ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Flashback is the early 9-5 favorite for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby this weekend, although the 3-year-old colt will break from the rail, a position his Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert famously dislikes.
Baffert skipped Wednesday’s post position draw, saying he always gets jinxed when he shows up. He says he’ll just have to make the best of the No. 1 position in the starting gate.
Flashback is coming off a second-place finish in the San Felipe Stakes on March 9, when he was the even-money favorite. The West’s major prep race for next month’s Kentucky Derby drew 10 colts, with the winner earning 100 qualifying points toward landing a spot in the 20-horse field on the first Saturday in May.
Baffert will also saddle 5-1 shot Power Broker and 6-1 shot Super Ninety Nine.
