Weekend Winners Club

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Saturday, April 9
Sloppy Santa Anita Park
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Download Final 2016 Kentucky Derby Grid Here with full field, odds, posts, and over 80 different factors including pedigree, performance, and historical criteria!
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It was not a typical day at normally sunny Santa Anita, instead beset with rain early, resulting in a sloppy (and sealed) track for the Derby. Perhaps 8-5 2nd choice Danzing Candy liked it too much, setting blazing fractions in an attempt to go gate to wire as in his previous 2 races, including the San Felipe.
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But he couldn’t hold on in the stretch, fading to 4th. It was Exaggerator, once again employing his new running style of rating toward the rear, who took advantage of the speed up front, and exploded into the stretch to pull off a 6 length victory. The Curlin colt needed some Derby points from the race, and got plenty of them with the win.
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Favored Mor Spirit at 7-5 rated in mid pack as usual, but was no match for the speed burst of Exaggerator. He didn’t need the points, and ended up under a mild hand ride in the stretch, passing tiring foes Danzing Candy and Uncle Lino, who put in a good effort for 3rd after rating in 2nd most of the race.
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Three of these 4 colts will get into the Kentucky Derby, with the odd man out being poor Uncle Lino. With only 29 points, in 22nd place with the Arkansas Derby to go, it would take a large amount of scratches and defections for him to gain entry.
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It was yet another disappointing race for 15-1 Smokey Image, who began his career with 6 straight wins in SoCal, including 3 stakes victories. He remains with zero Derby points after failing badly in the San Felipe and was all but eased in the SA Derby.
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Exaggerator was squeezed early at the start and took a hard right rein from Kent Desormeux which slowed him significantly to 7th, where he plodded along until beginning his move at ¾. The win finally gives a Derby ticket to trainer Keith Desormeux, who had high hopes for Swipe, after finishing 2nd last year, four times to Nyquist, the 2yo champ and this year’s Derby favorite.
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Swipe is still recovering from an injury, and there were expectations for him to return to Ky Derby training, but he has been unable to race yet. If he does get back on the Triple Crown Trail, it will likely be for a Belmont Stakes prep, and a run in the Belmont for the Birdstone colt.
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Mor Spirit finished 2nd for the 2nd straight Derby prep, but if you know your Baffert, this does sometimes happen to Bob’s top Ky Derby prospect. The Eskenderya colt’s best race is most likely still to be seen. Baffert’s other Derby colt, Cupid, is also in the field, and will run in the Arkansas Derby next Saturday 4/16.
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Video Replay of Santa Anita Derby
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#	Horse	Jockey	Weight	Win	Place	Show
2	Exaggerator	Desormeaux Kent J.	124	8.80	3.60	2.80
4	Mor Spirit	Stevens Gary L.	124		2.80	2.40
10	Uncle Lino	Perez Fernando Hernandez	124			5.00
Wager Type	Payoff		Winning Numbers	Pool
$1 Pick 3	$56.70		6-1-2 (3 Correct)	$137,159
$2 Daily Double	$10.60		1-2	$85,178
$1 Exacta	$10.00		2-4	$520,086
$1 Superfecta	$192.70		2-4-10-3	$291,338
$1 Trifecta	$68.30		2-4-10	$437,741

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