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Cobalt Blue passes two-turn test in San Felipe Merv Griffin's COBALT BLUE (Golden Missile) took the lead going into the first turn and was never headed en route to a two-length tally in the $250,000 San Felipe S. (G2) at Santa Anita on Saturday. With this successful two-turn debut, the chestnut enhanced his credentials as a Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful. Conditioned by Doug O'Neill and piloted by Victor Espinoza, the sophomore colt dictated moderate splits of :23 2/5, :47 2/5, 1:11 3/5 and 1:35 4/5 for the opening mile, before finishing off the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 2/5. The 2-1 second choice paid $6.40, $3.40 and $2.60, while topping the $6.70 exacta ($1) and $15 trifecta ($1). "It couldn't have been a better debut for a two-turn race," O'Neill said. "Victor got him to relax early and turned it into a half-mile sprint." "He's a very nice horse, and the good thing about him is you can place him where you want," Espinoza said. "When you're on his back, you can feel his power. It's great to have a horse like this for the Derby." Griffin said that his dreams of winning the Kentucky Derby, dashed when his 2005 champion juvenile Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even) was sidelined by injury, are now "alive again." "I think he ran just awesome today," the entertainment impresario beamed. "He's a powerhouse, a powerhouse of a racehorse. Today, he's Cobalt Green. You know, he was born on Abraham Lincoln's birthday, February 12, and his first big win as a three-year-old came on Valentine's Day (in an allowance). Today is St. Patrick's Day and Derby Day is Cinco de Mayo. He's a holiday horse." Air Commander (Point Given) tested the winner turning for home but could not match strides late, settling for the place at 6-5. The runner-up was worth $2.40 and $2.10. Level Red (Aptitude) couldn't keep up with the top pair but battled on well to keep the show, paying $2.60 as the 4-1 third choice. Dee Rain (Afternoon Deelites) and Grapelli (Thunder Gulch) completed the order of finish, while Tap It Light (General Meeting) was withdrawn. Cobalt Blue earned his third win from four career starts, upping his earnings to $307,000. He was bred in the Sunshine State by Adena Springs and fetched a bid of $325,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton February Two-Year-Olds in Training sale. The winner was produced from the stakes-placed Prado Star (El Prado [Ire]). O'Neill said that Cobalt Blue could make his next start in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (G2) at Hawthorne on April 7.
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