War Academy flashes Derby potential at Santa Anita

War Academy just added another arrow to Bob Baffert’s well-stocked quiver (Benoit Photos)

Michael Tabor, John Magnier and Derrick Smith’s War Academy vaulted onto the
Kentucky Derby trail with a 3 1/2-length allowance score in Santa Anita’s

2ND race on Friday, in a performance that pleased Hall of Famers Bob Baffert
and Mike Smith.

War Academy, most recently fourth in the Grade 2 San Vicente on February 17,
was making only his third start and his first try around two turns here.
Dispatched as the 4-5 favorite, the Giant’s Causeway colt was content to sit
second as stablemate Manando opened up through splits of :24 2/5, :48 3/5 and
1:11 4/5. War Academy was 5 1/2 lengths behind Manando at that six-furlong mark,
but easily reeled him in down the stretch. The promising sophomore won with his
ears pricked in a final time of 1:43 2/5 for 1 1/16 miles on the fast main
track.

“He might be my (Derby) horse, Bob,” Smith said to Baffert after the race.
“What I like so much about him is there’s sooo much room to improve. He was
well, well within himself today.”

Baffert confirmed that War Academy will contest a major prep in hopes of
earning Kentucky Derby points.