A Powerful Display Speedway Stables’ Potente became 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points richer after a valiant triumph in the $200,000 San Felipe (G2) this past Saturday at Santa Anita. Sent off as the fourth choice in the field of seven for Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old Into Mischief colt kept pace with the leaders deep into the stretch before rocketing ahead in the final sixteenth to steal victory from 67-1 rival Robusta by a head. Potente, who fetched a $2.4 million price tag at Fasig-Tipton’s 2024 The Saratoga Sale, remained perfect through two starts, elevating his current prize yield to $162,000. At 8-1 Saturday, he paid $18.20. Part the Seas A shortened lineup in Saturday’s $300,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) ended up playing right into veteran gelding British Isles’ favour. The absence of contenders Skippylongstocking and Westwood created a condensed five-horse field, leaving not British Isles, but multiple graded stakes placed bay Just a Touch, as the heavy 3-5 choice. However, it was the former, under rider Diego Herrera, who coasted to a dominant 4 ½-length score. The 5-year-old son of Justify–Purely Hot’s first stakes tally, graded or otherwise, was his fourth from 24 starts (4-6-4; $551,826) for owners Slam Dunk Racing, Deborah Baltas, and Cynthia McClanahan. He paid $16.40 at 7-1. As Planned A masterstroke in Saturday’s $400,000 Azeri (G2) saw Majestic Oops spring the upset over heavily favoured superstar Nitrogen, who finished third. Traversing the main track at Oaklawn for the second time in as many starts, Majestic Oops looked plenty comfortable over 1 1/16 miles, exercising great patience while the dash developed. Once in striking position, the still fresh daughter of Majestic Harbor–Miss Oops angled out wide and thwarted every challenge to reach the wire three-quarters-of-a-length clear. Trained by Dan Ward for owners Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Agave Racing Stable, and Sheila Regan, Majestic Oops now sports a 35: 9-11-4 line with over $952,000 in the bank. At 9-1 in the Azeri, she paid $20.60. Time to Pounce The Puma punched his ticket to the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a dazzling display in Saturday’s $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. Entering the 1 1/16-mile affair off a runner-up finish in his pro debut (January 10) and third in the Sam. F Davis Stakes last time out, The Puma broke through courtesy of a dynamic push for home that kept him three-quarters-of-a-length safe at the wire. The Essential Quality colt’s flagship victory vaulted him to second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 56 points, behind only Paladin. As the fourth choice Saturday, The Puma (7-1) paid $16.80. Coming Through Forced Entry continued her steady progression with a career-best outing in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel (G3) on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Santa Anita. Working out of post five with rider Juan Hernandez aboard, the 3-year-old daughter of Charlatan–Violent Times showed impressive poise and patience while allowing the 1 1/16-mile contest to take shape. A clear path eventually presented itself during the push for home and the freshman filly powered right through for the decisive 1 ¾-length score – clinching trainer Bob Baffert’s sixth straight Santa Ysabel title. Now 2-0-0 through three starts for owners Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Forced Entry also collected 50 qualifying points towards May’s Kentucky Oaks (G1). At 5-2, she paid $7.60. Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
