Life Is Good worked six furlongs Sunday morning in 1:12.20 for Saturday’s Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, a major steppingstone to the G1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3.
“He went well,” Bob Baffert said of the son of Into Mischief after the 9 a.m. drill. “I’m happy; we’re all set.”
Presently, Baffert has five Triple Crown candidates: Life Is Good and Medina Spirit, who go in the San Felipe; San Vicente winner Concert Tour and runner-up Freedom Fighter, set for the Rebel Stakes and the Gotham, respectively; and Spielberg, an impressive second albeit by 4 ¼ lengths behind champion Essential Quality in Saturday’s Southwest Stakes.
Baffert, a two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer, seeks to add to his record seven San Felipe victories.
His previous winners were Prime Timber (1999), Point Given (2001), Preachinatthebar (2004), Pioneerof the Nile (2009), Dortmund (2015), Mastery (2017) and Authentic last year.
Deeper Waters In San Felipe For None Above The Law
California-bred None Above the Law could face monster stakes winners who have won against open company when he runs in Saturday’s San Felipe Stakes.
A son of Karakonite owned and bred by Kirk and Judy Robison, None Above the Law was second last out in the California Cup Derby at a mile and one-sixteenth on Jan. 16, prompting the pace and taking the lead into the stretch before finishing a length and a half behind victorious Big Fish.
“He showed he can get a distance but the race didn’t work out the way we planned,” said Peter Miller, who trains the gray gelding. “We wanted to lay back and make one run, but he kind of made an early run at the five-eighths pole and got a little tired.
“But he’s doing well, and obviously the water will be a lot deeper in the San Felipe.”
The San Felipe offers 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, 20 to the runner-up, 10 to the third horse and five to the fourth.
Miller, a threat to be leading trainer at any meet in which he participates (he’s currently tied for third at Santa Anita with 16 victories, two behind leader Doug O’Neill), also has three horses nominated to Saturday’s G2 San Carlos Stakes for four-year-olds and up at seven furlongs, C Z Rocket, Major Cabbie and Shashashakemeup.
“We’re going to run two of the three,” he said. “We’re not sure which two.”
Entries for Big ‘Cap Day will be taken this Wednesday.
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