Meet the Contenders: 2024 Santa Anita Derby
Imagination winning the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
April 4th, 2024
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Curlin's Kaos (Photo by Benoit Photography)
#1 Curlin’s Kaos *
Pro: Cal-bred can benefit if the pace is hot and contested.
Con: Made little impact in Sunland Derby (G3) and this spot is deeper.
Santa Anita (Photo by © Breeders' Cup/Todd Buchanan)
#2 Tapalo ***
Pro: Ran a creditable second to Endlessly in El Camino Real Derby.
Con: Reverting to front-running tactics here a concern with other speed entered.
Stronghold winning the Sunland Park Derby (G3) at Sunland Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
#3 Stronghold ****
Pro: Never worse than second in five starts and enters off solid Sunland Derby score.
Con: Early bids for the lead have come back to haunt him in a pair of starts.
The @KentuckyDerby looms on the horizon for Stronghold, but does he have the pedigree to shine racing 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May?
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 21, 2024
That’s a tricky question that requires a nuanced answer.
Here is his KY Derby Pedigree profile ⤵️ https://t.co/T44IbAKwaD
Imagination winning the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
#4 Imagination *****
Pro: Earned hard-fought win in San Felipe (G2); very game colt.
Con: Faces biggest field to date and whether he’ll like nine furlongs open to debate.
#2 J T's Imagination opens up to win R3 at Churchill Downs, giving both jockey @Tyler_Gaff and trainer Joe Sharp doubles today! 💪
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 1, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/CV0E0rV3B4
Wynstock winning the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos (Photo by Benoit Photo)
#5 Wynstock ***
Pro: Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) better than he showed in Southwest (G3) dud.
Con: Speed type looks like he could have too much early company.
Santa Anita (Photo by © Breeders' Cup/Todd Buchanan)
#6 Tessuto **
Pro: Stretchout to two turns proved beneficial as he won maiden going away.
Con: This isn’t the toughest Santa Anita Derby but needs to take a notable step forward.
Santa Anita (Photo by © Breeders' Cup/Todd Buchanan)
#7 Mc Vay **
Pro: Derby-winning trainer continues to show faith in $1.25 million purchase.
Con: Maiden beat only one to the wire in San Felipe; must improve considerably.
E J Won The Cup wins the Turf Paradise Derby (Photo by Coady Media)
#8 E J Won the Cup *
Pro: Winless at two, he’s won two straight since turning three.
Con: Beat little in Turf Paradise Derby and this a sterner test.
