Record Plays Baffert's Tune in Derby Trial

The California invader Record made his stakes debut a winning one for trainer Bob Baffert, capturing the $114,939 Derby Trial in late-running fashion on the opening day of the Churchill Downs spring meeting Saturday.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Record was poised to challenge when the pacesetting Protagonus was pulled out of the race by John McKee at the quarter-pole. After maneuvering around Protagonus, Record squeezed between R Loyal Man and Spotsgone in the stretch and gained the advantage. Opening up by more than a length inside the eighth pole, the Kentucky-bred son of Devil His Due was all out to hold on by a neck over 54-1 outsider Spotsgone, who ran a game second under Earlie Fires.

The late charging Mister Triester and Brice Blanc came on for third, 2 1/4 lengths behind.

The final time for the one-turn mile was 1:36 1/5.

The Nick Zito-trained Protagonus, vanned off following the race, set solid fractions of:23 and :46 while under pressure from both Spotsgone on his outside and R Loyal Man at the rail.

Sunset Stables owns the consistent Record, who had a maiden win to show in four career starts, all at Santa Anita this year, but was never been off the board. Record was beaten by a nose in a one-mile allowance/claiming race in his last start March 26.

Baffert has enjoyed a superb Derby prep campaign, having won the Toyota Bluegrass (gr. I) with Sinister Minister and the Wood Memorial (gr. I) with Bob and John. Record is nominated to the Triple Crown but Baffert has no such aspirations with him.

"I think he's a one-turn horse, but maybe later on," Baffert told TVG afterward. "He showed at Santa Anita that he really didn't want to go two turns."

Jo Williams bred the dark bay Record, who is out of the Chimes Band mare Believe and was purchased for $130,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in 2004. Record, who did not race at 2, improved his record to 2-2-1 in five starts with earnings of $123,343 with Saturday's winning share of $70,543.

The third choice in the field of seven, Record paid $12.20 $6.40 and $4.20. Spotsgone returned $27.20 and $8.60. Mister Triester was $4.60 to show.

B. Wayne Hughes, owner of Mister Triester, said prior to the race that the Illinois Derby (gr. II) runner-up was a possibility for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a strong performance in the Derby Trial.

Dawn at War finished fourth, followed across the wire by R Loyal Man and 9-5 favorite Noonmark, who gradually fell back after chasing the pace from the outside to the quarter pole.

New Awakening and Smokeyjonessutton scratched.

(Chart, Equibase)