On Saturday, April 6th, Arcadia will host the top thoroughbred equines from around the world for the most celebrated horse racing spectacle – the 2024 Santa Anita Derby. Interestingly, the Hall of Fame horse trainer Bob Baffert has already announced his upcoming presence in the Santa Anita Derby with his most proverbial thoroughbreds of recent times- Imagination and Wynstock. After adding nine Santa Anita Derby titles to his wall of fame, Baffert is all set to clinch another victory. But what drives the trainers and jockeys to fall for the title again and again? 

The Santa Anita Derby holds the key to entering the Kentucky Derby, the prime horseracing event that takes place each year in the month of May. Hence, as the horse racing fandom looks forward to grace their presence at Churchill Downs, the equine partners and their trainers are girded up to clinch the 2024 Santa Anita Derby, to get the ticket to Kentucky.

When, where, and how to watch the 2024 Santa Anita Derby 

As per the NBC Sports, the race will commence at 7:46 pm ET on Saturday, April 6. The location is Santa Anita Park, widely known as the home of horse racing in the USA. Moreover, the race authority released several tickets to watch the race live. However, apart from that, an uncommon arrangement is in place to witness the horseracing glory. 

NBC Sports holds the broadcasting license for the 2024 Santa Anita Derby. So, the viewers could enjoy the live action through ‘Peacock’, the broadcasting medium of NBC Sports. Moreover, CNBC will also broadcast the live coverage, starting from 7:00 pm ET. However, the importance of the mentioned Derby has reached a different level this time. Based on the importance the odds and predictions have faced drastic changes. 

The battle between the odds and the evens 

The 2024 Santa Anita Derby holds the qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby in a 100-50-25-15-10 manner for the top qualifying horses. But despite their upcoming participation in Santa Anita, both Imagination and longshot Wynstock won’t earn their entry in the Kentucky Derby because of Baffert’s suspension. That might give Frankie Dettori a heartbreak, being the jockey of Imagination. But several more thoroughbreds have raised a high chance in the predictions. 

Curlin’s Kaos, trained by Antonio C. García, and Tapalo, trained by John W. Sadler, topped the prediction list. Tapalo has a record of going seven furlongs on dirt at the same venue. Moreover, the thoroughbred already bagged USD 62,020.

Another is Stronghold, trained by Philip D’Amato. In February, the legendary horse won the Sunland Derby (G3) in New Mexico. Additionally, the thoroughbred already hinges on 25 points with four more extra races to run before the Kentucky Derby. So anywhere near the second or third place on Saturday would make the horse eligible for the Kentucky Derby. Interestingly, Antonio Fresu will guide the Stronghold on the tracks of Santa Anita.

Read more: Watch: Horse Racing Icon Kick off 2024 with Victory at Santa Anita Park