Journalism secured his spot in the May 3 Kentucky Derby and perhaps also as the race’s favorite on Saturday with a stirring victory in the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
The Michael McCarthy-trained colt rallied from the back of the pack in the five-horse 1 1/8-mile race, with jockey Umberto Rispoli moving him off the rail as they entered the final turn. Down the stretch, he chased down Baeza to win his fourth straight race by just less than a length, covering the distance in 1:49.56.
With the victory, Journalism earned 75 points toward qualifying for the 1 1/4-mile race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The Curlin-sired 3-year-old entered Saturday with 47.5 points, good for 15th in the standings, and now ranks second behind Sandman.
The even-money favorite, Journalism paid $4 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.1 to show. Baeza, went off at 14-1 and paid 6.20 and $3.60, and 40-1 Westwood paid $5.20.
Wood Memorial
Trainer Bob Baffert had better luck across the country earlier Saturday when his horse Rodriguez won at Aqueduct in wire-to-wire fashion.
With Mike Smith aboard, the colt sired by Authentic broke from the inside gate and remained strong across the 1 1/8 miles. He pulled away from his nine rivals and beat second-place Grande by 3 1/2 lengths to get 100 points for winning the major Derby prep.
The 7-2 second choice, Rodridguez paid $9.30, $6.20 and $5.30. Grande paid $6.60 and $5.80, and Passion Rules paid $6.80. Post time favorite Captain Cook came in fourth.
Baffert had a pair of horses, Barnes and Citizen Bull, fail to place at Santa Anita. Rodriguez may be his only entry in this year’s Derby, which will be his first since Churchill Downs banned him from its tracks after Medina Spirit was disqualified as the 2021 winner due to a failed drug test.
UAE Derby
Earlier in the day, Admire Daytona earned a position in the Run for the Roses as the Yukihiro Kato-trained colt held on to beat Heart of Honor by a nose in Dubai on Saturday.
This is the fourth consecutive year that a Japan-based horse has won the UAE Derby. Admire Daytona ran the 1 3/16-mile stakes race at the Meydan Racecourse in 1:59:13.
The photo finish showed Admire Daytona holding on despite Heart of Honor’s surge in the final strides to earn 100 points and vault to the top of the standings after the final race in the Euro-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Breaking at 10-1, Admire Daytona paid $22.20 to win and $5.50 to place. Heart of Honor, was the second choice at 5-2, paid $3.20, and Don In The Mood paid $5.60.
–Field Level Media
