Messier, formerly trained by Bob Baffert, headlines field for Santa Anita Derby

Suspended trainer Bob Baffert won’t be allowed to enter a horse in next month’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, but a horse he knows very well could end up being one of the top contenders.

Messier is the even-money favorite in the morning line for Saturday’s $750,000, Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, which will offer 170 qualifying points toward the May 7 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. With the winner receiving 100 points and the runner-up 40, the top two finishers in the Santa Anita Derby likely will be safely in the field for the Run for the Roses.

In light of his suspension at Churchill Downs and failed appeal, Baffert transferred a handful of his top 3-year-olds to new trainers last month. Among them was Messier, who now is in Tim Yakteen’s barn. Yakteen is a former Baffert assistant and went out on his own in 2004.

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Messier — named after former hockey star Mark Messier — was bred in Ontario and is 3-2-0 in five career starts. The son of Empire Maker won the Grade 3 Bob Hope at Del Mar in November and most recently cruised to a 15-length victory in the Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 6 at Santa Anita. His 103 Beyer Speed Figure in that race is the best this year for any 3-year-old in a race longer than 6 furlongs.

Messier is one of six in the Santa Anita Derby, but many will consider it a match race between him and Forbidden Kingdom.

Forbidden Kingdom (6-5 in the morning line) is trained by Richard Mandella and is 3-1-1 in five career starts. He won a pair of Grade 2 races at Santa Anita — the San Vicente on Jan. 29 and the San Felipe on March 5 — to open his 3-year-old campaign.

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In updated Kentucky Derby futures odds released earlier this week by Circa Sports in Las Vegas, Messier (+525) and Forbidden Kingdom (10-1) were the second and third choices, respectively. Louisiana Derby winner Epicenter (+500) was the top choice.

Santa Anita Derby

Post time: 5:30 p.m. EDT Saturday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Purse: $750,000. Grade: 1. Distance: 1 1/8 miles. TV: TVG and NBC. Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100 for first place, 40 for second place, 20 for third place, 10 for fourth place.

PP Horse, jockey, trainer, odds

1. Happy Jack, Abel Cedillo, Doug O’Neill, 20-1

2. Armagnac, Drayden Van Dyke, Tim Yakteen, 20-1

3. Forbidden Kingdom, Juan Hernandez, Richard Mandella, 6-5

4. Messier, John Velazquez, Tim Yakteen, 1-1

5. Win the Day, Umberto Rispoli, Doug O’Neill 20-1

6. Taiba, Mike Smith, Tim Yakteen, 4-1

Morello leads Wood Memorial field

Trainer Steve Asmussen already has a top Kentucky Derby contender in Louisiana Derby winner Epicenter and will look to strengthen his hand in Saturday’s $750,000, Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

The Asmussen-trained Morello, winner of the Grade 3 Gotham on March 5 at Aqueduct, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in a field of eight for the Wood. Morello drew the No. 5 post position and will be ridden by Jose Lezcano.

”The horse is doing well, he’s super sharp and we think we have what it takes to get the job done,” said Dave Lyon of Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, who owns Morello in partnership with Craig Taylor and Diamond T Racing. “Distance isn’t a question mark for me. I think with the way he runs and his patience and class, it shows that he can do it.”

Morello, a son of Classic Empire, is 3 for 3 at Aqueduct, breaking his maiden in November before winning the Jimmy Winkfield on Feb. 6 and the Gotham.

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Other top contenders include Mo Donegal and Early Voting, both at 5-2 in the morning line.

Mo Donegal, trained by Todd Pletcher, enters off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Feb. 5 at Gulfstream. Early Voting, trained by Chad Brown, is 2 for 2 at Aqueduct and last won the Grade 3 Withers on Feb. 5.

“He went first time around two turns, and he passed the test well,” Brown said of the Withers win. “He definitely gained experience, and he appears to be training well. He prefers to be forwardly placed, so hopefully he’ll be there again.”

Wood Memorial

Post time: 4:45 p.m. EDT Saturday at Aqueduct in South Ozone Park, N.Y. Purse: $750,000. Grade: 2. Distance: 1 1/8 miles. TV: TVG and NBC. Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100 for first place, 40 for second place, 20 for third place, 10 for fourth place.

PP Horse, jockey, trainer, odds

1. Mo Donegal, Joel Rosario, Todd Pletcher, 5-2

2. Golden Code, Kendrick Carmouche, Todd Pletcher, 15-1

3. Early Voting, Jose Ortiz, Chad Brown, 5-2

4. Long Term, Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 20-1

5. Morello, Jose Lezcano, Steve Asmussen, 8-5

6. Skippylongstocking, Junior Alvarado, Saffie Joseph Jr., 15-1

7. A.P.’s Secret, Manuel Franco, Saffie Joseph Jr., 20-1

8. Barese, Dylan Davis, Mike Maker, 8-1

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Santa Anita Derby features Messier, formerly trained by Bob Baffert