Gary Garber's Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II) winner Domestic Dispute worked six furlongs in 1:11 2/5, handily, at Santa Anita Monday morning under regular exercise rider Dana Barnes in preparation for Sunday's San Felipe Stakes (gr. II). Trainer Bob Baffert rushed home from his weekend in New Orleans to supervise the work and was pleased with what he saw.
"Look at him," Baffert said, pointing to the son of Unbridled's Song, who was leaping around the walking ring while cooling out after his work. "He went in :58 and two (for five furlongs) and he's acting like that. He looks ready to me."
Domestic Dispute is scheduled to face a top-notch field of other seven or eight Kentucky Derby (gr. I) hopefuls in the San Felipe, including impressive allowance winner Atswhatimtalknbout, who will head postward for the first time with a new set of owners after B. Wayne Hughes sold a 10 percent interest in the colt to Stephen Spileberg, Gary Ross and Larry Marshall, the producers of the upcoming DreamWorks feature film, "Seabiscuit".
"We're ready to take on Hollywood," Baffert joked, referring to Atswhatimtalknbout's new owners.
Domestic Dispute has earned $224.320 from a record of 7-2-2-1. He previously finished third, but was bumped up to second in the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) last year after the disqualification of stablemate Kafwain, and in the Sunny Slope Stakes in October.
Others set to contest the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe include Ten Cents a Shine, Brancusi, Baldwin Stakes (gr. III) winner Buddy Gil, Siberland and Sham Stakes winner Man Among Men.
Baffert also said that Louisiana Derby (gr. II) runner-up Kafwain emerged from the race in good shape and will likely stay home to contest the Apr. 5 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I). The Cherokee Run colt and Fair Grounds Oaks (Gr. III) runner-up Atlantic Ocean are due back in California late Monday night.
Baffert wasn't pleased with the ride given to Kafwain by Victor Espinoza, but stopped short of saying the colt would be carrying a new jockey in his final pre-Kentucky Derby prep.
"Kafwain needed to be a whole lot closer to the pace on that speed-favoring track and I told Victor that before the race," Baffert said. "(Kafwain) broke good and then Victor took him back on the (first) turn and after that, Kafwain never had a chance. I thought he showed a lot to dig in and finish like that. But Peace Rules is a very nice colt and ran a great race."
As for Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) heroine Composure, Baffert wouldn't say whether the filly would be seriously considered for the colts classics or not, preferring to wait and see how the whole Derby picture develops over the next few weeks.
"Me and Bob (owner Bob Lewis) are just going to sit back and let her tell us what she wants to do," Baffert said. "She's a good filly so we're just going to wait and see."
Spensive, who finished second in the San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) last weekend, will likely run next in the Mar. 30 Win Star Derby at Sunland Park.
Domestic Dispute, working toward the San Felipe.
