Medina Spirit out to give Baffert 10th win in Santa Anita Derby

Mar 31, 2021 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Trainer Bob Baffert's chances at winning the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) for a 10th time took a hit a few weeks ago when Life Is Good was sidelined not
only from the race but also the Kentucky Derby (G1). However, the Hall of Fame conditioner might have more-than-adequate backup in Medina Spirit for
Saturday's 1 1/8-mile fixture.

Medina Spirit, a son of Protonico, ran Life Is Good close in the Sham (G3) on
Jan. 2, and then came back with a narrow victory in the Robert B. Lewis (G3)
before finishing a distant second to his sidelined stablemate in the San Felipe
(G2) on Mar. 6. Despite losing the latter by eight lengths, Medina Spirit still
finished 2 1/4 lengths clear of the re-opposing Dream Shake. Baffert will
also send out last-out maiden winner Defunded.

Roman Centurion, only beaten a neck in the Robert B. Lewis while
slightly out-finishing subsequent Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Hot Rod Charlie,
regressed in the San Felipe when finishing a well-beaten fourth. He'll look to
rebound from that effort, while Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) runner-up The
Great One attempts to do the same after finishing fifth in the San Felipe.

Moving turf-to-dirt on Saturday is Rock Your World, who's won both
starts for John Sadler including the Pasadena S. over a mile in late February.
Stepping up from recent maiden wins are Law Professor for Mike McCarthy
and Ottothelegend, who invades from Oaklawn for trainer Steve Asmussen.

The Santa Anita Derby offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points of 100-40-20-10
to the respective top four finishers. Post time is 7:15 p.m. (ET) and the race
can be watched and wagered on at
TwinSpires.com.