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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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