Santa Anita favorite Test Score returned to the winner’s circle Saturday with an impressive victory in the Grade II Twilight Derby, adding another significant win to his accomplished 3-year-old campaign.
The son of Lookin At Lucky, who captured the Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes earlier this season, was sent off as the overwhelming 3-5 favorite while adding blinkers for the first time. The equipment change proved effective as he secured a 1 1/2-length victory under jockey Juan Hernandez.
Test Score entered Saturday’s $200,000 contest following three consecutive starts against elite competition. His recent form included a runner-up finish to Zulu Kingdom in a May 3 Churchill Downs race, followed by his Belmont Derby triumph and a board-hitting performance in the Grade I Saratoga Derby Invitational behind World Beater.
“I think he wanted to be focused a little bit more,” said owner John Amerman. “Graham Motion thought that the blinkers would help him and it was classic. He did well today. You never know that anyone is going to be victorious. But we wanted to come out and see him. It is a Grade II, the Twilight Derby, and we are happy to be here.”
The H. Graham Motion trainee settled in fourth position early, tracking the pacesetter through six furlongs in 1:13.19. Hernandez guided his mount four wide around the final turn before powering to the front in the stretch. Maaz rallied late to claim second by a neck over Namaron.
“This afternoon my agent told me we had some good ones today and he was right,” Hernandez said. “We started out with Privman [winning the Tokyo City Cup Stakes]. I had to work with him a little but because he likes to play around. He got the job done. Then this horse for Graham Motion, all the credit goes to my horse because he broke well and put himself in a nice spot, I was just traveling with him. He wanted to be there and he was happy. All I did turning for home was just swing out. All the credit to my horse. He is just such a nice horse.”
Test Score completed the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:47.66.
TEST SCORE ($3.20) soars home in the $200,000 Twilight Derby (G2) at @santaanitapark. The son of Lookin at Lucky was ridden by @JJHernandezS19Â and trained by @GrahamMotion. pic.twitter.com/4L2df35Dhy
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing)
TEST SCORE ($3.20) soars home in the $200,000 Twilight Derby (G2) at October 25, 2025
The victory improved Test Score’s career record to four wins from 11 starts with earnings of $1,448,525. He is one of 20 Group/Grade I winners for his sire Lookin At Lucky, who stood at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in North America before making South America his semi-permanent base since 2024.
Test Score is out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Joy of Learning, who has produced three winners from three runners. His dam is a half-sister to Grade I Longines Just a Game Stakes winner Coffee Clique, multiple graded stakes winner Admission Office, and multiple graded stakes-placed Royal Fury.
The Amerman Racing connection extends back through Test Score’s third dam, French stakes runner Society Dream. Joy of Learning has a yearling War of Will colt named Military Academy and delivered a filly by Liam’s Map this season before visiting stallion Not This Time for her 2026 cover.
Maaz, a 15-1 longshot, earned his first graded stakes placing for the partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables, Sabby Racing and Michael House. The Michael McCarthy trainee was purchased for €72,000 at the 2024 Arqana Breeze Up Sale.
Namaron, sent off at 5-2 odds for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler, completed the trifecta.
