Dortmund does it again in Santa Anita Derby

Dortmund found no challengers in the stretch of the Santa Anita Derby (Benoit Photos) The undefeated Dortmund (Big Brown) will head to Churchill Downs for next month’s Kentucky Derby (G1) as the possible favorite after another convincing victory at Santa Anita in Saturday’s $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1). Despite bobbling at the start, Dortmund was sent to the lead by Martin Garcia from his inside post in the 1 1/8-mile fixture. After setting fractions of :22 2/5, :46 1/5, and 1:10 2/5, the brilliant chestnut responded to his rider’s urgings at the top of the stretch and lengthened his lead 4 1/4 lengths at the wire. The final time over a fast track was 1:48 3/5. The 3-5 favorite against five rivals, Dortmund paid $3.20 for owner Kaleem Shah and trainer Bob Baffert. Dortmund padded his already large collection of Kentucky Derby qualifying points with another 100 for this victory.

“It’s exciting. I’ve been in this position before,” Baffert said. “You get
excited when you know you have a legit contender, just like last year when Art
Sherman went through it with California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit).

“The feeling is like we’ve been here before; just enjoy the moment because
the next race is going to be the one. It’s good to see this horse just really
developing the way he has from his first start. I just love the way he ran
today.

Dortmund will attempt to emulate his sire, Big Brown, who entered and won the
2008 Kentucky Derby while undefeated.

Whether Dortmund is the favorite in the Run for the Roses will depend on how
his stablemate, champion juvenile American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), fares
in next week’s Arkansas Derby (G1). In addition to those two, Baffert now has a
third Derby contender in One Lucky Dane (Lookin at Lucky), who emerged from the
pack to finish a clear second in the Santa Anita Derby.

Like his sire, Big Brown, Dortmund will enter the Kentucky Derby undefeated (Benoit Photos) “One Lucky Dane, he’s a good horse. He showed that last time,” said Baffert, referring to the colt’s last-out allowance win by more than nine lengths. “This distance is not going to be a problem for him. He’ll go to the Derby. He qualified in Bob Baffert’s eyes (in addition to points). I don’t need 40 points. They’ve got to qualify in my eyes. “They’ll ship out of here maybe in another couple weeks. I’ll make that call later.” One Lucky Dane finished 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Bolo (Temple City), who was a neck in front of Prospect Park (Tapit). Cross the Line (Line of David) and Bad Read Sanchez (Warrior’s Reward) completed the order of finish.

Dortmund moved his career record to a perfect six-for-six with $1,289,400 in
career earnings. He broke his maiden by 4 3/4 lengths on November 2 at Santa
Anita and shipped cross-country to romp in a Churchill Downs allowance 27 days
later by 7 3/4 lengths.

The colt wrapped up his juvenile campaign with a head victory in the Los
Alamitos Futurity (G1) back in California, and had another difficult task in the
February 7 Robert B. Lewis (G3) which he won by the same margin. Both races were
over 1 1/16 miles.

Dortmund had an easier time in the March 7 San Felipe (G2). Taking control at
the start, the colt cruised around the track and comfortably held on to win by 1
1 /4 lengths with Prospect Park and Bolo rounding out the trifecta.

Bred in Kentucky by Emilie Gerlinde Fojan, Dortmund has passed through the
sales ring three times. In his first foray as a Keeneland November weanling, the
colt RNAed for $85,000. One year later at Fasig-Tipton’s July Sale, he brought
$90,000 from Breaking Point Farm, who turned around and sold him at the
Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale for $140,000.

Dortmund is out of Grade 3-placed stakes heroine Our Josephina (Tale of the
Cat) and counts as his third dam champion Lakeville Miss (Rainy Lake). That mare
would go on to produce Grade 1 victor Mogambo (Mr. Prospector) and Grade
1-placed Sea Breezer (Gulch).

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