San Filipe Contenders Eye Derby Start

With the scratch of top contender Bayern, California Chrome has been made a clear 9-5 favorite over a strong field of eight others for Saturday’s running of the $300,000 Grade II San Filipe Stakes at Santa Anita. On top of the purse money and a likely entry in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby, the winner of the race will receive 50 points toward qualifying to be in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. Among those entered in the San Filipe, Midnight Hawk (5-2) sits 13^th in the Derby points list, while Kristo (5-2) is 39^th. The top 20 will go to the gate for the Derby on May 3.

California Chrome goes for third straight win

A Cal-bred by Lucky Pulpit, California Chrome has a trio of minor stakes wins on his record, and comes into this on a two-race win streak, having captured the California Cup Derby by more than five lengths his last out, and having previously won the King Glorious Stakes at Hollywood by more than six. He was sixth in the Del Mar Futurity, his only graded-stakes attempt until now. Kristo took three tries to break his maiden, and then went on to finish second in the Grade III Sham. Midnight Hawk was the winner in that one, and most recently ran third in the Grade II Robert Lewis.

Other contenders have been close 

Of the contenders, Schoolofhardrocks (9-2) has only one lifetime start and one lifetime win and has been away from the track since that career bow last August. Although Rprettyboyfloyd (12-1) has yet to register a win in four starts, he has been second three times and third once, that in the Grade III San Vincente Stakes at Santa Anita one month ago.  The Kentucky-bred Recanted (20-1), a son of 2003 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, began his career in the UK and will be making his second US start, after finishing fifth in an allowance event at Santa Anita in January.