Honor A. P. Captures Santa Anita Derby

A historian might be needed to find the last time a trainer skipped a Triple Crown race in favor of a prep race for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Yet here in 2020, with the world facing problems no one could have foreseen from the COVID-19 pandemic, that exact set of circumstances unfolded June 6, and the man who made that decision was delighted at the way it turned out.

"He ran great. It was a super effort," trainer John Shirreffs said after Honor A. P.'s victory in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1). "I'm just happy for everybody involved."

Once upon a time, the $401,000 Santa Anita Derby was scheduled for April 4 at Santa Anita Park, with the Kentucky Derby following May 2 and the Belmont Stakes (G1) closing the Triple Crown for 3-year-olds June 6. Then coronavirus ravaged the nation, and the Kentucky Derby was switched to Sept 5, with the Belmont Stakes moving to a June 20 date and the front of the Triple Crown line.

Though he has in Honor A. P. a horse who seems a natural fit for the classics, Shirreffs did not sway from his original plan of staying in California for the Santa Anita Derby, and he was rewarded Saturday when C R K Stable's son of Honor Code  turned the tables on Authentic, who entered the race undefeated. The 3-year-old ridgling rolled to a 2 3/4-length victory under jockey Mike Smith that assured him of a spot in the Kentucky Derby, even if he has to wait until September to use that ticket.

"He gives every indication that he can go a mile and a quarter," Smith said about the Kentucky Derby. "Just the way he galloped out today. I mean, I had to pull him up."

The berth in the Kentucky Derby came courtesy of the 100 qualifying points Honor A. P. picked up Saturday in a stakes that also awarded 40-20-10 points to the second through fourth finishers. He has 120 points and is second in the standings behind likely Belmont Stakes favorite Tiz the Law, who has 122 points.

"We were happy with the way Honor A. P. was training for the race," Shirreffs said. "We knew that he has tactical speed, and Mike can put him pretty much where he wants. On the backside, we hoped he would get comfortable to have a nice little kick in the end, and it all worked out well."

Authentic, the 1-2 favorite and trainer Bob Baffert's leading hopeful for a 10th Santa Anita Derby victory, beat Honor A. P. when the two met March 7 in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles. On that day, Authentic cruised along with a clear lead, and Honor A. P., even with a nice stretch run, had to settle for a runner-up finish, 2 1/4 lengths behind.

In the rematch Saturday, Authentic broke toward the outside at the start from post 7 in the field of seven and then was caught wide on both turns, leading to some fatigue in the stretch when Honor A. P. sailed past him.

"I was worried about him having the outside post," Baffert said. "He got parked wide, which you don't want to see, and he got tired at the end after doing some heavy lifting. But you have to give credit to the winner. He ran a good race, and he's a good horse."

Authentic's first loss in four starts added to a rough day on the Triple Crown front for Baffert, Jack Wolf of Starlight Racing, and Sol Kumin of Madaket Stable. Starlight and Madaket own Authentic along with Spendthrift Farm, which acquired racing and breeding rights to the son of Into Mischief  this week. 

Baffert also trains Charlatan for a group that includes Wolf and Kumin, and shortly before the Santa Anita Derby, it was reported that the undefeated son of Speightstown  had suffered an ankle injury that will sideline him for at least 45 days and prevent him from running in the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby.

Saturday's 1-2 punch was a tough one, especially considering that Baffert considered Authentic to be his No. 1 Kentucky Derby hopeful, and Charlatan was 3-for-3 and seemed a top contender for the Belmont Stakes or Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Claiborne Farm (G1) and the TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) after that. Charlatan is also facing the possibility of being stripped of a victory in the Arkansas Derby (G1) if the split sample from a post-race drug test comes back positive.

"It's a tough game. When you start feeling good, you get knocked down," Kumin said. "It's nothing major with Charlatan, but 45 days doesn't mean they run in 45 days. A lot of things went wrong today."

Such as when the gates opened. When Authentic and jockey Drayden Van Dyke broke slowly and to the outside in the 1 1/8-mile stakes, it allowed Shooters Shoot and Anneau d'Or to grab the lead inside of them. Caught in a three-way battle for the lead through a half-mile in :46.88, Authentic got to the front turning for home but then drifted in as Honor A. P. rushed past with a closing spurt from fifth and filled Shirreffs with gratitude for another major win with Smith.

For those with short memories, Shirreffs and Smith had a pretty good run about 10 years ago with a mare by the name of Zenyatta. 

"I can't thank Mike Smith enough for all that he has done. Whenever I need Mike, he's always there for me. I really appreciate that," Shirreffs said.

Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, Honor A. P. paid $6.40 to win while needing 1:48.97 to cover the distance on a fast track.

"I have owned horses since I was 18 years old, so (it's been) 54 years (in the sport)," owner Lee Searing said. "I've never had a Santa Anita Derby winner. John knew we had the beginnings of a very nice horse. We knew he was special.

"We will cherish each and every day with this special horse."

Shirreffs said he was uncertain of what's next for Honor A. P.

"It's up to him whether we run him again before the big dance. We have to see how the horse comes out and how he feels, but you'd always prefer to run," Shirreffs said. "Running is probably the best option rather than training up to it, but we'll wait and see how it all happens."

Another 1 1/4 lengths behind Authentic, Jim and Donna Daniell's Rushie was third in his stakes debut, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Peter Redekop BC's Anneau d'Or.

The victory was the second in four starts for Honor A. P., who was purchased for $850,000 in 2018 from the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consignment at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's August sale of select yearlings. Bred in Kentucky by George Krikorian out of the Wild Rush mare Hollywood Story, Honor A. P. is the first graded stakes winner for his dam and has earned $362,200.

Authentic's 40 points give him 100 and puts Baffert in the position of having at least one Kentucky Derby starter at the moment after he had an embarrassment of riches just a few weeks ago with the unbeaten trio of Nadal, who was injured last week, Charlatan, and Authentic.

"Bob's hand doesn't look the same now," Kumin said.

Even Baffert knows that.

"Authentic better come out of this race good," Baffert said. "I'm running low on horses."

Low is a relative term when applied to Baffert. Even on a tough afternoon, he had the upside of winning the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1) with Improbable and becoming the third trainer to surpass $300 million in North American earnings.

He also sent out a rather interesting 3-year-old for his debut. Named Cezanne, the son of Curlin  was bought for $3.65 million as a 2-year-old at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's Florida select 2-year-olds in training sale, and won his first start by 2 1/4 lengths.

Low?

We'll see about that.

Byron King contributed to this report.

Video: RUNHAPPY Santa Anita Derby (G1)