All eyes are on Santa Anita Saturday as the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby is run over 1⅛ miles.
Ten 3-year-old runners will take to the track in what has been a competitive betting affair. Medina Spirit has taken the most action with bookmakers, but Dream Shake is hot on his tail.
We preview our top three runners, who all have dreams of making it into the Kentucky Derby on May 1.
2021 Santa Anita Derby Race Details
- Time: Saturday, April 4, 7:15 p.m.
- Track: Santa Anita Park
- Surface: Dirt
- Distance: 1⅛ Miles
- Stake: $750,000
- Where to watch: NBCSN
2021 Santa Anita Derby Field
A field of 10 lines up for the big prize, including numerous runners quoted at single-figure odds.
Dream Shake and Medina Spirit are the top two market picks at our online racebook, but this race could be up for grabs.
1. Roman Centurian
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Record: 4 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Odds: 10-1
2. Dream Shake
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Odds: 3-1
3. Rock Your World
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 second – 0 thirds
Odds: 6-1
4. Parnelli
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Edwin Maldonado
Record: 6 starts – 1 win – 3 seconds – 1 third
Odds: 20-1
5. Back Ring Luck
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Tyler Blaze
Record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third
Odds: 50-1
6. Ottothelegend
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Mario Gutierrez
Record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Odds: 30-1
7. Medina Spirit
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: John Velazquez
Record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Odds: 9-5
8. Law Professor
Trainer: Mike McCarthy
Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
Record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Odds: 15-1
9. The Great One
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Abel Cedillo
Record: 6 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Odds: 8-1
10. Defunded
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Odds: 10-1
Santa Anita Derby Top Pick: Dream Shake
We’re going with the second favorite in Dream Shake, who finished third in the San Felipe Stakes behind Life Is Good and Medina Spirit.
The son of Twirling Candy was 2¼ lengths behind Medina Spirit and we believe he has enough in the tank to overturn that result.
He has had two career starts, which likely counted against him when he first met the favorite. With two runs under his belt, his fitness and maturity could shine through.
Dream Shake is on track for a start in the Kentucky Derby Odds, but winning the Santa Anita Derby is at the top of his priorities.
Bettors get value online betting odds and we’ll happily take the 3-1 available.
Next Best: Medina Spirit
It would be criminal to leave out the 9-5 favorite, so we’re not going to do so. He is from the powerful Bob Baffert stable and he knows a thing or two about training Derby winners.
The 3-year-old son of Protonico owns two wins and two second-place finishes from four starts, so his consistency has rewarded bettors.
He couldn’t match Life Is Good in the San Felipe Stakes, but it was still a solid effort in defeat. It came after posting a win in the Robert B. Lewis, which was a gutsy effort.
Baffert Chasing Record 10th Santa Anita Derby Win With Medina Spirit – Horse Racing News | Paulick Report https://t.co/wXmvbuWp6S pic.twitter.com/WLTaeJP9Gj
— Paulick Report (@paulickreport) April 1, 2021
Medina Spirit looked good in a workout during the week and Baffert was happy.
“He went very nice (under jockey Juan Ochoa),” Baffert told Bloodhorse.com.
Baffert has notched nine wins in the Santa Anita Derby, most recently in 2019 with Roadster.
Is Medina Spirit on the same level as Roadster, Justify, Dortmund, and Point Given? Probably not, but he has made an impactful start to this career.
Santa Anita Derby Best Roughie: Defunded
Bob Baffert also lines up Defunded, who isn’t just making up the numbers.
The son of Dialed In finished third on debut at Del Mar before having over six months off and returning in fine style at Santa Anita Park.
He won by 2½ lengths on March 6 and although it came against inferior opposition, we wouldn’t be overlooking his chances.
Champion jockey Mike Smith will likely position him just behind the speed and he could grind away to finish in the first three.
2021 Santa Anita Derby Trifecta Selections
We love boxing up a few runners in the Santa Anita Derby as there is always terrific value.
Our Santa Anita Derby betting has a few runners quoted at single-figure odds, but we’re picking just four runners in our trifecta.
Favorites Dream Shake and Medina Spirit headline the selections, and we’re throwing in Defunded and Roman Centurian, which should boost payouts.
- Dream Shake
- Medina Spirit
- Defunded
- Roman Centurian
