Messier and Adare Manor, winners of their previous races by a combined margin of 28 lengths, each worked Saturday for Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1), respectively, next Saturday, and trainer Tim Yakteen was beyond delighted.
Messier and Adare manor both breezed five furlongs: the former in 1:00.60 and the latter in 1:00.20.
“Messier was spectacular, as was the filly,” Yakteen said. “We're right on point. Messier went at 6:30 (a.m.) with Drayden Van Dyke aboard and Adare Manor went at 7:45 with my exercise rider, Baltazar Contreras.
“The works were just what I was looking for and were perfectly executed.”
Messier, named for hockey great Mark Messier, winner of six Stanley Cups, won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) on Feb. 6 by 15 lengths. The son of Empire Maker has been favored in each of his five races, four times at odds-on, and will vie for favoritism with Forbidden Kingdom in the Santa Anita Derby.
Adare Manor, a daughter of Uncle Mo, won her last two races by a combined margin of 25 lengths, including a 13-length romp in the Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) Feb. 6.
John Velazquez will ride Adare Manor in the Oaks and Messier in the Santa Anita Derby.
The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles will be run for the 85th time. It offers the winner 100 qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby, 40 to the runner-up, 20 to the third-place finisher and 10 to the fourth.
There will be early first post time April 9 of 12 noon (PT).
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