Key breeding angles to watch out for in the Santa Anita Derby

The Santa Anita Derby, a key pointer towards the Kentucky Derby next month, will be an intriguing contest with Bolt D'Oro looking to continue his upward trajectory with victory on Saturday.

While the race will be missing one of this year's leading protagonists in McKinzie, there are still plenty of interesting breeding angles to keep an eye on in the Grade 1.

Bolt D'Oro to enhance chances

Darley's leading sire Medaglia D'Oro has yet to sire a Kentucky Derby winner but in two-time Grade 1 winner Bolt D'Oro he looks to have a leading candidate for the Run for the Roses. Last seen winning the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, Bolt D'Oro heads into this race as the one to beat and with McKinzie out injured, it looks prime for him to continue his upward trajectory.

A $630,000 yearling purchase for his trainer Mick Ruis from the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale in 2016, Bolt D'Oro is the second foal out of the winning A.P. Indy mare Globe Trot and is a half-brother to the Listed-winning and Grade 2-placed Sonic Mule, from the family of three-time Grade 1 winner Zensational.

A new Grade 1 winner for Scat Daddy?

Hot on the heels of Mendelssohn being a runaway winner of the Group 2 UAE Derby last Saturday, the late Scat Daddy could supply a new top-level winner in the Santa Anita Derby with Justify. The Bob Baffert-trained colt was intended to run in the Arkansas Derby but with stablemate McKinzie missing Saturday's race, he will now take his chance at the Santa Anita Derby.

Bred by John Gunther out of the Graded-placed Ghostzapper mare Stage Magic and purchased by China Horse Club and Maverick Racing for $500,000 as a yearling at Keeneland, the three-year-old has won both his starts this year by a combined 16 lengths. While this is a big step up for Justify, the signs seem positive that he can do so and would continue a real purple patch for his late sire.

Regally bred Instilled Regard to continue family success

Take a look through the three generations of Instilled Regard's family and you'll find five other Grade 1 winners who have scored in various top-level events. Now the son of Arch will bid to become the latest family member to score at the highest level when he contests the Santa Anita Derby.

Unsold for $110,000 when offered by his breeder KatieRich Farms as a yearling at Keeneland in 2016, he sold for $1,050,000 to OXO Equine at last year's Ocala March Sale.

He clearly is bred to excel as he is out of the Forestry mare Enhancing, who is a three-parts sister to Grade 1 heroine Good Reward. Already a Grade 3 winner, Instilled Regard will be looking to bounce back from a fourth-placed finish last time out and his bloodlines suggest he is capable of making his mark.

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