Cobalt Blue scores in the San Felipe

Given his propensity for achieving milestones on holidays, beware if Cobalt Blue is a starter in the Kentucky Derby.

Born on Feb. 12, the date of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, the 3-year-old Golden Missile colt scored his first win of 2007 on Feb. 14 (Valentine’s Day) and picked up his first graded stakes victory Saturday, leading throughout in the $250,000 San Felipe, the main event on St. Patrick’s Day at Santa Anita.

It certainly hasn’t escaped owner Merv Griffin that the Kentucky Derby falls on May 5, which is Cinco de Mayo. The legendary entertainer and business mogul hopes he gets the chance to see Cobalt Blue in the world’s most famous race, a thrill that eluded him last year after an injury knocked out Stevie Wonderboy, the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and 2-year-old champion he owns.

“He’s a holiday horse,” said Griffin after Cobalt Blue’s two-length victory over 6-5 favorite Air Commander and three others in the San Felipe. “He ran awesome today. [Jockey] Victor [Espinoza] did a real good job with him. He’s a real powerhouse. We’ll call him Cobalt Green today.”

Purchased by Griffin for $325,000 at auction on the recommendation of Dennis O’Neill, trainer Doug O’Neill’s brother, Cobalt Blue will make his first trip for his next start. Possible destinations include the $500,000 Illinois Derby on April 7 at Hawthorne or the $1-million Arkansas Derby a week later at Oaklawn Park.

“It couldn’t have been a better debut for a two-turn race,” Doug O’Neill said.

Air Commander, who was making his fourth start since Jan. 12, finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of 4-1 third choice Level Red, then came Dee Rain and Grapelli.

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Although the margin of victory was considerably closer, Street Sense picked up in his 2007 debut where he left off last year.

The champion 2-year-old on the strength of his 10-length win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs, the son of Street Cry was successful in his comeback, taking the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.

Owned by breeder James Tafel and trained by Carl Nafzger, Street Sense, the 6-5 second choice, certainly earned the nose victory over 7-10 favorite Any Given Saturday.

In fact, he needed to set a track record to get the money. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.11, which bettered the mark of 1:43.13 established by Cherokee Prince a little over a year ago.

In winning for the third time in six starts, Street Sense and jockey Calvin Borel used the same rail passage they had taken in the Breeders’ Cup to prevail.

He is scheduled to make his next start in the Blue Grass in three weeks at Keeneland, then head to Churchill for the Kentucky Derby.

“He’s been off for so long,” Borel said. “We had to start somewhere and this seemed like the best place to begin. Believe you me, he’s 20 lengths better than he ran today.”

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Purchased for a reported $3 million after he defeated maidens by 12 3/4 lengths in his debut Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park, Curlin looks as if he might be a player in the 3-year-old division as well after his victory in the $300,000 Rebel at Oaklawn Park.

Owned by Stonestreet Stables, Padua Stables, Midnight Cry Stables and George Bolton and trained by Steve Asmussen, the son of Smart Strike responded to a waiting ride by Robby Albarado, then kicked away in the stretch to win by 5 1/4 lengths as the 5-2 second choice.

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles in the Grade III was 1:44.70. Officer Rocket finished second and Teuflesberg was third. Flying First Class, the 9-5 favorite who was trying two turns for the first time for trainer Wayne Lukas, finished eighth in the field of nine.

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River’s Prayer, the 8-5 favorite, won for the second time in as many starts on the Santa Anita turf course, taking the $125,000 Irish O’Brien and 8-1 outsider Sweet Fervor won the $200,000 Shirley Jones Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com