Roadster Rallies to Santa Anita Derby Score

For the past six months, news from the barn of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert has been divided between champion colt Game Winner and grade 1 winner Improbable. With the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) now less than one month away, there seemed little doubt that one, if not both, would make it to the starting gate the first Saturday in May. 

But that all changed the afternoon of April 6, when Speedway Stable's Roadster, the allowance winner Baffert had waiting in the wings, jumped up with a massive late run to deny Game Winner in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park. 

Bred in Kentucky by Arthur B. Hancock III's Stone Farm—Hancock bred Kentucky Derby winners like Gato Del Sol (1982) and Fusaichi Pegasus  (2000)—the son of Quality Road  made brief waves at 2 when he finished third to Game Winner in the Sept. 3 Del Mar Futurity (G1), just one start after breaking his maiden. 

Sidelined for just under six months following surgery to repair an obstruction in his throat, Roadster returned to win a $57,000 allowance optional claiming race March 1 at Santa Anita. So Baffert decided it was time to step the gray 3-year-old back up in class and see if he was good enough to earn himself a spot in the 145th Kentucky Derby. 

Ridden by jockey Mike Smith—who piloted Justify  last year to win the Santa Anita Derby before moving on to Triple Crown glory for Baffert—Roadster was pitted against five runners, including Game Winner, who already had 45 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. 

Best Pal Stakes (G2) winner Instagrand led the way from the gate under jockey Flavien Prat, just ahead of Nolo Contesto, while Synthesis tracked the pace in third to the inside of Roadster. The eventual winner vied for third on the outside through fractions of :23.34 and :47.84 for the half-mile. 

Making an early move on the outside, Joel Rosario guided Game Winner past Nolo Contesto and issued a challenge. Refusing to yield, Prat asked Instagrand for more from his spot on the rail, and the colt continued to power forward as the field turned for home. 

Running a slim half-length behind Instagrand at the top of the stretch, Game Winner prepared to do battle with the leader and just missed Roadster coming up fast on the far outside. 

With the crowd screaming and Game Winner struggling to keep up the pace, Roadster chipped away at his stablemate's leading margin until he prevailed and claimed his first graded win by a half-length in a final time of 1:51.28. 

"We knew before he and Game Winner started running that they both had ability," Smith said after the race. "They were breezing by the competition like this and putting them away. We weren't sure which one was better. The first time he ran for me, he showed he had all the gears. The second time he had the problem with his wind. We fixed that, and he's doing all the right things. We got a good break, and then we dropped back. He took a breather, while the others were going out there quick. When I asked him again, he was gone." 

"I moved a little bit soon because they weren't putting much pressure on Instagrand," said Rosario of runner-up Game Winner, "but they weren't going too fast up front, so I was comfortable with my position. He got a little bit tired the last part. That's why Roadster got by me."

In the most important test of his career, Roadster racked up 100 points on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard (fourth place). Game Winner picked up 40 points to bring his total to 85 (seventh). Instagrand held for third and earned 20 points for a total of 30, just missing the ever-narrowing Derby field of 20 (23rd). Nolo Contesto picked up 10 points for his effort but will also not make the Derby cut. Synthesis and More Ice completed the order of finish. 

"I thought he would've been closer to the lead, frankly, but it was cool to see him run a different kind of race," said Peter Fluor of Speedway Stable. "He's been running second and then accelerating. Today, I'm proud of him for coming from off the pace like that. I wasn't too thrilled about things halfway through the race, but Mike said he's got gears and he showed it today. Hopefully, he comes out of it well, and we can go on to the Derby."

With the security of a berth in the Kentucky Derby starting gate, Roadster proved to be the ace up Baffert's sleeve that could once again help stack the Derby deck in the Hall of Famer's favor.

"Roadster is a light horse but has always shown brilliance from day one," Baffert said. "We're just lucky we were able to bring him back, because after Del Mar I was worried that maybe the (throat) surgery didn't go well, because it could've gone worse. But I couldn't thank the surgeon that did it enough. He's one of the best in the business, and I've never had issues with it. His breathing is not an issue. … Today he passed the test to know he's good enough to go to the big show."

A $525,000 purchase by Speedway from Stone Farm's consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Roadster improved his record to 3-0-1, with $706,200 in earnings. He is out of the Silver Ghost mare Ghost Dancing, making him a half brother to Ascend, who took the 2017 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park. His dam produced a Twirling Candy  colt in 2018 and was bred to Candy Ride  for 2019.

With Game Winner and Roadster both likely shoo-ins for the Run for the Roses, the threatening pair could be exactly what Baffert needs to take home a sixth Kentucky Derby win in just over two decades. 

"They're two good horses," Baffert said. "Game Winner was out there by himself, and when he gets by himself ... he needs company. It was a good, hard race for both of them, and coming in, that's what you want to see. I couldn't be happier. We knew that Roadster needed to win or run second. 

"It was a great finish," Baffert continued. "They were both finishing well, they were fighting; Game Winner is a fighter. It was a great stretch run. … At the eighth pole, I knew I was going to win—I just didn't know which one. But it was exciting. They rode great races. … We're there. We've just got to keep them happy and healthy, enjoy the ride, the moment. It's hard to get to this moment. There's not a better feeling than there was today."

Video: Santa Anita Derby (G1)