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Thirteen Take Stab at Wide Open Santa Anita Derby

By Margaret Ransom

Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Moss’ Royal Mo and jockey Victor Espinoza win the Grade III, $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.© BENOIT PHOTO

A nearly full field of 13 sophomores will head postward in the 81st running of the Santa Anita Derby (GI), which has been carded as Saturday’s eighth race at the Great Race Place and will go off at 3:30 PT. The rather large field is filled with runners who otherwise we’d logically expect to avoid a prep with such significant Kentucky Derby (GI) implications, but with the injury to the West’s division leader, Mastery, in the San Felipe Stakes (GII) last month, hopeful connections are coming out of the woodwork to run in this $1 million event.

In 2014, eventual two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome won Santa Anita’s top prep before wearing the garland of roses in Louisville. And, in 2012, I’ll Have Another was victorious, joining a list of winners that reads… (more)

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