Owner Confirms Don't Get Mad for Santa Anita Derby

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Edited from track reports
B. Wayne Hughes said Thursday morning that Don't Get Mad will run in the grade I Santa Anita Derby April 9 rather than the April 16 Arkansas Derby (gr. II), for which the son of Stephen Got Even   was also being considered.

Hughes said part of the reason for even considering the Arkansas race was to avoid running against Declan's Moon, the 2004 Eclipse Award winner who was being pointed toward the Santa Anita Derby until he was sidelined due to an injury. Both Don't Get Mad and Declan's Moon are trained by Ron Ellis. But Hughes said the reason he did not want to run against Declan's Moon had nothing to do with a belief he did not think his horse could defeat the champion.

"We were ducking Declan's Moon, not because we didn't think Don't Get Mad could beat him, but because he's by Malibu Moon  ," Hughes said in reference to the stallion he owns who stands at Castleton Lyons, "so it became a little bit of a conflict."

Asked about filly champion Sweet Catomine's chances against males in the Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles, Hughes said, "I think she's a tough filly. Right now I'd say she'd probably be the favorite in the race and we'll have our hands full with her. But our horse is doing well and we think he's going to run a big race. My thought is we have a very good chance of winning so we'll take a shot at it."

Probable for the Santa Anita Derby: Sweet Catomine, Buzzards Bay, Don't Get Mad, Giacomo, Golden Shine, and Wilko.

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