Bruce Chandler’s homebred Spirit of Makena remained perfect around one turn with a fluent victory in Saturday’s $201,000 Triple Bend (G2) at Santa Anita.

Trainer Bob Baffert pulled off a Grade 1 double on opening day of the Santa Anita meet, nabbing the Malibu with Taiba and the La Brea with Fun to Dream.

Bob Baffert is triple-handed in Sunday’s $100,000 Bob Hope (G3) for juveniles, a race that he’s won five times since its transfer to Del Mar.

Trainer Mark Glatt swept both of the graded sprint stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Howbeit held on by a pixel in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2), and a half-hour later, Whatmakessammyrun upset the Eddie D. (G2) on turf.

After four months of unchanging stability, the Kentucky Derby Future Wager took on a new flavor for its fifth and final pool.

It was no surprise that trainer Tim Yakteen won Saturday’s $750,500 Santa Anita Derby (G1). Less expected was the fact that it was Taiba.

Pondering whether Santa Anita Derby favorite Messier is a more natural router than Forbidden Kingdom, if Smile Happy is the best rebound candidate in the Blue Grass, and if Mo Donegal's points gamble will pay off in the Wood Memorial

Epicenter's trip in the Louisiana Derby, Rattle N Roll's improvement, and possible Kentucky Derby implications from Sunland and Dubai

Although Smile Happy was beaten to second place in the Risen Star S. (G2), he remains the favorite to claim the Kentucky Derby (G1) eight weeks from now.

The Fountain of Youth (G2) is the likeliest of the quartet to have a major impact on the trail, while the utility of the San Felipe (G2) arguably depends on how the race plays out. The Gotham (G3) has a few smart types, but more of the one-turn variety.

Although Smile Happy hasn’t run since November, the son of Runhappy continues to receive abundant support in early betting for the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Speed reigned in Santa Anita’s trio of graded races Saturday on both dirt and turf, beginning with promising sophomore Forbidden Kingdom in the $200,000 San Vicente (G2).