Mendelssohn still heads Kentucky Derby market despite Justify's Santa Anita romp

Report: Santa Anita, Saturday

Santa Anita Derby (Grade 1) 1m1f | dirt | 3yo

UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn remains favourite for the Kentucky Derby, but only just after Justify (Bob Baffert/Mike E Smith) made short work of the field for the Santa Anita Derby, one of the major trials for Churchill Downs on May 5.

The winner of nothing stronger than an allowance race in his two previous runs, Justify nonetheless went off odds-on in a race that included last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile third Bolt D'Oro and he made short work of that rival, winning by a three-length margin that underplayed his true superiority.

Bolt D'Oro remains fourth in the betting for Churchill's showpiece at 10-1 with British and Irish firms, but on this evidence it would be difficult to envisage a reversal of fortunes with Justify (6-1 generally) and the Run for the Roses looks ever more like a duel between him and Mendelssohn (5-1). Last week's Florida Derby winner Audible (8-1) sits among them.

The other Graded-race winners at Santa Anita on Saturday were Fatale Bere (Leonard Powell/Joel Rosario) in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes and Beau Recall (Simon Callaghan/Joel Rosario) in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes.

Also on Saturday

Keeneland: Blue Grass Stakes (Grade 2) 1m1f | dirt | 3yo

The Blue Grass Stakes, another important Kentucky Derby prep race, was won by favourite Good Magic (Chad Brown/Jose Ortiz), who shortened to 12-1 for Churchill glory on the back of his length-and-a- half victory over Flameaway.

Good Magic, who won last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, got back on track following defeat in the Fountain Of Youth at Gulfstream on his reappearance.

If he does go on to win the Kentucky Derby, he will be the first horse to complete that double since Strike The Gold in 1991.

Mendelssohn's jockey Ryan Moore rode the Todd Pletcher-trained Marconi, who is part-owned by Coolmore, but the duo were unable to make much impression, finishing eighth of the 14 runners.

There were also two Grade 1s at Keeneland on Saturday. Finley's Lucky Charm (Bret Calhoun/Brian Hernandez) gained her first top-level success in the Madison Stakes, while Monomoy Girl (Brad Cox/Florent Geroux) hardened as second favourite for the Kentucky Oaks with her convincing win in the Ashland Stakes as the 30-100 favourite.

Favourite-backers were stung in the other Graded races at Keeneland. Outsider Warrior's Club (Wayne Lukas/Luis Contreras) took the Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes and Bound For Nowhere (Wesley Ward/Julio Garcia) upset Disco Partner in the Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes.

Full results

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