Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
SANTA ANITA Life Is Good learning to rate for stretch-out in San Felipe
ARCADIA, Calif. – Last Sunday morning, when Life Is Good had his final workout at Santa Anita in preparation for the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday, his jockey, Mike Smith, watched the drill from the stands and remarked that as smooth as Life Is Good looks to an observer from that vantage point, it’s even better on his back.
“His balance is that of an extreme athlete,” Smith said. “If he was an NBA player, he’d have a crossover that would break your ankles, like Allen Iverson. He moves incredible.”
Unlike Iverson, Life Is Good has taken practice seriously. His recent drills have indicated he’s learning to ration his speed, as he was quite keen in both his starts to date, a win against maidens sprinting at Del Mar, and then a victory over stablemate Medina Spirit in the Sham here two months ago.
Those two starts put Life Is Good at the top of the West Coast contingent pointing to the Kentucky Derby on May 1. But he’ll face his biggest test yet Saturday, as he tries to stretch out to 1 1/16 miles while starting from the rail for the first time against a field that includes Medina Spirit, the improving Roman Centurian, fast debut winner Dream Shake, and The Great One, who figures to be the one to apply the most pressure early to Life Is Good.
The San Felipe is race 6 on an 11-race card that begins at noon Pacific and includes four other stakes, three of them graded, most notably the Grade 1 pair of the Santa Anita Handicap and Kilroe Mile. The San Felipe kicks off a Rainbow pick six that will have a mandatory payout; the results of Friday’s card will determine whether there is a sizable carryover already awaiting bettors.
The San Felipe offers 85 points overall toward a Derby berth, including 50 to the winner. Its depth of quality makes it the most significant of the three similar preps around the country on Saturday, including the Gotham at Aqueduct and the Tampa Bay Derby.
Life Is Good was well regarded before his debut, owing to works in which he went fast while doing it effortlessly.
“He doesn’t touch the ground,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert.
He has led from start to finish in both his starts. In the San Felipe, Life Is Good will have to use his natural speed to flee the rail, and then it will be up to Smith to apply the lessons imparted every morning for the past two months.
“He’s pretty talented. We’ve just got to get him to learn to shut it down,” Baffert said.
At the end of the Sham, going a mile, Medina Spirit was cutting into his margin, but the race came back fast – a 101 Beyer Speed Figure – and Life Is Good has given every indication in his training that he’s not going to grab the bit and get into a wrestling match with Smith.
But if he does . . . Medina Spirit, Roman Centurian, Dream Shake, and The Great One will try to pounce.
Medina Spirit held on tenaciously to defeat Roman Centurian in the Robert Lewis in his lone start since the Sham. He had the rail in the Lewis, and got caught in an early speed duel. By drawing post 3 of 7 on Saturday, his new rider, John Velazquez, should be able to work out the stalking trip Medina Spirit prefers.
“He’s better off the pace. Last time, he was the pace,” Baffert said.
Roman Centurian made an extended rally in the Lewis that came up a neck short of catching Medina Spirit. The race shape seemed to flatter his style, but with just three starts so far, there’s likely more upside, too.
“I thought it was a really good run, an improvement from his maiden win,” said Simon Callaghan, who trains Roman Centurian. “It was a good performance. He’s still got some improvement to come.”
Dream Shake is taking a big jump in class, but one he earned via his terrific debut victory against a loaded maiden field when sprinting Feb. 7, in which he earned a Beyer of 96 following an ideal trip from a cozy outside post.
The Great One, who dropped a brutal nose decision at 33-1 in the Los Alamitos Futurity as a maiden in December, dropped back to the maiden ranks for his most recent start Jan. 23 and won in a laugher by 14 lengths while recording a career-best Beyer of 92. That was his lone start with Lasix, which is not permitted in the San Felipe.
“That was a huge, huge win. Granted it was against maidens, but the number came back strong,” said The Great One’s trainer, Doug O’Neill. “He validated what we’ve thought of him all along. It just took a while to get on the same page.”
O’Neill credited the combination of exercise rider Jonny Garcia, groom Andres Martinez, and blinkers – which he’s worn in his last three starts – with The Great One’s progression.
The longshots Govenor’s Party and None Above the Law complete the field.