COURTESY OF THE TDN

Roadster

‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Speedway Stable LLC. B-Stone Farm (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $525,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-3-0-1, $706,200.
Last Start: 1st, GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 6
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 100.

‘TDN Rising Star’ Roadster’s stock dipped slightly when Mike Smith chose to ride No. 1-ranked Omaha Beach instead of this $525,000 KEESEP Quality Road gray. I have to think that if Smith believed the two horses were closer together ability-wise, he’d have retained the mount on Roadster considering trainer Bob Baffert routinely supplies Smith with a pipeline of Grade I mounts. But this “tell” might not matter dependent on post position draw, and Florent Geroux is a capable replacement. This athletic-framed colt was highly regarded last summer at Del Mar before he needed soft palate surgery to correct a breathing problem, and Roadster could be peaking at the right time based on the long, loop-the-group drive that he sustained through the GI Santa Anita Derby stretch with enough grinding determination to put away favored stablemate Game Winner. This decade has been good for Santa Anita Derby winners: They’ve won the Kentucky Derby in 2012, 2014 and 2018. But 25 consecutive grays have gone to post and lost the Derby since the last gray, Giacomo, roared home at 50-1 in 2005.

VIDEO PPS

FINISH RACE

1st G1 Santa Anita Derby

1st Allowance/Optional Claiming

3rd GI Del Mar Futurity

1st Maiden