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Standing outside his barn on the Oklahoma side of Saratoga, Bob Baffert holds court with the media and smiles. He talks about Midnight Lute's victory in the Forego (gr. I). About how rewarding it is to win a race like that at a track like this. About how good it feels to be back.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Southern California trainer Bob Baffert continues to see dividends from his decision to take a string from his Southern California stable to Saratoga. In the $250,000 Forego Handicap (gr. I), his Midnight Lute made the lead on the turn of the seven-furlong test and rolled to his first grade I win by more than two lengths under substitute rider Shaun Bridgmohan.
Saturday, September 01, 2007Normally, a Grade I event with only four entries would be a bit of a letdown for horse racing fans. In the case of the $250,000 Hopeful Stakes, nothing could be further from the truth, as a terrific showdown between top-flight 2-year-olds is set for Saratoga's main track Sept. 3.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
It's still early in the 2-year-old season, but it seems that Bob Baffert already has a slight leg up on the rest of the competition, as the trainer has a pair of good-looking prospects, both by 2002 Juvenile champion Vindication. One of them, More Happy, will headline a field of 10 in the 116th running of the $250,000 Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 2 at Saratoga, the nation's first Grade I event of the year for 2-year-olds.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Zayat Stables' J Be K, a 2-year-old son of Silver Deputy trained by Bob Baffert, broke the track record at Saratoga Race Course in the first start of his career when he blazed 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.13.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
With eight racing days remaining until the end of the 2007 meet at Saratoga Race Course, the track's jockey colony is tightly bunched as usual, but the shifting fortunes of several riders make for an interesting match-up as we head into closing week. Here's a look at Saratoga's top 10 jockeys and their nearly finished summer seasons heading into Sunday's card.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
There was the rubber match between Street Sense and Curlin in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Didn't Happen. There was the showdown between the two in the Travers Stakes (gr. I). Not going to happen. There was Rags to Riches headlining Lady's Day at Belmont for the CCA Oaks (gr. I). Didn't Happen. There was Rags in the Saratoga limelight for the Alabama. Not going to happen.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Bob Baffert is not the only successful veteran trainer who is having difficulty winning on synthetic surfaces. Count Bruce Headley among those who have been unable to conquer Cushion Track at Hollywood Park or Polytrack at Del Mar.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Phantom Income and More Happy were the clear favorites in the 91st running of $150,000 Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga Aug. 15. The six-and-a-half-furlong sprint could not have gone any more dramatically different for the pair of talented 2-year-old fillies.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
River's Prayer, a half-length winner of the Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) at Calder Race Course in her last start on July 7, brings a four-race victory streak into the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) for fillies and mares sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on the Del Mar Polytrack Friday evening.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Maimonides, a $4.6-million yearling purchase, won by 11 1/2 lengths in his maiden debut Wednesday at Saratoga. It was a welcome boost for trainer Bob Baffert.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007Odds-on favorite Silver Swallow was perfectly positioned for her powerful late charge but there was no catching Tough Tiz's Sis, who kicked away to an easy 3 1/2-length victory in Sunday's $126,400 Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies on the Cushion Track.
Sunday, June 10, 2007Zayat Stables' grade III winner E Z Warrior is to make his next start in the July 29 Bing Crosby Handicap (gr. I) at Del Mar, trainer Bob Baffert said after the chestnut son of Exploit worked a half-mile in :47 1/5 over a fast main track at Santa Anita on Friday morning.
Friday, June 01, 2007Stoneside Stable's determined Bob and John would not give way in the stretch run of the $388,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) to win by a hard fought neck over odds-on choice Sweetnorthernsaint and give jockey Garrett Gomez a sweep of the three graded stakes at the muddy Grand Prairie, Texas, track Monday.
Monday, May 28, 2007Chilukki, the top 2-year-old filly of 1999, died May 7 at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute near Lexington after complications during foaling.
Monday, May 07, 2007Dawn After Dawn signaled her readiness for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) by working five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 at Churchill Downs Sunday morning for trainer Wesley Hawley. At Santa Anita, Oaks candidate Tough Tiz's Sis turned in a solid drill as well.
Sunday, April 29, 2007Bob and John, the 2006 Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner will make his first start in 238 days as the 6-5 morning line favorite in Saturday's grade III, $300,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Thursday, April 26, 2007Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency has filed a motion asking a Texas judge to dismiss it from James McIngvale's fraud lawsuit, the first member of the most recently-added defendants to respond with a filed court answer to the allegations.
Thursday, April 12, 2007After running one-two last year, trainer Bob Baffert ships Hal and Patti Earnhardt III's Law Breaker from Santa Anita to the Sunland Park for Sunday's nine-furlong WinStar Derby. With a $600,000 purse, it's worth coming back for more...especially when you'll have the likely favorite.
Friday, March 16, 2007Trainer Bob Baffert has two offspring of Real Quiet on target for stakes engagements in Kentucky. Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) winner Pussycat Doll will likely defend her title in the Humana Distaff Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs May 5, while Perryville Stakes (gr. III) winner Midnight Lute is pointing for the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup (gr. II) at Keeneland April 14.
Thursday, March 15, 2007Mr. Sekiguchi, a son of Storm Cat purchased as a yearling for $8 million in 2004 by Fusao Sekiguchi, won Santa Anita's $52,100 allowance feature Friday by a head over 52-1 longshot Absolute Glory.
Friday, March 02, 2007Grade I winner Great Hunter will be favored to provide trainer Doug O'Neill and jockey Corey Nakatani with their second major stakes victory on Saturday when the colt joins a field of nine 3-year-olds for the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007Ahmed Zayat's Zayat Stables has reached an agreement in principle to sell the breeding rights in undefeated 3-year-old E Z Warrior to John Magnier and partners' Irish-based Coolmore Stud.
Monday, February 26, 2007Mike Pegram's Preachinatthebar, whose most notable career accomplishment came in winning Santa Anita's San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) three years ago, is expected to be a slight favorite to match that achievement in Sunday's $250,000 San Antonio Handicap (gr. II) for older horses at Santa Anita.
Friday, February 02, 2007Even-money choice Pussycat Doll, returning from a layoff of nearly nine months, proved anything but vulnerable with her third grade I win in the $250,000 Santa Monica Handicap at Santa Anita Sunday.
Sunday, January 28, 2007Washington breeder Theiline (Ty) Scheumann has returned La Brea Stakes (gr. I) winner Downthedustyroad to trainer Bob Baffert's Santa Anita barn after buying her for $1.5 million at the Keeneland January mixed sale.
Friday, January 26, 2007Pussycat Doll, off the racing trail since winning the Humana Distaff Handicap (gr. I) May 6, returns in an ambitious spot -- Sunday's $250,000 Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) for older fillies and mares at Santa Anita -- where she faces nine tough rivals going seven furlongs.
Friday, January 26, 2007Trainer Bob Baffert has been appointed to the board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
Saturday, January 20, 2007Zayat Stables' odds-on choice E Z Warrior, making his first appearance in more than six months, remained unbeaten in three starts for trainer Bob Baffert with a measured front-running victory in the $80,000 San Miguel for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita Park on Sunday.
Sunday, January 07, 2007Downthedustyroad left the field covered in dirt to register her first stakes victory in the $250,000 La Brea (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies, the final grade I race of 2006.
Saturday, December 30, 2006Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) contender Brother Derek was put through his final preparations for Saturday by logging five furlongs in :59 1/5 over a fast Santa Anita main track Sunday morning. Also working in Southern California were Quick Little Miss, Malt Magic and Aragorn.
Sunday, October 29, 2006Midnight Lute, a recent arrival from California trained by Bob Baffert, drew off by 4 3/4 lengths in winning the $200,000 Perryville Stakes (presented by Budweiser Select) (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Keeneland Friday.
Friday, October 13, 2006Jockey Victor Espinoza set a Del Mar record with seven victories Monday when favored Point Ashley proved a handy winner in the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante (gr. I).
Monday, September 04, 2006Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust's Point Determined makes his turf debut Sunday when he faces nine rivals in the $400,000 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) for 3-year-olds on the Del Mar turf Sunday.
Friday, September 01, 2006Last spring's Triple Crown contenders Brother Derek and Bob and John take the spotlight Saturday at Del Mar when they head a field of five 3-year-olds in the $100,000-added El Cajon Stakes at a mile on the main track.
Thursday, August 31, 2006Last spring's Triple Crown contenders Brother Derek and Bob and John take the spotlight Saturday at Del Mar when they head a field of five 3-year-olds in the $100,000-added El Cajon Stakes at a mile on the main track.
Thursday, August 31, 2006Behaving Badly, the 3-5 favorite under jockey Victor Espinoza, provided trainer Bob Baffert with a record 75th stakes success at Del Mar Friday evening as she breezed to victory in the featured $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) for older fillies and mares.
Saturday, August 19, 2006Defending champion Behaving Badly, owned by Patti and Hal Earnhardt III and trained by Bob Baffert, will lead five other fillies and mares into Friday's $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) for fillies and mares on the main track at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006Powerhouse trainers Doug O'Neill, with three entries, and Bob Baffert, with two, dominate the field of eight entered in the $150,000 Best Pal (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Del Mar Sunday.
Friday, August 11, 2006Brother Derek, fourth-place dead heater in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), continued his forward training with a bullet :47 2/5 clocking for a half-mile Thursday morning on the main track.
Thursday, July 27, 2006Too Much Bling made a three wide move on the turn and took command in the final furlong to post a two-length win as the prohibitive 1-2 favorite in Saturday's $300,000 Carry Back (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Calder Race Course's Summit of Speed.
Saturday, July 15, 2006After Lost in the Fog invaded from California to win the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. II) in 2005, the six-furlong Summit of Speed test has a strong California presence once again in this year's renewal. Too Much Bling and Northern Soldier are the probable favorites in the field eight 3-year-olds.
Thursday, July 13, 2006Point Determined and A.P. Warrior, who staged a dramatic battle in last month's Affirmed Handicap (gr. III), figure to have the spotlight to themselves once again Saturday in the $350,000 Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006Undefeated in California dirt sprints, the speedy 5-year-old mare Behaving Badly is in a great spot to pick up her first victory outside the Golden State. She goes to the post a heavy favorite at Belmont Park in Monday's $150,000 Genuine Risk Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at six furlongs.
Sunday, July 02, 2006Undefeated in California dirt sprints, the speedy 5-year-old mare Behaving Badly is in a great spot to pick up her first victory outside the Golden State when she goes to the post at Belmont Park a heavy favorite in Monday's $150,000 Genuine Risk Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at six furlongs.
Sunday, July 02, 2006Of the 13 horses entered for Sunday's Queen's Plate at Woodbine, 11 have previously run at the Ontario track. But one of the two that hasn't started at Woodbine was made the morning line favorite, and for good reason.
Thursday, June 22, 2006In a desperate battle to the wire with A.P. Warrior, jockey Victor Espinoza urged everything he could from favored Point Determined, who responded on the outside to win by a nose in the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Hollywood Park Saturday.
Saturday, June 17, 2006Preachinatthebar, a disappointing eighth on a muddy track in the Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) in Texas most recently, will try to regain his winning ways in Saturday's $250,000 Californian (gr. II) at Hollywood Park.
Thursday, June 15, 2006Kentucky Derby bounce-backs Point Determined, Cause to Believe and A.P. Warrior top a field of six entered in the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap (gr. III) Saturday at Hollywood Park.
Thursday, June 15, 2006Trainer Bob Baffert hopes Point Determined likes the surface at Hollywood Park more than he did at Churchill Downs.
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