Santa Anita Derby 2012: I’ll Have Another Edges Creative Cause

In the 75th running of the Santa Anita Derby, I’ll Have Another took home the $750,000 purse, beating out what many had handicapped, Creative Cause, a Kentucky Derby contender, by a short nose. It was the fifth nose win in Santa Anita Derby history, and the first since 1985.

The mile-and-1/8 race was stocked with early speed. Favorite Creative Cause was quick from the inside gate but BlueSkiesNRainbows took an early lead and led by two lengths on the back stretch. Creative Cause came up the rail on the final turn and then burst down the home stretch with I’ll Have Another challenging from the outside. I’ll Have Another was running second and third coming around the turn and was passed by Creative Cause as they approached BlueSkiesNRainbows.

Despite being given a somewhat unfavorable post position, first lane, Creative Control is an overwhelming favorite among bookmakers at the 2012 Santa Anita Derby. Likewise, experts at SB Nation’s horse racing blog, And Down the Stretch They Come, unanimously believe that he will take the top spot on the podium. The three-year-old colt may not be the favorite for next month’s Kentucky Derby, but he’ll be among the horses expected to win some money in the country’s most famous race.

All three of the staff writers at ADTSTC think Creative Control will win. Here’s what Jared L. Christopher had to say:

Saturday’s horse racing schedule is loaded with quality events, but there’s no question about which one is the biggest. All eyes will be on the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday afternoon, when a field of 10 Kentucky Derby hopefuls races in the Grade I prep race for the Triple Crown.

A total of six winners of the Santa Anita Derby have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby, the most recent being Sunday Silence in 1989. The 2001 winner, Point Given, went on to win the Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes later that year. Creative Cause is the morning favorite, and he’s won four races from seven starts. Liaison, Holy Candy and I’ll Have Another are the race’s other favorites.

Creative Cause is the heavy favorite among the 10 entrants in the 75th Santa Anita Derby, which has a post time of 5:46 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 7.

In his seven races, Creative Cause is 4-1-2 and is looking to become the 16th Kentucky Derby champion that the Santa Anita Derby has produced. Trainer Mike Harrington is taking the blinkers off Creative Cause for the first time in his career, Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form reports.

The entries and post positions for the 75th Santa Anita Derby were released on Wednesday night, and Matt Gardner of And Down The Stretch They Come has all the pertinent information:

For more on the Santa Anita Derby, be sure to visit horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.