Midnight Interlude wills his way to victory in G1 SA Derby

When Jaycito had to scratch from the Santa Anita Derby (G1) (VIDEO) field due to a minor foot issue, it was up to Bob Baffert’s other entry, Midnight Interlude, to give his trainer his sixth win in the key Kentucky Derby (G1) prep on April 9 Santa Anita Park.

Midnight Interlude was making his first start against winners after breaking his maiden by an emphatic 8 1/2-lengths on March 20 at Santa Anita, the only track he has ever started at.

With Jaycito and morning line favorite Premier Pegasus both scratched, the $1 million Santa Anita Derby became a wide-open affair. The speedy Comma to the Top, who won last year’s CashCall Futurity (G1) at Hollywood Park, went to the front going into the first turn of the nine furlongs, while Midnight Interlude was forced to go four wide. Victor Espinoza kept the eventual winner well off the rail down the backstretch while he held his position just a couple lengths off the leader.

Still well out from the rail coming into the stretch, Midnight Interlude set his sites on the game Comma to the Top. As Baffert noted afterward, his colt didn’t keep a completely straight line in the stretch, but he eventually put himself in front, winning by a neck in 1:48.66.

Interviewed in the winner’s circle after the race, Baffert noted his colt’s tendencies in the lane. “This horse was green, he’s just figuring it out right now, but he grew up in a hurry. He had been training well, he worked brilliantly this week.”

“I had a lot of horse at the top of the stretch but  didn’t want to move too soon,” Espinoza said after his first win in the Santa Anita Derby. “I knew that everybody was getting tired down the lane and I felt like I had a lot more horse than everybody else.”

Midnight Interlude is owned by his breeder Arnold Zetcher, who has never had a Kentucky Derby starter.

“We still have a ways to go (before the May 7 Derby) so you never think too far ahead,” Baffert said.  But the Zetchers can celebrate tonight.”

Oddly enough, none of Baffert’s other Santa Anita Derby winners has gone on to win the Kentucky Derby: Pioneerof the Nile (2009), Point Given (2001), General Challenge (1999), Indian Charlie (1998), and Cavonnier (1996) are his previous winners at Santa Anita.

Midnight Interlude is not the only 3-year-old that Baffert hopes to start in the Kentucky Derby. The Factor will run next Saturday in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park, while Jaycito will make his final prep race start in the Coolmore Lexington (G2), April 23 at Keeneland.