Clocks 1:43.98 for 1 1/6 miles
For the first time in 18 years, Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella is poised to take on the Kentucky Derby following Forbidden Kingdom's emphatic victory in the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Trying two turns for the first time, the speedy Forbidden Kingdom (1-1) shot to the front under Juan Hernandez and proceeded to carve sharp fractions of 22.66 and 45.90 seconds for the opening half-mile while Armagnac chased in second in a strung-out field.
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Forbidden Kingdom lengthened his advantage through six furlongs in 1:10.46 and then cruised through the stretch to win by 5 3/4 lengths.
Stopping the timer at 1:43.98 for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track, Forbidden Kingdom earned 50 points to the Kentucky Derby, which should be plenty enough to qualify.
“I was anxious to see this race and see if he would get two turns. He looked even better,” Mandella said. “I was a little anxious when I saw that '45' on the board for that first half, but he just did what he likes to do.”
Second choice Doppelganger rallied to be second, but he was ineligible for Derby points as part of trainer Bob Baffert’s two-year suspension by Churchill Downs. Happy Jack was another 4 3/4 lengths back in third to earn 10 points for Doug O’Neill, and long shot Beautiful Art picked up five points for fourth.
Mandella was actually last at the Kentucky Derby in 2019 with morning-line favorite Omaha Beach, but the colt was scratched the Wednesday before the race due to a breathing issue. Mandella’s last Derby starters were in 2004, when 2-year-old champion Action This Day ran sixth and Minister Eric was 12th.
Owned by Spendthrift Farm and My Racehorse, who partnered to win the 2020 Kentucky Derby with Authentic, Forbidden Kingdom had never raced beyond seven furlongs in four previous starts. Prior to the San Felipe, he was a front-running winner going seven furlongs in the Jan. 29 San Vicente (G2) when making his sophomore bow.
Hernandez has been aboard for all five starts by Forbidden Kingdom. He said the son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah “proved how good he is today” by acing his two-turn test.
“It worked out pretty well, Mr. Mandella had this horse ready,” Hernandez said. “He’s really fast. I let him have fun, turned him loose and he never stopped.”
Mandella said Forbidden Kingdom would target the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9 as his final Kentucky Derby prep.
