Race Selections: Grade I Santa Anita Derby
TSV Staff Selections —-
Race 9) 1&1/8th Mile. G1 Santa Anita Derby Grade I. Purse $1,000,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Post Time: 7:12/ 6:12/ 5:12/( 4:12)
ADVANCED FORECAST: Slight Chance Rain Showers, High 72 Low 53.
Instilled Regard (1), Hollendorfer/Rosario; winner of the Grade 3 LeComte had nothing late in the Risen Star, but he’s rested now and jock change to Rosario are big pluses.
Orbit Rain (2), Ruis/Blanc; maiden is currently not at the level needed to threaten these.
Bolt d’Oro (3) Ruis/Castellano; multiple Grade 1 dueled throughout the San Felipe stretch and was rewarded with a DQ win, he’s battled tested and in the Derby; how hard to you push; 600k first place money keeps connections honest.
Jimmy Chila (4), O’Neill/Gutierrez; maiden has finished third in 3-of-4 starts, last two coming in restricted company; he’s another not quite there yet.
Pepe Tono (5), Garcia/Espinoza; was soundly beaten by colt to his outside in last; underneath only.
Justify (6), Baffert/Smith; Scat Daddy colt has demolished in each of his two starts and with times to turn your head; it’s all-in time for connections, let’s see if the hype is for real.
Core Beliefs (7), Eurton/Baze; though only a maiden winner, like how he’s progressed; using in exotics.
Selections: 3, 6, 1, 7