Horse Racing | Pioneer of the Nile triumphs in Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. — Pioneerof the Nile tugged his way to the front on the backstretch, gave up the lead and went to the front again in the stretch, holding on for a one-length victory in Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.

It is on to the May 2 Kentucky Derby for trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time winner of the Run for the Roses who hasn't had a starter in the event since 2006.

"I'm glad to be back in the show," Baffert said after sending out his record fifth Santa Anita Derby winner.

Pioneerof the Nile, ridden by Garrett Gomez, ran 1-1/8<133>miles on the synthetic surface in 1 minute, 49 seconds. He paid $3.60 to win in the Grade I race and was heavily favored after The Pamplemousse was scratched because of a soft-tissue injury in one of his legs.

Chocolate Candy was second. Gallant Son, last year's top 2-year-old colt at Emerald Downs in Auburn, finished last at 12-1 in the field of seven.

Alex Solis II, one of The Pamplemousse's owners, said the colt was scratched because there was concern about the soft tissue in one leg.

"The tendon had a little heat and, as a result, Julio [Canani, trainer] decided to scratch him," Solis said. "We'll scan the tendon and evaluate it and go from there. We're not going to take any chances with him."

Other races

• I Want Revenge overcame a poor start to take the Grade I Wood Memorial for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct in Jamaica, N.Y.

I Want Revenge, trained by Jeff Mullins and ridden by Joe Talamo, ran 1-1/8 miles in 1 minute, 49-2/5 seconds and beat runner-up West Side Bernie by 1-½ lengths. I Want Revenge paid $3 to win in the $750,000 race.

• Kodiak Kowboy ($5.80 to win), a 4-year-old colt trained by Larry Jones and ridden by John Velazquez, won the Grade I Carter at Aqueduct.

• Musket Man ($7.60) took the Grade II Illinois Derby, a $500,000 race at Hawthorne. The Derek Ryan-trained colt was ridden by Eibar Coa.

• In Grade I events for females, 4-year-old filly Seventh Street ($6) won the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., and Hooh Why ($50) took the Ashland for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. Stardom Bound, last year's North American champion 2-year-old filly, was third at 7-10 odds in the Ashland.

• Soul City Slew ($25), a 6-year-old gelding, won the Grade II Potrero Grande at Santa Anita.

Paul's Hope, co-owned by George Todaro of Seattle, was third at 8-1. Davos, owned by Emerald Downs president Ron Crockett, was fourth of seven at 6-1.