Baffert agrees with most people that Candy Ride is a top-class horse, but he's not conceding him the Classic just yet. "The Pacific Classic (gr. I) set up perfectly for him," Baffert said. "You either love the Del Mar surface or you don't. That race was the ideal situation for him."Congaree is a very talented horse. He had problems early on, but he's over them now. I never should have run him in the Met Mile (gr. I); that was my mistake. I had lost some time with him and should have passed that race. But he's doing great now. The timing of the Kentucky Cup is perfect and I didn't want to run him at Del Mar."
Bob Baffert said Wednesday that Edgar Prado will ride Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Congaree in the $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) on Sept. 13 as a prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic-Powered by Dodge (gr. I).With Congaree's regular rider, Jerry Bailey, pretty much committed to ride either Empire Maker or Medaglia d'Oro for Bobby Frankel this fall, Baffert went for another top East Coast rider in Prado, even though he has never ridden him before."Whenever I cross the Mississippi I like to use an East Coast rider," Baffert said. "If everything works out at Turfway I would expect (Prado) to ride him back in the Classic...unless he's gonna' get on Candy Ride."
