Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Undefeated 3-year-old Dortmund, from the
barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, is likely to be made the odds-on
morning line favorite for next week’s Santa Anita Derby.
Santa Anita oddsmaker Jon White told the racetrack’s publicity staff that
Dortmund will be made a short price for the 1 1/8-mile stakes.
“Based on the current projected field, I’ll be making Dortmund a short price
on the morning line, probably 4-5 or 3-5,” said White. “Not only is Dortmund
unbeaten in five starts, he has been odds-on in his last four races. He was
4-5 in a 10-horse field when he won the San Felipe and defeated Prospect Park
and Bolo. In view of that, I’d say it’s a virtual certainty Dortmund will be
bet down to odds-on favoritism in the Santa Anita Derby.”
With Martin Garcia riding, Dortmund has posted three straight stakes wins
coming into the Santa Anita Derby on April 4. The chestnut colt, owned by
Kaleem Shah, won both the Los Alamitos Derby and Robert B, Lewis Stakes by a
head over Firing Line, last week’s Sunland Derby champ. The colt was 1 1/4
lengths to the best over Prospect Park in the San Felipe.
“It was a walk in the park for him,” Baffert said after the San Felipe win.
Dortmund and Prospect Park both had their final workouts for the Derby on
Saturday morning.
Dortmund covered six furlongs in 1:11.60 with Garcia riding.
“I got him in 1:11 and four with a gallop out (for seven furlongs) of (one) 24
and three,” Baffert said. Baffert is also probable to saddle One Lucky Dane,
with jockeyRafael Bejarano, in the race.
Owned by Pam and Marty Wygod. Prospect Park, with jockey Alonso Quinonez
aboard, went five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Cliff Side Jr.
“I had him in 1:01 flat,” Side said. “I got splits of 13 and one, 12 and one,
and 11 and four; he came home in 23 and two and galloped out three quarters in
(one) 13 and four. It was a perfect work. I couldn’t have written it any
better this morning.”
Here is the probable field for the Santa Anita Derby: Dortmund, Martin Garcia;
Prospect Park, Kent Desormeaux; Bolo, Mike Smith; One Lucky Dane, Rafael
Bejarano; Cross the Line, no rider; and Bad Read Sanchez, Mario Gutierrez.
NBC Sports Network will provide live coverage of the Santa Anita Derby from
5-7 p.m. ET as part of NBC Triple Crown Prep Day, which includes the Blue
Grass Stakes and Wood Memorial.
