Roadster, Game Winner Exit Santa Anita Derby Well

Bob Baffert, Simon Callaghan, and Jerry Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward reported their respective stakes winners came out of the April 6 races at Santa Anita Park in good order.

Baffert's Roadster and Game Winner finished 1-2 in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Callaghan's Bellafina captured the Santa Anita Oaks (G1), and Hollendorfer's Vasilika took the Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T), her third graded victory in a row and sixth overall since September.

"I got to run my big horses. They ran well and they both look good today, so that's the main thing," Baffert said the morning of April 7. "All the fans showed up to watch those races. It was a good day."

As for Instagrand, who finished third after leading into the stretch, Ward said the May 4 Pat Day Mile Presented by LG&E and KU (G3) at Churchill Downs is likely "the race to look at" rather than the Kentucky Derby, adding, "He ran good yesterday."

"All my horses came out of their races well," said Callaghan, who also sent out Hostess and Maxim Rate to finish a nose apart in Saturday's Providencia Stakes (G3T). "The plan is to keep Bellafina here until maybe six days before the Kentucky Oaks (May 3)."

While the May 4 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2T) was mentioned immediately after Vasilika's 2 3/4-length triumph in the Royal Heroine as a possibility for her next race, Ward said Sunday her next start likely will come in the May 27 Gamely Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita, where the daughter of Skipshot  has won 10 of 11 races after racing on the East Coast.

The Gamely is a Breeders' Cup "Win and Your'e In" challenge race going 1 1/8 miles on grass.