A wonderfully timed trip by jockey Juan Hernandez gave Potente his first graded win within the $201,000 graded San Felipe Stakes offered by DK Horses on March 7 at Santa Anita Park. With the win, Potente coach Bob Baffert turns into the most recent favourite to enter the Might 2 Kentucky Derby offered by Woodford Reserve.
Potente made a pointy break, however was taken again and settled proper subsequent to the chief. He picked up the tempo on the backstretch and started chasing his rival within the far flip. As the sector entered the stretch, Potente sat in third place and started to maneuver up the standings. After a push on the grandstand aspect within the remaining 16, he continued to advance and beat Robusta in a landslide, 67-1, proper on the end line. Robusta settled for second place, a head behind the winner.
Horses positioned first by means of fifth all earned Street to the Kentucky Derby factors on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.
Mark Glatt trainee So Pleased took third place. Secured Freedom completed fourth, and Brandt, who was closely supported by jockey Baffert, completed fifth in his first begin since ending third within the TAA-sponsored FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile final fall. Brandt led San Felipe with occasions of twenty-two.88 seconds, 46.62 seconds and 1:10.42, however was pushed all the best way by So Pleased till he went flat on the quarter pole and weakened within the stretch.
Final 12 months’s winner of San Felipe, Journalism, additionally completed second within the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
“I knew the tempo was scorching, and I feel Brandt was one job away from this race. He was drained,” Baffert stated. “Potente is bred to go that far. He was prepared for it. (Kazushi) Kimura (who rode Potente in his debut) stated he thought this horse was a two-turn horse. I used to be a bit upset with Brandt. We’re transferring ahead with Potente. He’ll get one other begin by the Kentucky Derby.”
It is nonetheless a lightweight race with solely two begins, however Saturday’s effort could also be only the start for Potente ($18.20).
“This horse has a number of expertise. He is massive and robust, and he confirmed that as we speak,” Hernandez stated of the winner. “He began out a bit bit heading dwelling and it took him a short while to get going as a result of, like I stated, he’s so massive. However, you already know, he’s a very, actually good horse. It’s solely his second run, however he’s getting higher. I feel he’ll be even higher subsequent time.”
Robusta officers additionally imagine that Robusta’s horse will proceed to enhance, given his second-place end.
“He had an important run. Brinker was the distinction as we speak,” coach Doug O’Neill stated. “We will the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby. Let’s go.”
Potente broke his first profession document on Jan. 31 in opposition to Santa Anita and is at the moment 2-2 and incomes $162,000. The horse’s proprietor bought the son of Fasig-Tipton’s seven-time main sire on the 2024 Saratoga Sale, Into Mischief, from Speedway Stables for $2.4 million. — Lizzie Madden
On March 7, within the $300,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap hosted by Ya’amaba Resort and On line casino at Santa Anita, British Isles overtook leaders Midnight Mammoth and Getaway Automobile within the second flip and pulled away within the straight line, giving coach Richard Baltas and jockey Diego Herrera a decisive victory.
Vodka Vodka took second place and Getaway Automobile took third place. Favored’s Simply Contact completed fourth, whereas Midnight Mammoth, who was drained by the top of the race, was diminished to 5 horses after Skippy Longstocking and Westwood ran forward.
British Isles raced 1 1/4 miles on the quick foremost observe in 2:05.17. He returned $16.40 on a profitable guess of $2. ‘Large Cap’ marked the primary Thoroughbred Group 1 victory in jockey Diego Herrera’s profession. — Tracy Ganz
