Life Is Good Tries 1 1/16 Miles in San Felipe Stakes

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's lightly raced Life Is Good will attempt to make strides up the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) leaderboard when he heads an outstanding field of seven sophomores going 1 1/16 miles March 6 in the  $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. 

A key prep for the April 3 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1), the San Felipe—which was won last year by Baffert's eventual Kentucky Derby and Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Authentic —will be contested for the 83rd time, with Baffert bidding to win it for a record eighth time.

A son of Into Mischief —Beach Walk (Distorted Humor ),  Life Is Good is owned and campaigned by China Horse Club and WinStar Farm. A debut winner at 2, he made his second start Jan. 2 in the Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita where he was sent off as the 1-5 favorite. Ridden by Mike Smith, the Kentucky-bred colt soon led after a somewhat tardy start and held on over stablemate Medina Spirit—who is also entered in the San Felipe— to win by three-quarters of a length. 

That victory earned him 10 qualifying points. He is currently ranked 20th on the Derby leaderboard.

Life Is Good, who was purchased for $525,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, will depart from the rail in the San Felipe and once again partner with Hall of Famer Mike Smith. 

Medina Spirit, who comes off a gutsy neck win in the Jan. 30 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) over the San Felipe distance. Purchased for only $35,000 by agent Gary Young on behalf of owner Zedan Racing Stables from the Ocala Breeders' Sales July Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Medina Spirit prevailed in a three-horse photo over Roman Centurian and fellow Kentucky Derby hopeful Hot Rod Charlie in the Robert B. Lewis. 

Bred in Florida, the son of Protonico  is out of Mongolian Changa, by Brilliant Speed.  A winner of two of his three starts, Medina Spirit will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez and depart from post 3. 

Trainer Doug O'Neill will send out The Great One, who broke his maiden by 14 lengths Jan. 23 going one mile on the Santa Anita main track. A Louisiana-bred colt by O'Neill's 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist , he will be making his sixth start in the San Felipe. Abel Cedillo has the call from post 5. 

Out of the El Corredor mare Little Ms Protocol, The Great One is owned by Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson's ERJ Racing, Train Wreck Al Racing Stables, Niall Brennan, Tom Fritz, and William Strauss and is named for NHL hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

Also joining Saturday's fray is Robert B. Lewis second Roman Centurian, who was an impressive maiden winner at the San Felipe distance two starts back Jan. 3. Trained by Simon Callaghan, the son of the late Empire Maker races over the 1 1/16-mile distance for the third consecutive time. 

Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, Roman Centurian is out of the Bernardini  mare Spare Change. Regular rider Juan Hernandez will partner the Don Alberto Stable and Qatar Racing Limited-owned colt from post 7.   

Making only the second start of his career in the San Felipe is Peter Eurton trainee Dream Shake, who enters off an impressive Feb. 7 maiden win at Santa Anita going 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt. A Kentucky-bred son of Twirling Candy, the colt is owned by Exline-Border Racing, SAF Racing, and Richard Hausman. The colt is out of the Street Cry mare Even Song, and will retain the services of jockey Joel Rosario in the San Felipe, who was aboard for his maiden victory. The pair will leave from post 2. 

The San Felipe offers qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby on a scale of 50-20-10-5 to the first four finishers. 

Entries: San Felipe S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 06, 2021, Race 6

• Grade II
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 3 yo
• 2:45 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Life Is Good (KY)	Mike E. Smith	122	Bob Baffert	4/5
2	2Dream Shake (KY)	Joel Rosario	120	Peter Eurton	5/1
3	3Medina Spirit (FL)	John R. Velazquez	122	Bob Baffert	7/2
4	4None Above the Law (CA)	Flavien Prat	120	Peter Miller	30/1
5	5The Great One (LA)	Abel Cedillo	120	Doug F. O'Neill	4/1
6	6Govenor's Party (CA)	Mario Gutierrez	120	Daniel Franko	50/1
7	7Roman Centurian (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	120	Simon Callaghan	8/1