Saturday’s $750,000 Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby will be drawn Wednesday among 6 stakes on the biggest card of the season at The Great Race Place. Might one of the west’s star 3-year-olds become the 20th Santa Anita Derby alumnus to win the Kentucky Derby next month?

Let’s Meet the Contenders for the 2023 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby:

Dazzlemesilver (Keith Desormeaux)
Maiden has finished third in both career starts and matches Geaux Rocket Ride for the least-experienced horse in this year’s field. Finished 3-1/2 lengths behind fellow SA Derby opponent I Don’t Get It over 1-1/16 miles on March 11. Damsire Indian Charlie won the 1998 Santa Anita Derby. Trainer Keith Desormeaux found Santa Anita Derby glory in 2016 with eventual Preakness winner Exaggerator.

Geaux Rocket Ride (Richard Mandella)
San Felipe Stakes runner-up in only his second lifetime start was stretching out from 6 furlongs to 1-1/16 miles. Comes into Santa Anita Derby with more foundation for his rematch with Practical Move. Sire Candy Ride was responsible for similarly developed 2021 Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World, who won this race while also making his third lifetime start. Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella has yet to win a Santa Anita Derby. Expect him on or near the early lead.

I Don’t Get It (Doug O’Neill)
Third-start maiden breaker has improved with additional distance in each start, culminating with 1-1/16 miles score on March 11 (beating SA Derby rival Dazzlemesilver). Trainer Doug O’Neill looks for his third Santa Anita Derby trophy, a decade after I’ll Have Another (the eventual Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner) and Goldencents won back-to-back in 2012-’13. Son of Cloud Computing, whose similar fourth career start produced his career-defining Preakness victory.

Mandarin Hero (Terunoba Fujita)
Following Japan’s 1-2-3 sweep in the UAE Derby at Meydan, international attention now turns to this son of Shanghai Bobby’s first stateside attempt. The first Japanese-based competitor in Santa Anita Derby history, Mandarin Hero won his first 4 starts and was runner-up by a neck in his 2023 return to action. He has done his work at Oi, one of Japan’s regional racetracks on the NAR circuit (a step down from its more renowned national JRA circuit).

National Treasure (Tim Takteen)
The San Felipe’s morning line favorite was forced to scratch due to a reported foot bruise, but has returned to training with interest in both the Santa Anita Derby and Saturday’s same-day Blue Grass at Keeneland. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile third-place finisher was beaten favorite at 3-5 when third in Santa Anita’s Sham in January. Stablemate Reincarnate beat him that day and since has returned to finish third in Oaklawn’s Rebel and Arkansas Derby. Trainer Tim Yakteen won last year’s Santa Anita Derby with fellow Bob Baffert transfer Taiba.

One in Vermillion (Esteban Martinez)
Back on just 13 days’ rest since the March 26 Sunland Derby in New Mexico, connections of this Arizona-based son of Army Mule seek a quick turn-around. Fifth of 6 runners at Sunland after thrashing in the gate and banging his head, that 12-length defeat snapped a 3-race winning streak. On better behavior expect him to be part of the early Santa Anita Derby pace.

Practical Move (Tim Yakteen)
The 10-1 Los Alamitos Futurity winner cemented his west coast divisional lead when scoring the San Felipe at 4-1 odds. Expect favoritism Saturday off an impressive local prep score and series of workouts since. He’s undefeated in three route bids and has won both local attempts at Santa Anita. Trainer Tim Yakteen won last year’s Santa Anita Derby with Bob Baffert transfer Taiba, but has skippered Practical Move’s career from the outset.

Skinner (John Shirreffs)
Late-running sophomore jostles memories of trainer John Shirreff’s 2005 Kentucky Derby 50-1 shocker Giacomo. That predecessor was 1-6 lifetime coming into his Santa Anita Derby fourth-place finish and would go on to mow them all down in Louisville. Skinner is 1-for-5 to date and will be hoping for a hot pace to chase on Saturday. He’s a son of 2007 Preakness winner Curlin, whose leading offspring include 2016 Santa Anita Derby and Preakness winner Exaggerator. Shirreffs is a 3-time Santa Anita Derby winner: Tiago (2007), Gormley (2017) and Honor A.P. (2020).

Check back following Wednesday’s post position draw for updated field notes.