Baffert-trained Potente passes San Felipe test

Mar 07, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Potente (left) runs down Robusta in the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Speedway Stables’ Potente passed his first test on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in Saturday’s $201,000 San Felipe (G2), giving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a record-extending 10th win in the prep at Santa Anita.

Potente rallied late to deny longshot Robusta by a head. By banking 50 Derby points, the Into Mischief colt jumped onto the leaderboard in seventh place.

But bettors expected Baffert to win with his more experienced colt, Brant, who was dispatched as the 4-5 favorite. Although Potente offered plenty of promise, he had more to prove stepping up from his debut victory in a sprint. He went off as the fourth choice in the betting at odds of 8.10-1.

Potente raised his game in this first try against better rivals, and the 1 1/16-mile distance, to boost his Derby hopes. In contrast, Brant took a step backward by tiring to fifth.

A $2.4 million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, Potente flashed high speed in his Jan. 31 unveiling at Santa Anita. Yet he showed tactical versatility on Saturday, rating just off the early pace and saving his energy for the homestretch.

Brant was the one who sped to the early lead, but he was pressured every step of the way by So Happy. The contested pace took its toll on Brant, who had not raced since his third in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

After setting solid fractions in :22.88, :46.62, and 1:10.62, Brant appeared to be a vulnerable favorite turning for home. So Happy was still glued to his flank, but the bigger danger was Robusta circling them both.

Robusta, ignored at 67-1, threatened to pull a shocker by striking the front at the top of the stretch. The Calumet Farm homebred didn’t run this well in his previous start, a poor sixth in the Robert B. Lewis (G3). The addition of blinkers here brought about massive improvement.

Potente soon emerged as the only rival who could prevent him. Picking up strongly in the final strides, Potente nabbed Robusta just in time.

Robusta earned 25 points for his near-miss. Another 2 1/4 lengths back in third came So Happy (15 points), followed by fourth-placer Secured Freedom (10 points for a total of 16), Brant (five points for a total of 14), slow-starting Start the Ride, and 98-1 longshot Flashy Fritz.

Potente clocked 1:42.92 to stay perfect from two starts. Returning $18.20 to his fans, the bay increased his own bankroll to $162,000.

The San Felipe was part of winning rider Juan Hernandez’s very happy birthday on Saturday. His total of four winners included a graded stakes triple, with Potente joining Splendora in the Beholder Mile (G1) and Final Boss in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G2).

“This horse has a lot of talent,” Hernandez said of Potente. “He's big, he's strong, and he showed up today. He breaks really, really good and relaxes really well behind the other horses. Last time he ran on the lead, but today, he was traveling really good behind horses, like a professional.

“As we turned for home, I swung out a little bit, and it took me a little while to get going, because, like I said, he’s very big. But man, he's a really, really nice horse. It's only his second start, and he's improving. I think he’s going to be even better next time.”

Baffert believes that Brant wasn’t fit enough for his comeback, but it’s onwards and upwards for Potente.

“I knew the pace was going to be hot,” Baffert said. “I think Brant was a work away from this race. He got tired. Potente is bred to go that far. He was ready for that. I was just a little disappointed in Brant. We’re moving forward with Potente. He’ll have another start before the Kentucky Derby.”

Bred by Pam and the late Martin Wygod in Kentucky, Potente is out of the stakes-placed Sweet Sting, whose parents both won Breeders’ Cup races at Churchill Downs. Sweet Sting is by Canadian Hall of Famer Awesome Again, who captured a vintage Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in 1998. Sweet Sting’s dam (mother), champion Perfect Sting, prevailed in the 2000 Filly & Mare Turf (G1).