Express Kid Withdraws from Santa Anita Derby Due to Fever: A Look at the Contenders and Qualifying Points

Express Kid Withdraws from Santa Anita Derby Due to Fever: A Look at the Contenders and Qualifying Points

Express Kid, a Midwest stakes winner, will not be participating in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby due to a fever that unexpectedly arose. Trainer Justin Evans revealed that the horse spiked a fever during feed time, necessitating immediate treatment. Express Kid's absence leaves a field of seven probable contenders for the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby, including Cherokee Nation, Intrepido, Potente, Robusta, So Happy, Start the Ride, and Virtuvian Man.

Express Kid, who finished second to Pavlovian in the Sunland Park Derby, has a record of 3 wins in 6 starts and earnings of $345,802. Despite missing the Santa Anita Derby, plans are in place to relocate Express Kid from Sunland Park to Lone Star Park in early April. Trainer Evans expressed confidence in the horse's abilities and versatility in various racing scenarios.

The Santa Anita Derby, the highlight of the track's winter-spring meeting, offers significant qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby to the top five finishers. Potente, currently ranked 14th in the list of Kentucky Derby candidates, leads the field with 50 qualifying points. Other contenders in the Santa Anita Derby field with qualifying points include Robusta (25), Intrepido (23), So Happy (15), and Cherokee Nation (3).

In addition to the Santa Anita Derby, there are two other qualifying races scheduled for Saturday and one on April 11 leading up to the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby will feature a maximum of 20 starters, with the top 17 U.S.-based runners securing berths and three foreign berths expected to be allocated to successful contenders from Japan and Dubai.

The Santa Anita program on Saturday includes four other stakes races, such as the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies and the Grade 3 Monrovia Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf course. Two $125,000 races for California-bred 3-year-olds, the Echo Eddie Stakes and the Evening Jewel Stakes for fillies, will also be featured. For those interested in handicapping and wagering, resources like DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages offer valuable insights and guidance.