Rock Your World Profile

John Sadler trains the three-year-old colt, with Rock Your World having three victories in as many starts heading into the Run for the Roses.

Under the tutelage of trainer John Sadler and ridden by the underrated jockey Umberto Rispoli, Rock Your World beat the favourite, Medina Spirit, in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) - California's major prep race for the Kentucky Derby.

In only his third lifetime start and his first over dirt, Rock Your World led from gate to wire in the one-and-one-eighth mile Santa Anita Derby.

He was pressured slightly in the early stages by long-shot Parnelli but drew off in the stretch to a convincing four-and-a-half length triumph over the race favourite, Medina Spirit.

Rock Your World completed nine furlongs in 1:49.17 and earned a career-best speed figure of 103.

His victory was eye-catching, and he proved even better on dirt than he did in his earlier races on the turf. The Sadler trainee also confirmed that he has tactical speed with a versatile running style.

The chink in Rock Your World's armour is that he didn't race as a two-year-old and may not have the foundation to be successful at a mile and a quarter.

Only two horses have won the Kentucky Derby without having raced at two.

However, since the Santa Anita Derby's inception in 1935, 10 winners have continued to capture the Kentucky Derby.

Had he won in Kentucky, Rock Your World would have followed in the recent hoofprints of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, California Chrome (2014) and I'll Have Another (2012).

Rock Your World won his first race on New Year's Day in a six-furlong turf sprint.

He pressed the early pace before taking over at the quarter pole and held off a late challenge to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

He followed up his debut with a strong two-and-one-quarter length victory in the listed Pasadena Stakes at a mile over the Santa Anita lawn.

Rock Your World stalked the pacesetter before making his bid three-wide in the stretch and kicking clear of the field.

Rock Your World's trainer, John Sadler, is a prominent California trainer who began his career in 1978.

Since then, he has amassed over $132million in earnings from more than 15,750 starters.

His charges generally do very well in the Breeders' Cup, and in 2018, Sadler capped off a stellar year with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic with Accelerate.

The horse also earned an Eclipse Award as Champion Older Dirt Male.

Sadler's trainee Stellar Wind earned an Eclipse Award in 2015 as Champion Three-year-old Filly after reeling off three consecutive Grade 1 victories.

Despite Breeders' Cup success, a victory in the Kentucky Derby has eluded Sadler. He's a conservative trainer, only taking a horse to Kentucky if he feels they have a shot.

His first and best placing was in 1993 with Corby, who finished sixth. Sadler made three more attempts, the last in 2014, but all finished in the bottom half of the field.

Umberto Rispoli had been aboard Rock Your World in his two latest starts prior to the Kentucky Derby, but Joel Rosario took the reins instead at Churchill Downs as Rispoli rode the 15th-placed finisher Brooklyn Strong.

Rock Your World was purchased for $650,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling auction and is owned in partnership by Hronis Racing LLC and Talla Racing LLC.

Rock Your World is the first Kentucky Derby entrant for both stables.

John Sadler has trained for both stables for many years and one of his most accomplished runners, Accelerate, was owned by Hronis Racing.

Rock Your World (Candy Ride (ARG) - Charm the Maker, by Empire Maker) was bred by respected American Hall of Fame trainer Ron and his wife Deborah McAnally from their decades-long breeding program.

The dark-bay colt has a stamina-oriented pedigree and should relish Classic distances.

A champion miler in his homeland of Argentina, Candy Ride took the US by storm in a trio of starts.

After winning an allowance event over Hollywood Park's main track by three lengths, he switched to turf and won the nine-furlong American Handicap (G2).

Next out, Candy Ride thrilled in the 1 and 1/4 mile Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), drawing off by three-and-three-quarter lengths while setting a new track record in 1:59.11 in 2003, which still stands.

Unfortunately, Candy Ride was injured after the Pacific Classic and retired to stud undefeated in six starts with earnings of $749,149.

Candy Ride's offspring win at all distances and over all surfaces. Not surprisingly, he has been a popular and leading sire for much of his stud career.

Some of Candy Ride's most accomplished offspring include 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, plus Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Shared Belief, who later in his career won the Pacific Classic Stakes and Santa Anita Handicap.

Rock Your World's dam, Charm the Maker, was successful over dirt, turf and Polytrack. At two, she showed promise with a third-place finish in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G1).

During her three and four-year-old seasons, Charm the Maker finished in the money in five stakes races, including the Autumn Miss Stakes (G3). She retired with a record of 3-2-3 from 19 starts and earnings of $340,290.

Besides Rock Your World, Charm the Maker bore his full sister, stakes-placed turf miler, She's Our Charm.