Potente gets first Derby points with thrilling San Felipe S. (G2) win

With a pair of runners in Saturday’s San Felipe S. (G2), Bob Baffert held a strong hand in the 1 1/16-mile race. Grade 1 winner Brant, who had been off since late October, was the more highly regarded, but it was Potente who earned the top prize, as well as 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

Potente, who won his Jan. 31 debut going six furlongs, was making a significant jump in class and distance in Saturday’s contest. Brant went to the lead at the outset, with Potente tracking fourth through a half-mile of :46.62. Behind a wall of horses after six furlongs, Potente was forced to go four-wide into the stretch. Robusto, meanwhile, had taken over front Brant and looked like a winner with a furlong to go. Potente was just hitting his best stride however, and took the lead in the final jump to win by a nose in 1:42.92 on a fast track.

“I knew the pace was going to be hot,” Baffert of his two runners. “I think Brant was a work away from this race. He got tired. Potente is bred to go that far. He was ready for that. Kimura told me he thought the horse was a two-turn horse. That horse that ran second (Robusta) is not a bad horse that he beat.  He beat Cherokee Nation. I was just a little disappointed in Brant. We’re moving forward with Potente. He’ll have another start before the Kentucky Derby.”

Owned by Speedway Stables LLC, Potente has earned $162,000 in his two wins.

Baffert has won the San Felipe a record 10 times, including with Authentic and Point Given, both who would go on to be named Horse of the Year following their 3-year-old campaigns.