two-race losing streak in graded stakes since early August.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, who swept the two stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, Test Score reached the front in the final furlong.
Test Score ($3.20) was timed in 1:47.66 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88.
In his first 10 starts, Test Score did not wear blinkers. During that time, he won the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland in April and the Grade 1 Belmont Derby at Saratoga in July.
Trained in Maryland by Graham Motion, Test Score was third by a half-length in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby at 1 3/16 miles on Aug. 2, and fourth of 12 in the Grade 3 Nashville Derby at 1 5/16 miles at Kentucky Downs on Aug. 30.
A slightly shorter race, and the addition of blinkers, contributed to Saturday’s win.
“Graham Motion thought that the blinkers would help him,” winning owner John Amerman said. “He did well today. He’s a wonderful horse.”
Test Score won by 1 1/2 lengths over 15-1 Maaz, the longest shot in the field. Maaz closed on the inside to reach contention in the final furlong under jockey Ricky Gonzalez, but could not catch Test Score.
Maaz had his graded stakes debut in the Twilight Derby. Maaz won an allowance race at a mile on turf on Oct. 3.
“I got a good trip on the rail,” Gonzalez said. “I thought I was home free. I looked outside and (Test Score) was flying.”
Namaron (5-2) finished third, followed by Septembersixtyfour and Scipio in the small field.
Test Score, a 3-year-old colt by Lookin at Lucky, was bred by Amerman and his wife Jerry.
Test Score has won 4 of 11 starts and earned $1,548,525. He will be considered for the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, a $300,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 29.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.