ARCADIA, Calif. – What a difference a horse makes. What a difference a year makes. What a difference this Runhappy Santa Anita Derby will be compared to what was expected as recently as last month, and compared to what it was last year. The absence of Life Is Good, who had been the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, caused a wholesale adjustment to the field, with nine now set to go 1 1/8 miles on Saturday compared to nearly half that if Life Is Good were not sidelined. But whatever disappointment fans may have over his absence will be alleviated by a resumption of limited ontrack attendance for patrons this weekend for the first time in a year. It’s a welcome development, being as so many major races here, including last year’s Santa Anita Derby, were run in front of only a smattering of people deemed necessary to put on the races. Life Is Good’s stablemate Medina Spirit inherits the role of favorite for the Grade 1, $750,000 race, which offers 170 points overall, including 100 for first, toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 1. Medina Spirit’s form is solid, his runner-up efforts behind Life Is Good in the Sham and San Felipe bracketing a game victory in the Robert Lewis. Several others stymied by Life Is Good, like Dream Shake, Parnelli, and The Great One, find an easier path to victory. Roman Centurian was entered to run in the Santa Anita Derby, but he will be scratched because trainer Simon Callaghan was not satisfied with the way he was training on Friday. Longshots Back Ring Luck, Defunded, Law Professor, and Ottothelegend are thrown into a pool that isn’t as deep as after the San Felipe. One horse always intended for the race, though, is Rock Your World. His trainer, John Sadler, planned on running following a victory in the one-mile Pasadena on Feb. 27. He’s 2 for 2, and both his starts have been on turf – a surface his full sister, She’s Our Charm, prefers – but Sadler believes Rock Your World, by Candy Ride, can make the transition. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more “I started him on turf because it’s easier, there’s less stress,” Sadler said here the other morning. “It’s a nice way to start a horse out. After that, stretching him out in the Pasadena made more sense than running in the San Felipe, going up against Life Is Good. We always thought he’d be a route horse. The distance should be great for him.” Sadler also sends out Back Ring Luck, a recent private acquisition after winning an allowance on March 5 at Oaklawn from which he could have been claimed for $62,500. He arrived locally Monday night. The Great One could be primed for a bounce-back effort after finishing fifth of seven in the San Felipe. His trainer, Doug O’Neill, admits to being psyched out by Life Is Good. “The presence of Life Is Good made us overthink things. We handcuffed Abel,” he said, referring to jockey Abel Cedillo. “The last thing we wanted to do was go with Life Is Good. He rode him the way we thought it would make sense, but it didn’t. He has a high cruising speed. You have to put him in the race. This time, he’ll be much more into the race.” The Great One is best known for nearly winning the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity as a maiden last December. In his recent works, seen via XBTV, he looks to be going far easier in the mornings than, for instance, Rock Your World. Dream Shake was third in the San Felipe in only his second start after winning a loaded maiden sprint in his debut. The meet’s leading rider, Flavien Prat, has worked him recently and takes over. “He had a lot to overcome last time, going against winners for the first time, from the inside, against two of the best 3-year-olds in the country, Life Is Good and Medina Spirit,” said his trainer, Pete Eurton. “He got a little tired, but he got a lot of experience.” Medina Spirit figures to get a good stalking trip from post 7. The only horse who has ever finished in front of him in four starts is Life Is Good. His trainer, Bob Baffert, said Medina Spirit had a slightly entrapped epiglottis after the San Felipe, for which he had a procedure to correct it. Baffert, who has won the Santa Anita Derby a record nine times, also sends out maiden sprint winner Defunded. Law Professor beat maidens going long in his second start. Parnelli, fifth in the Lewis, adds blinkers in hopes of reversing his recent form. Ottothelegend is in from Oaklawn, where he defeated maidens going long in his second start March 6. The Santa Anita Derby goes as race 8 on a 12-race card that begins at noon Pacific and includes five other stakes, three graded, most notably the Grade 2, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks for fillies looking to move on to the Kentucky Oaks on April 30. It goes as race 6. Race 7, a first-level turf route allowance, kicks off a Rainbow pick six that will have a mandatory payout. Also of interest is race 4, in which the highly regarded Bobby Bo makes his debut. Fans wishing to attend must purchase tickets in advance at www.santaanita.com/open.