The chatter at Wednesday morning's Santa Anita Derby post-position draw was as much about rabbits as horses.
When the starting positions were drawn, in a race that was expected to have about six horses and ended up with 10, much talk centered on a sprinter named Z Day.
That was a big change from earlier discussions that had this Kentucky Derby prep gauged as a two-horse race -- The Pamplemousse versus Pioneerof The Nile.
But along came the entry of Z Day -- from Zayat Stables, same owners of Pioneerof The Nile -- and the fun began.
The Pamplemousse was given morning line odds of 9-5, making him the favorite, and drew the outside post.
"That's perfect," jockey Alex Solis said. "All the speed is inside of us."
Grumbled trainer Julio Canani: "Doesn't matter. I won two Breeders' Cup races from the 12 hole."
Sitting nearby was Bob Baffert, trainer of 2-1 second choice Pioneerof The Nile, shaking his head as the subject of Z Day's entry was broached and the implication made that he had orchestrated it. "This is not a two-horse race," Baffert said.
The Santa Anita Derby is run at a mile and an eighth. Its impressive performers are automatically in the conversation for short odds at the Kentucky Derby.
This year's first leg of the Triple Crown is May 2 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
The Pamplemousse, while winning the San Rafael and Sham stakes earlier in this Santa Anita meeting, did so by getting out front and staying there. He is a big, strong horse who has shown that he dislikes horses in front of him.
Z Day has raced five times, all in the East and never more than six furlongs.
Were The Pamplemousse to dislike seeing another horse in front of him and chase too early, he could run himself out about the time Pioneerof The Nile and jockey Garrett Gomez are ready for a stretch run.
The third choice, and one likely to attract lots of exotic-betting action Saturday, is Chocolate Candy, whose owner is weight-loss millionaire Jenny Craig. Chocolate Candy, with jockey Joel Rosario, was given odds of 6-1. Next in line, at 8-1, is Mr. Hot Stuff, with Corey Nakatani, who played the pre-race game like the veteran he is.
Etc.
