Santa Anita Derby Online Horse Racing Odds
by Patricia Woo | Mar 29 2010
Top Kentucky Derby contenders Sidney's Candy, Caracortado and Lookin at Lucky are all expected to line up for the $750,000 Gr. 1 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Saturday, April 3. With a huge purse up for grabs, the Santa Anita Derby is an important stepping stone on the way to the Kentucky Derby.
Speed has played a factor in both of Sidney's Candy's previous two victories, and the front-running son of Candy Ride will be looking to set another quick pace in order to command the Santa Anita Derby. Trained by John Sadler for the Sid and Jenny Craig Trust, Sidney's Candy has won his two outings of 2010 – the $150,000 Gr. 2 San Vincente Stakes on Feb. 15 and the $150,000 Gr. 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 13 – by getting in front early and holding off all challengers. He has bested possible Santa Anita Derby rivals in previous outings; Caracortado and Stephen's Got Hope are both probable for the Derby, and they will have to contend with Sidney's Candy's early pace. With $180,000 in graded stakes earnings and on the bubble for Kentucky Derby qualification, Sidney's Candy will need to score big on Saturday to solidify his place in the Run for the Roses in May.
With a 2010 record of 2-1-0-1 and only $108,000 in graded stakes earnings, Caracortado is another Kentucky Derby prospect looking to take advantage of the rich purse offered by the Santa Anita Derby to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. The 3-year-old gelding, a son of Cat Dreams, won his first race of the year at Santa Anita Park in the $150,000 Gr. 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 13. He fell just short versus Sidney's Candy in the San Felipe Stakes a month later after a fierce mid-stretch battle with a rival and finished third. Trained by Michael Machowsky, Caractortado will likely have regular rider Paul Atkinson aboard for Saturday's race.
Atop many Kentucky Derby favorites lists is possible Santa Anita Derby starter Lookin at Lucky. Proven on synthetics as well as dirt, this Smart Strike colt has just one race under his belt in 2010 so far, a victory in the $300,000 Gr. 2 Rebel Stakes on the conventional dirt track at Oaklawn Park on March 13. Bob Baffert has two races on his radar for his trainee's final Kentucky Derby prep: either the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday or the $1M Gr. 1 Arkansas Derby on April 10 at Oaklawn Park. Baffert has indicated that a decision will be made either March 29 or 30; Garrett Gomez will get the mount.
Others expected include Sham Stakes hero Alphe's Bet, the Doug O'Neill-trained Stephen's Got Hope and Generous Stakes-winning Who's Up.
Last year, the Santa Anita Derby produced the Kentucky Derby runner-up, Pioneerof the Nile – also trained by Bob Baffert. Who will win this year's Santa Anita Derby?
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