ARCADIA, Calif. – Mike Smith, genuine awe in his voice, kept coming back to the same phrase as he walked down the tunnel and past the walking ring after he rode Justify to a victory on Saturday in the Santa Anita Derby. “He’s just so talented,” Smith would begin, and then point out something Justify has done in his brief career to back up that sentiment – winning a major race against a stalwart like Bolt d’Oro on Saturday, in only his third career start, in his stakes debut, and on a main track that was fast but tiring. Over and over, Smith would return to that phrase, “He’s just so talented.” Consider this: it was only on Feb. 18 that Justify made the first start of his career. That was three weeks before Bolt d’Oro, already a two-time Grade 1 winner, would make his 3-year-old debut and his fifth career start. Yet in less than two months, and in only his third start, Justify turned back Bolt d’Oro on Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby, a performance that will send both to Churchill Downs on May 5 as major players for the Kentucky Derby. That’s raw talent. Justify no doubt benefitted by getting an uncontested lead on Saturday, but he was giving away plenty of experience to Bolt d’Oro, and he held Bolt d’Oro safe through the lane for a three-length victory in the West’s major prep for the Kentucky Derby, a win worth 100 points to guarantee Justify a berth in the 20-horse Derby field. It was a satisfying result in that both colts showed up and ran well, were well clear of everyone else, and confirmed that they have the bona fides. :: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays “If he moves forward off this like he should, he'll be tough,” Smith said after Justify completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.72; the track was dull, so the Beyer Speed Figure came back strong, 107. “A mile and an eighth is pretty testing for a horse who's just run twice,” Smith said. “He's really talented. That's a really good horse trying to catch him.” Indeed, Bolt d’Oro was coming off a victory via disqualification in the San Felipe four weeks ago, and he ran his typical courageous race. “Very good race, best horses in the country,” said his jockey, Javier Castellano. “Second-best today. There will be more speed in the Derby.” Justify ($3.80), the favorite, used his natural speed to get to the top in 23.96 seconds for the opening quarter, then led through a half in 47.85 seconds and six furlongs in 1:12.61, with Bolt d’Oro about three lengths back down the backside. “Going to the turn I let him go with his big, long legs,” Smith said. “Bolt d’Oro has a big turn of foot. I didn’t want to get caught off guard.” Bolt d’Oro tried him, but Justify repelled Bolt d’Oro. Justify drifted out a bit into the lane, and Bolt d’Oro dived back inside him, but Justify kept to his task and never let the result be in doubt. “This should really move him up,” said Bob Baffert, who trains Justify and was winning the Santa Anita Derby for a record eighth time. “The track's a little deep today. He does it effortlessly. He's still learning. He's a beast. I'm just glad I have him.” Bolt d’Oro finished six lengths clear of third-place Core Beliefs, then came Instilled Regard, Pepe Tono, Orbit Rain, and Jimmy Chila. Bolt d’Oro came back to be unsaddled with a cut on the back part of his right front foot, an injury euphemistically known as “grabbing a quarter.” His owner and trainer, Mick Ruis, saw it and thought it was minor, but was going to immediately address it at the barn. Ruis was eager for a rematch in the Kentucky Derby. “There definitely will be more pace in the Derby,” Ruis said, adding he believes Justify “won't get an easy lead like today in the Santa Anita Derby.” Ruis also said he thought Bolt d’Oro might have bit a tad dull today owing to a hard race in the San Felipe. “Maybe the San Felipe took a little out of him,” he said of Bolt d’Oro. “We'll get him,” Ruis added, referring to Justify, “on Cinco de Mayo.” Justify, a son of the late Scat Daddy, is owned by a partnership that includes China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm, whose white and green silks Smith wore on Saturday. He was a $500,000 yearling purchase, and on Saturday he earned $600,000. Justify is now perfect in three starts. He beat maidens sprinting on Feb. 18, then on March 11 beat a first-level allowance field going 1 1/16 miles. That was his foundation before Saturday. “He’s still learning,” Smith said. “Just raw talent.”