Om the Overwhelming Favorite in $200,000 Twilight Derby
On Saturday at Santa Anita, the featured race is the $200,000 Twilight Derby. Restricted to three-year-olds, the Grade 2 event is scheduled to be run at a mile and an eighth on the turf and has drawn a field of ten colts and geldings.
Om, one of only two horses with the distinction of defeating Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, has been tabbed as the morning line favorite at 9-5 odds. Trained by Dan Hendricks, the chestnut son of Munnings has won three of his seven starts and has shown significant improvement since switching to turf. He earned his first graded stakes victory last time out in the Del Mar Derby (G2) in a mild upset performance. Gary Stevens will be aboard from post position three.
Soul Driver trying to rebound after poor effort
Second choice at morning line odds of 9-2 is Soul Driver for trainer Jeff Mullins. A chestnut son of Street Boss, he has been on the board in six of his ten starts and is a three-time winner. He is trying to earn his first graded stakes victory and did have back to back wins against minor stakes company before a fifth-place finish in the Del Mar Derby (G2). Tyler Baze will be in the irons from post seven.
Royal Albert Hall (GB) looking for breakthrough win
Also in the field at morning line odds of 8-1 is Royal Albert Hall (GB) for trainer Doug O’Neill. A gelded son of Royal Applause (GB), he began his career in England and has been on the board in nine of his thirteen starts but has only a maiden victory to his credit. He is trying to rebound after finishing sixth in the Hill Prince Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park and will have Rafael Bejarano aboard from post eight.
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