Midnight Interlude Shocks Field at Santa Anita Derby

The Bob Baffert-trained Midnight Interlude--a horse with 13-1 odds--surprised race goers at Saturday with a dramatic victory in the .

“I never won a Santa Anita Derby with a horse off a maiden race like this, but he was training well and his last race was a great race,” Baffert said in a statement released by Santa Anita Park.

It was Jockey Victor Espinoza’s--who rode Midnight Interlude to victory—first win in the Santa Anita Derby. It was Baffert’s record sixth trophy at what is widely considered the biggest West Coast race of the year. 15 horses that have run in the Santa Anita Derby have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby. Midnight Interlude will look to make it 16 on May 7.

Two of the favorites for the Santa Anita Derby, Premier Pegasus and the Baffert-trained Jaycito withdrew in the days before the race due to injuries. Silver Medallion, racing on dirt for the first time, was the oddsmakers' top choice at 5-2 but failed to deliver, coming in fourth.

Comma to the Top captured second place while Mr. Commons came in third.

A crowd of more than 31,000 attended Saturday’s race, making it two big weekends in a row for the venerable race track, which has suffered from declining attendance this season. Last weekend’s was also a huge draw, bringing more than 22,000 fans out to Santa Anita.