Day at the Park for Dortmund in Santa Anita Derby
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Dortmund demolished the opposition on Saturday in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. (BENOIT photo)
Dortmund entered the $1-million Santa Anita Derby as one of the clear favorites for the Kentucky Derby on May 2, and he lived up to advanced billing with a powerful performance.
The undefeated chestnut colt by Big Brown controlled the pace and pulled away on the final turn en route to a 4 1/4-length victory under Martin Garcia. He improved to six wins in as many starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and owner Kaleem Shah.
No 3-year-old has accomplished more so far this season than Dortmund, whose wins in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby compare favorably with International Star’s sweep of the three major Derby prep races at Fair Grounds.
Perhaps the only 3-year-old with as much support from fans and racing analysts approaching this year’s Kentucky Derby could be stablemate American Pharoah, last year’s champion 2-year-old male who will be making his final prep next week for Baffert in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.
“It’s exciting. I’ve been in this position before,” Baffert said. “You get excited when you know you have a legit contender, just like last year when Art Sherman went through it with California Chrome.
“The feeling is like we’ve been here before; just enjoy the moment because the next race [Kentucky Derby on May 2] is going to be the one. It’s good to see [Dortmund] just really developing the way he has from his first start. I just love the way he ran today.”
SHAH LEADING DORTMUND INTO WINNER'S CIRCLE
BENOIT photo
Dortmund went right to the front through a pressured opening quarter-mile in :22.46, but Garcia was able to get him a breather for the second quarter as they clocked a half-mile in :46.36. That was all Dortmund needed.
“He was really comfortable. The main thing for me today was to break well and put him in a good position,” Garcia said. “Even though he’s won all his races, he’s still learning. He can play around a bit but when someone comes to him, or I ask him to go, he becomes push-button and he just takes off.”
Approaching the final turn, Garcia let Dortmund shift gears and he accelerated willingly. By the top of the stretch it was clear the rest of the field was racing for second.
“This is my first win in the Santa Anita Derby,” Garcia said. “There are a lot of ‘firsts’ with him for me.”
DORTMUND CHARGES TO VICTORY
BENOIT photo
Dortmund completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.73 as the 3-to-5 favorite and earned $600,000 to boost his career bankroll to $1,289,400.
Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni purchased Dortmund on behalf of Shah for $140,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training.
One Lucky Dane, who was second in the early stages and is also trained by Baffert, held on for the runner-up finish and 40 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard to cement his place in the Kentucky Derby. Bolo edged Prospect Park by neck for third, which might have been just enough to secure a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.
Blue Grass Stakes third-place finisher Ocho Ocho Ocho, Bolo and Prospect Park are tied with 30 points and sit in 19th, 20th and 21st place, respectively, with one more 100-point Kentucky Derby prep race left and several horses ahead of that trio not confirmed yet for the first Saturday in May.
Garcia is one of the few people in position to compare Dortmund with American Pharoah. He gallops American Pharoah in the mornings and rode him in his career debut.
“American Pharoah just drags me in the morning; wherever you want to go, however far you want to go, he drags you there,” Garcia said. “Dortmund, just gallops along, but he isn’t aggressive about it. They’re different in that way but they’re both very good horses.”
Stellar Wind Strong in Santa Anita Oaks
Stellar Wind cemented her credentials as a top contender for the Kentucky Oaks with a dominant 5 ¼-length victory in the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks on Saturday.
She swept to the lead on the turn and powered clear under Victor Espinoza, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.26 for he third win in four career starts.
Stellar Wind entered the Santa Anita Oaks off a convincing win in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel on Feb. 28 at Santa Anita Park for trainer John Sadler and owner Hronis Racing.
For Equibase chart, click here.