Early odds for Santa Anita Derby revealed

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Two weeks to go until the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9 and track handicapper Jon White has installed San Felipe Stakes winner Premier Pegasus as the preliminary favorite.

"In making a preliminary line based on the eight horses considered probable for the race at this time, I have Premier Pegasus as a 6-5 morning-line favorite," White said. "He was so dominant in the San Felipe that I don't think there is any question he will be a strong Santa Anita Derby favorite, especially since the San Felipe had what was considered to be the best field of any of the graded stakes races for the age group in California so far this year."

The colt is owned and trained by Myung Kwon Cho and ridden by Alonso Quinonez.

"Premier Pegasus has lost only once in five career starts. And even the one time he lost, when he ran third in the San Vicente, that doesn't look all that bad considering he hadn't raced in three months. Plus, the San Vicente looks even stronger now in that The Factor won it and then took the Rebel at Oaklawn Park by a big margin (6 1/4-lengths)."

El Camino Real Derby champ Silver Medallion, trained by Steve Asmussen, is second in White's early line.

"I have Silver Medallion at 9-2 on my preliminary line," White said. "The only reason I don't have him lower than that is he's never won or even raced on the dirt. But those wins in the Eddie Logan and El Camino Real Derby are an indication that he's a pretty talented colt."

Probable for the Santa Anita Derby are Anthony's Cross, Bench Points, Comma to the Top, Indian Winter, Mr. Commons, Offlee Wild Boys, Premier Pegasus and Silver Medallion.