ARCADIA, Calif.: Rock Your World gained the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby by 4 1/4 lengths on Saturday over 4-5 favourite Medina Spirit, stopping Hall of Fame coach Bob Baffert from incomes his tenth win within the West Coasts prep for the Kentucky Derby.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Rock Your World ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.17 and paid $12.40, $4.60 and $3.40 at 5-1 odds. It was the 3-year-old colts filth debut; he gained his first two begins on turf for coach John Sadler.
Theres loads of other ways to hunt and I selected to put within the weeds, Sadler mentioned. We began this horse off on turf. Its a pleasant option to type of develop a horse a little bit bit. Everybodys acquired a distinct plan. This is my plan this yr and it labored, so I look sensible for about an hour. See me tomorrow.
Medina Spirit returned $2.80 and $2.20. Dream Shake was one other 2 1/4 lengths again in third and paid $2.80 to point out.
Baffert’s different entry, Defunded, completed fourth. Sadler’s different entry, Back Ring Luck, was eighth within the nine-horse discipline.
Baffert had been planning to run Life Is Good, who was the early favourite for the Kentucky Derby however has been sidelined by damage.
Rock Your World earned 100 qualifying factors for the Kentucky Derby and moved into sixth on the leaderboard. The prime 20 earn spots within the May 1 race.
If you wish to go to the Derby you’ve acquired to get the factors, so that is the time to take a shot in your personal yard,” Sadler mentioned. You know in case you ran 1-2, youd have sufficient factors to get in.
Rock Your World ran on the lead many of the method in entrance of restricted followers, who created the type of noise that had been lacking at Santa Anita for a yr due to the coronavirus pandemic. Medina Spirit moved into second approaching the ultimate flip, however couldn’t threaten the chief within the stretch.
A spirited Rispoli yelled as he crossed the end line, and the Italian jockey later did a flying dismount within the winner’s circle. He earned his first Grade 1 filth victory within the U.S.
In different Kentucky Derby preps:
Undefeated Essential Quality gained the $800,000 Blue Grass Stakes by a neck at Keeneland. The grey colt, final yr’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion, held off Highly Motivated to earn 100 qualifying factors for the Derby. Ridden by Luis Saez, Essential Quality ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.50 and paid $3 to win. Rombauer was third.
At New York’s Aqueduct, 72-1 longshot Bourbonic staged a livid rally on the skin to edge 15-1 stablemate Dynamic One by a head within the $750,000 Wood Memorial. Both colts are educated by Todd Pletcher.
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AP Sports Writer Gary B. Graves in Kentucky contributed to this report.
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