It was the day to discuss Z Day
The chatter at Wednesday morning’s Santa Anita Derby post-position draw was as much about rabbits as horses.
When the starting positions were drawn, in a race that was expected to have about six horses and ended up with 10, much talk centered on a sprinter named Z Day.
That was a big change from earlier discussions that had this Kentucky Derby prep gauged as a two-horse race -- The Pamplemousse versus Pioneerof The Nile.
But along came the entry of Z Day -- from Zayat Stables, same owners of Pioneerof The Nile -- and the fun began.
The Pamplemousse was given morning line odds of 9-5, making him the favorite, and drew the outside post.
“That’s perfect,” jockey Alex Solis said. “All the speed is inside of us.”
Grumbled trainer Julio Canani: “Doesn’t matter. I won two Breeders’ Cup races from the 12 hole.”
Sitting nearby was Bob Baffert, trainer of 2-1 second choice Pioneerof The Nile, shaking his head as the subject of Z Day’s entry was broached and the implication made that he had orchestrated it. “This is not a two-horse race,” Baffert said.
The Santa Anita Derby is run at a mile and an eighth. Its impressive performers are automatically in the conversation for short odds at the Kentucky Derby.
This year’s first leg of the Triple Crown is May 2 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
The Pamplemousse, while winning the San Rafael and Sham stakes earlier in this Santa Anita meeting, did so by getting out front and staying there. He is a big, strong horse who has shown that he dislikes horses in front of him.
Z Day has raced five times, all in the East and never more than six furlongs.
Were The Pamplemousse to dislike seeing another horse in front of him and chase too early, he could run himself out about the time Pioneerof The Nile and jockey Garrett Gomez are ready for a stretch run.
The third choice, and one likely to attract lots of exotic-betting action Saturday, is Chocolate Candy, whose owner is weight-loss millionaire Jenny Craig. Chocolate Candy, with jockey Joel Rosario, was given odds of 6-1. Next in line, at 8-1, is Mr. Hot Stuff, with Corey Nakatani, who played the pre-race game like the veteran he is.
Etc.
Jockey agent Craig O’Bryan proudly carried a sheet of paper showing that his Aaron Gryder was the top money-winning rider in the country. That was helped immensely by Gryder’s victory in the $6-million Dubai race last weekend. O’Bryan joked that they were No. 1 “for a couple of hours,” a tribute to No. 2 Gomez, who in recent years has been untouchable in money earned by year’s end. . . . Baffert, commenting on the sudden increase of entries to 10 for the Santa Anita Derby: “That’s the best way for the owners to get a table [in the Frontrunner Restaurant].”. . . . Trainer Richard Matlow, 66, a veteran of Southern California racing, died late Monday at his home in Monrovia. He had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, but worked until about two months ago.
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Santa Anita Derby
The field for the $750,000 Grade I race run Saturday. It is the sixth race on an 11-race card. First post is noon, and the Santa Anita Derby should be run approximately 2:36 p.m. All horse are colts and are carrying 122 pounds:
*--* PP Horse Yr Jockey ML 1 Chocolate Candy (KY) 3 Joel Rosario 6-1 2 Z Day (KY) 3 Aaron Gryder 15-1 3 Unbridled Roman (CA) 3 Tyler Baze 30-1 4 Pioneerof The Nile (KY) 3 Garrett Gomez 2-1 5 Mr. Hot Stuff (KY) 3 Corey Nakatani 8-1 6 Feisty Suances (CA) 3 Victor Espinoza 15-1 7 Take the Points (KY) 3 Christopher DeCarlo 10-1 8 Cape Truth (KY) 3 Michael Baze 30-1 9 Gallant Son (KY) 3 Rafael Bejarano 15-1 10 The Pamplemousse (KY) 3 Alex Solis 9-5 *--*
