By Joe Quillen
Saturday 4/6/23 – Santa Anita Derby
After another 90-minute wait, we will close the day with the Santa Anita Derby, which is the tenth race of a 12-race card at the Great Race Pace. Post time for this race is for approximately 7:45 pm, and you can watch this race live on FanDuel TV and on CNBC.
Favored in the Santa Anita Derby is the 4 Imagination (8/5 morning line) who won the San Felipe last month. He has progressed nicely for Bob Baffert who will be on the lead or very close to it. Also keep an eye on the lawsuit in Kentucky that Muth’s owner filed for an injunction to allow Muth in the race. As I theorized on my Thursday Twitch show and podcast episode, if the injunction is successful, does this mean other Baffert horses could run in the Kentucky Derby?
The 2 Tapalo (5/1 ML) finished second to Endlessly in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate. Endlessly went on to win the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway. But Tapalo will face much tougher competition here at Santa Anita.
The 3 Stronghold (5/2 ML) won the Sunland Derby about six weeks ago in New Mexico and comes back to Southern Calfornia. He was carefully spotted and will need that careful placement again today if he wants to defeat the Baffert horses today.
The 5 Wynstock (8/1 ML) is the “other Beffert horse” who stopped badly in the mud at Oaklawn. Could the wet track not agree with him? But will be go for the lead like Imagination will be?
I think this race is going to be all about Bob Baffert. Imagination wins this race going gate to wire. I’ll go 4-2-3-5 and my play is $20 to win on the 4. Good luck everyone!
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