Throwdown of Derby Hopefuls Looms in San Felipe

As one who has captured the Kentucky Derby (G1) five times since 1997—plus two Triple Crowns—it is little surprise that trainer Bob Baffert is packing a punch in the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) for Derby hopefuls at Santa Anita Park.

Talent runs deep within his stable's 3-year-old ranks, and two of his colts—Authentic and Thousand Words—are prominently displayed in the $400,000 San Felipe at 1 1/16 miles. Both are unbeaten—Authentic won the Sham Stakes (G3) by 7 3/4 lengths after a maiden score, and Thousand Words took the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) following a debut maiden victory.

Although they are favored—Authentic is the 6-5 chalk on Jon White's morning line, followed by Thousand Words at 9-5—they are not the only top-class Derby threats in the race. Also commanding attention is 2-year-old champion Storm the Court (5-1), as well as promising maiden winner Honor A. P. (4-1) and multiple stakes-placed Wrecking Crew (12-1), who was third in the TVG Breeder's Cup Juvenile (G1) last fall.

The Juvenile was won in a 45-1 upset by the Peter Eurton-trained Storm the Court. 

Since the Breeders' Cup, every major stakes race in California for Derby prospects has been won by a Baffert trainee. Besides the victories by Authentic and Thousand Words, the Hall of Fame trainer also won the Feb. 9 San Vicente Stakes (G2) with Nadal and the Feb. 15 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields with Azul Coast.

His uncoupled duo in the San Felipe bring differing running styles. Thousand Words is a stalker, and Authentic is speedy.

Thousand Words, owned by Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm, "just shows up, goes to work, does his thing, and grinds it out. The further the better for him," Baffert said.

He is by Pioneerof the Nile, who won the 2009 San Felipe for the trainer, one of Baffert's six victories in the race.

Flavien Prat, aboard throughout Thousand Words' career, retains the ride, forgoing the mount on Storm the Court, who will now be ridden by Joel Rosario.

Authentic—a son of Into Mischief  who races for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Frederick Hertrich III, John Fielding, and Golconda Stables—also retains his regular rider, Drayden Van Dyke. Authentic will wear earplugs Saturday after he ducked inward during the stretch run of the Sham, coming close to the inside rail, perhaps a reaction to crowd noise.

"He didn't have any competition. He'll have it this time, though," Baffert said.

Poised to improve upon his season debut, in which he chased the leaders and finished a close fourth in the San Vicente, is Storm the Court. Like Authentic, he is a pace player.

David Bernsen, Exline-Border Racing, Dan Hudock, and Susanna Wilson own the son of Court Vision .

Honor A. P. rallied for second in his debut behind the quick Ginobili at Del Mar in August and then won on the lead in a two-turn maiden race Oct. 13. After missing some training this winter that caused him to sit out the Sham, Honor A. P. has breezed forwardly for trainer John Shirreffs leading up to his return. 

Also making his first start at 3 is Wrecking Crew, who went to the sidelines after being eased to be last of four on a wet track in the Los Alamitos Futurity.

Fort McHenry and Swagsational are newcomers to the California circuit and round out the field as the two longest prices on the morning line at 20-1 and 50-1, respectively.

A Tapit  gelding, Fort McHenry is a half brother to two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome . He races with blinkers off and makes his first start for trainer Doug O'Neill and owner Purple Rein Racing after a change in connections.

The San Felipe, the eighth race on a stakes-loaded card, goes off at approximately 3:01 p.m. PT. It will award 85 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, with a 50-20-10-5 scale, to the top four finishers.

Entries: San Felipe S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 07, 2020, Race 8

• Grade II
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $400,000
• 3 yo
• 3:01 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Fort McHenry (KY)	Abel Cedillo	120	Doug F. O'Neill	20/1
2	2Honor A. P. (KY)	Mike E. Smith	120	John A. Shirreffs	4/1
3	3Wrecking Crew (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	120	Peter Miller	12/1
4	4Authentic (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	122	Bob Baffert	6/5
5	5Thousand Words (FL)	Flavien Prat	124	Bob Baffert	9/5
6	6Storm the Court (KY)	Joel Rosario	124	Peter Eurton	5/1
7	7Swagsational (WA)	Kassie Guglielmino	122	Heath Lawrence	50/1