Santa Anita Derby 2013: Ranking Top Contenders in Key Kentucky Derby Prep Race

Last year, I'll Have Another earned a victory in the Santa Anita Derby before going on to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. It's a feat the eight horses in Saturday's marquee prep race are hoping to duplicate.

It was originally slated to be a nine-horse field, but an injury to Hear the Ghost forced him out of the race and will cause him to miss 90 days, according to Jack Shinar of Bloodhorse. His absence opens the door for other contenders.

With the San Felipe Stakes winner out of the picture, let's examine the top horses heading into one of the final major tuneup races before the Triple Crown begins. For a complete list of entrants, check out Race 9 on the Santa Anita card on DRF.com.

1. Flashback

Flashback is the most talented of the three horses legendary trainer Bob Baffert will send to the post in the Santa Anita Derby. After two straight wins to start his career, the colt went stride for stride with Hear the Ghost before getting edged out at the line in the San Felipe.

By removing Hear the Ghost from the field, Flashback should be able to run a more reasonable pace, at least during the first half of the race. Although he showed he can contend in a sprint atmosphere, it's not his ideal race.

The switch to jockey Garrett Gomez from Julien Leparoux should help. The experienced Gomez should be able to keep Flashback under control out of the gate, leaving him enough burst to make the late charge he will need. It makes him the favorite.

2. Goldencents

Goldencents will look to bounce back from a disappointing fourth-place finish in the San Felipe. It was the first time the colt finished outside the money in five career races. In his other starts, he has three wins and a runner-up finish to Shanghai Bobby.

An interesting side story is that of co-owner Rick Pitino. The Louisville head coach will be coaching the Cardinals in a Final Four game against Wichita State while Goldencents is racing for glory in the Santa Anita Derby. It could be a very memorable day for Pitino.

Goldencents is trained by Doug O'Neill, who helped guide I'll Have Another through the same path last year. So that speaks well to the colt's chances of peaking at the right time and making a serious run both in this race and the Kentucky Derby.

3. Tiz a Minister

Tiz a Minister is an interesting case. He's raced far more than the race's other top contenders, having garnered 10 starts already. The results have been mixed, especially early on in his career, but he has shown signs of promise lately.

That includes a victory in the California Breeders' Champion Stakes and a third-place finish in the star-studded San Felipe. So it seems like trainer Paul Aguirre made the right decision to get him started early because he's rounding into form.

A lot will depend on how he handles the speed. He was able to outrace Goldencents the last time out, but if the Santa Anita Derby is slower from the start, it's unclear if he'll have the finishing kick to pull off the win. He's still one of the biggest threats in the field, though.