Santa Anita Derby (Grade 1)

Toyota Bluegrass Stakes (Grade 1)

THERE were three 100 points to the winner Kentucky Derby trials in the US last weekend but neither of those famed races, the Grade 1s Santa Anita Derby, Bluegrass Stakes nor the Grade 2 Wood Memorial produced a definite Derby favourite.

The winners, Taiba, Zandon and Mo Donegal are all in the top six of the qualifying points list. Steve Asmussen’s Louisana Derby winner Epicenter heads the betting with the Florida Derby winner White Abarrio also among the current favourites.

Keeneland

The Bluegrass had the Kenny McPeek-trained Smile Happy as favourite and after the eventual third Emmanuel led early, that colt looked poised to take control.

Zandon (Chad Brown) was slowly away but responded well to pass horses on the second turn, and wearing down Smile Happy in the final furlong under Flavien Prat, stayed on well to win going away.

The son of Upstart was winning for the first time this year after defeats by Mo Donegal in the Remsen and Epicenter in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds.

“On the backside when he was losing position I felt terrible because there’s no room for error when you are trying to get points to go to the Derby. Things looked grim halfway through the race, but the horse persevered,” Brown told BloodHorse.

Kenny McPeek was also not disappointed by his horse’s defeat.

“I thought the timing of this race was good. I think the next race will be his best race.

“He got a little tired at the end. We will see how much water he drinks and how (tired) he is. This is a really good horse. This is only his fourth career start.”

Santa Anita

The Santa Anita Derby had a familiar set of colours in the winner’s enclosure even though it was a new trainer on the racecard.

Taiba, in the colours of Zedan Racing carried by last year’s disqualified Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit and ridden by Mike Smith, caught his Tim Yakteen-trained stablemate Messier, inside the final furlong and stayed on strongly to win by two and a half lengths.

Messier had been a 15-length winner of the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes and this looked a good performance despite one disappointment.

Forbidden Kingdom, the even-money favourite, led early under jockey Juan Hernandez, but not as easily as in his earlier victories as the San Vicente Stakes and San Felipe Stakes and faded quickly finishing last. He was later found to have a possible epiglottis problem and will miss the Derby.

Taiba, a son of Gun Runner who cost $1.7 million at the sales, was timed in 1m 48.46secs. Messier was 10 lengths clear of third-place Happy Jack.

The Santa Derby has in recent years produced Kentucky winners in Justify, California Chrome and I’ll Have Another.

Yakteen took over the training of Taiba, Messier just before their previous trainer, Bob Baffert, began serving a 90-day suspension banning him from having Kentucky Derby runners.

“You don’t see that at this level unless you’re just exceptionally, exceptionally gifted.

“Obviously, this horse has that type of talent because Messier ran absolutely super. That was a strong horse to collar,” Yakteen said.

Tabia with 100 points is eighth on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard while Messier is 18th.

Donegal Racing’s Uncle Mo colt Mo Donegal also threw his hat in the Derby ring with a battling success in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Steve Asmussen’s Morello was a disappointing favourite but the Chad Brown-trained Early Voting looked to have made a winning move when he was clear into the straight.

However, Mo Donegal rallied in determined style from last in the field of eight, dourly cutting back Early Voting’s two-length lead at the furlong pole.

Mo Donegal picked up 100 qualifying points to take fourth place in points with 112 and showing that the Derby distance is well within his range.

“We feel very good right now. We just have to keep him healthy and happy and I couldn’t be more excited about the Kentucky Derby,” Donegal Racing’s Jerry Crawford said.

Trainer Todd Pletcher added: “He was resolute. He kept coming and I was thrilled to see him get there.

“He was able to wear down a horse that was loose on the lead. So I thought it was a big race.”