February, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Owners Of Baffert-Trained Derby Prospects Remain Silent

Thus far, 83 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby have been vacated by Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-olds. The ban implemented against the Hall of Fame trainer by Churchill Downs means that even if his trainees win prep races, they are not eligible to earn points or compete in the Kentucky Derby.

According to Horse Racing Nation, the owners of some of those Derby prospects have refused to discuss whether they will move their horses to another trainer in order to pursue eligibility for the Run for the Roses.

Among the top 3-year-olds in Baffert's stable are:

G3 Bob Lewis winner Messier, owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm
G3 Southwest winner Newgrange, owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm
Camino Real Derby winner Blackadder, owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm
Saudi Derby entrant Pinehurst, owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm
G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Corniche, owned by Speedway Stables (has not resumed breezing after his Breeders' Cup win)

Tom Ryan of SF Racing referred HRN to his Twitter account for updates on Derby contenders, but did not indicate whether any of his plans called for shipping those contenders to other trainers.

Sol Kumin of Madaket Stables refused to answer HRN's questions about future plans, stating that since the stable has two runners in this weekend's seven-figure races (Newgrange in the G2 Rebel and Pinehurst in the Saudi Derby), “we will try and focus on those for now and try and enjoy them.”

Christine A. Moore Named a Featured Milliner of 148th Kentucky Derby

Churchill Downs announced that Christine Moore will continue for the fifth year as a featured milliner of the 148th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. Moore became a featured milliner of the Kentucky Derby in 2018.

No Baffert Trainees Nominated to Oaks

A total of 103 horses have been nominated to the GI Kentucky Oaks and they all have one thing in common: none are trained by Bob Baffert.

According to Churchill Downs Senior Director, Media Services, Darren Rogers, it was not a case of Churchill rejecting Baffert's nominees, but a matter of Baffert failing to nominate any horses.

Baffert is under suspension at Churchill and ineligible to race in the Oaks, but that doesn't mean that horses currently under his care won't be able to compete in the race. Baffert's owners have the option of removing their horses from his barn and giving them to another trainer, which would allow them to run in the Oaks. Owners also have the option of paying a $1,500 late nomination fee that would make their horses eligible for the Oaks. If a horse has still not been nominated by April 16, a $25,000 supplemental entry fee can be paid at entry time.

Baffert and his legal team could also find a solution through the court system, perhaps getting an injunction or finding some other avenue that would force Churchill to accept his entries.

Why Baffert did not nominate any of his horses is unclear. Was it a sign that he is not going to fight the Churchill ban and is resigned to not competing in either the Oaks or the GI Kentucky Derby? And, with the chance that his horses could compete in the Oaks for another trainer, why wouldn't their owners have made sure that the nomination fee, which is just $200, was paid?

The TDN sent texts to Baffert and his lawyers Clark Brewster and Craig Robertson and only Brewster responded, writing “Bob is considering all options.”

Baffert has won the Oaks three times, most recently in 2017 with Abel Tasman (Quality Road).

Baffert has a handful of horses who, under normal circumstances, would be considered top threats for the Oaks. His team of 3-year-old fillies is led by GIII Las Virgenes S. winner Adare Manor (Uncle Mo), who is No. 1 in the latest edition of the TDN's Kentucky Oaks Top 10. The TDN list also includes the Baffert-trained Eda (Munnings) at No. 6. She is the winner of last year's GI Starlet S., but has not run since.

Baffert's top colts have been nominated to the Kentucky Derby, but the process of nominating for the Derby is different from the Oaks. The 3-year-old males are nominated to all three Triple Crown races at once and there are no restrictions in place that would keep Baffert out of the GI Preakness S.

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Feb. 27, 2022

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses. US-bred Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) is one of many raiders that will fly the flag for Japan at this weekend's Saudi Cup meeting when he goes in defense of his title in the $1.5-million [now G3] Riyadh Cup Sprint:

Sunday, February 28, 2022
2nd-HSN, ¥9,900,000 ($86k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
HE SAID SHE SAID (f, 3, Blame–Divine Escapade, by Madcap Escapade) was acquired by Sun Valley Farm for $52K in utero at Keeneland November in 2018 and was hammered down to Paca Paca Farm on behalf of Godolphin for $55K at KEENOV 12 months later. A half-sister to SW King Of the Court (Speightstown), the January foal is out of a daughter of GI Ashland S. heroine Madcap Escapade (Hennessy), whose own GI Darley Debutante S.-winning daughter Mi Sueno (Pulpit) is the dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Mi Suerte (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}). Madcap Escapade is a half-sister to Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again), a $2-million Barretts March juvenile who carried the Darley maroon-and-white to a romping victory in the 2006 GI Ballerina Breeders' Cup S. B-Sun Valley Farm (KY)

4th-NKY, ¥9,900,000 ($86k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
BEAT EMOTION (c, 3, Quality Road–J. Quirk, by Unbridled's Song) was hammered into 3-5 favoritism for his seven-furlong debut at Tokyo Feb. 12, but could not quite overcome the widest post and settled for a close runner-up effort (see below, SC 16). A half-brother to last year's GIII Remington Park Oaks winner Lady Mystify (Bernardini), the gray made $190K at KEESEP in 2020 and improved into a $600K Fasig-Tipton Florida breezer. Beat Emotion's now-yearling half-brother by Gun Runner was purchased by Breeze Easy for $375K at KEENOV last fall. B-Scott & Evan Dilworth (KY)

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