Kafwain, Domestic Dispute Post Weekend Drills

Trainer Bob Baffert can't help but marvel at the size of Kafwain, his leading Kentucky Derby (gr. I) candidate for owner The Thoroughbred Corp.

"Do you know how much he weighs?" trainer Baffert asked. "He's at 1,250 pounds now. He weighs as much as Point Given did as a 3-year-old."

Getting ready to make his next start in the $750,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) on Mar. 9, Kafwain worked a bullet five furlongs in :59 3/5, handily, over a good track at Santa Anita Sunday morning. The move was the co-fastest at the distance and just one of three who went faster than one-minute of the 109 horses that went five furlongs Sunday.

Kafwain, who many believe to be limited in distance capabilities because he's a son of champion sprinter Cherokee Run, has developed into an imposing presence and continues to grow bigger and stronger as the weeks go by.

One of Baffert's other leading Kentucky Derby contenders, Gary Garber's Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II) winner Domestic Dispute, worked five furlongs in 1:01 breezing about an hour before Monday's racing program at Santa Anita began over a main track listed as good.

With regular rider David Flores in the irons, the son of Unbridled's Song was clocked in splits of :12, :23 4/5, :36 and :48 3/5 in preparation for a start in the Mar. 16 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II).

"I would have liked him to have worked in a minute," Baffert said, "But what are you going to do?"

Shortly after Domestic Dispute was finished, Stonerside Stables' streaking Congaree followed with his first work since winning the Feb. 2 San Antonio Handicap (gr. II), logging six furlongs in 1:10 2/5 with Dana Barnes aboard. The 5-year-old son of Arazi, who is expected to turn up next in the Mar. 1 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), was caught galloping out the extra furlong in 1:23 1/5.