April, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

1/ST Issues Statement on Baffert Suspension

Officials at 1/ST, the consumer-facing brand of The Stronach Group–parent company of a portfolio of several California racetracks and/or training facilities–have issued a statement in the aftermath of the 90-day suspension handed down to trainer Bob Baffert.

The statement, in its entirety, reads: “The California Horse Racing Board announced on Saturday, Apr. 2 that “[trainer Bob Baffert is now suspended pursuant to CHRB Rule 1484].” California has thus reciprocated the suspension against Bob Baffert imposed by the Kentucky Racing Commission, which will begin on Apr. 4, 2022. Because of the CHRB's ruling, any trainer on the grounds at Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields, San Luis Rey Downs or Los Alamitos Race Course who may be the transferee of horses from the Baffert barn will be required to apply for stalls for those horses from the Santa Anita or Golden Gate Fields racing offices, as applicable, for review and approval. A Change of Trainer form will also be required to be submitted in order to enter races following such transfer. Horses that are not transferred to a trainer in California will be required to leave the grounds prior to Apr. 4.

“Because the suspension is over 60 days, under the CHRB rules, during the term of the suspension, Mr. Baffert will be banned from all enclosures under the jurisdiction of the CHRB and Mr. Baffert shall not be permitted to be involved in the training of horses who have previously been under his care. Any trainer who may apply for stalls in anticipation of a transfer will be required to comply fully with any applicable restrictions.

“The CHRB rules require Baffert to vacate his barn at Santa Anita Park prior to the start of the suspension on Apr. 4, along with removing all signage, colors and training equipment belonging to the trainer. The closing day of Santa Anita's winter-spring season is June 19, 2022. The 90-day suspension from the KHRC concludes the following week.”

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O’Neill Runners Happy Jack, Win The Day Tune Up For Santa Anita Derby

Doug O'Neill, who won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) with Goldencents in 2013 and eventual Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another in 2012, pursues another victory Saturday in the West Coast's major steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Happy Jack and Win the Day.

Working in company, Happy Jack and Win the Day each went six furlongs Saturday in identical times of 1:14.20, while O'Neill's Santa Anita Oaks (G1) nominee Awake at Midnyte went the same distance in a bullet 1:12.20.

Happy Jack, like O'Neill's stable star Hot Rod Charlie a son of Oxbow, was third by 10 ½ lengths to Santa Anita Derby-bound Forbidden Kingdom last out in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) March 5, while Win the Day, a son of Midshipman, is coming off an impressive 5 ½-length maiden victory at one mile on March 6.

“Happy Jack is doing really well,” said O'Neill, who will have Abel Cedillo aboard the bay colt owned and bred by Calumet Farm for the fourth consecutive race.

“Win the Day had a nice maiden win going two turns on the main track here, so we're hoping he moves forward a little bit. He's got a big chance. Obviously, it's going to be a tough race but we've got two live ones.”

Umberto Rispoli, who was aboard Win the Day for his maiden victory, retains the mount.

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Fearless Romps By Open Lengths In Ghostzapper

Repole Stable's Fearless, a multiple graded stakes-winning son of Ghostzapper, lived up to his 1-5 favoritism at Gulfstream Park Saturday with a six-length tally in the $100,000 Ghostzapper Stakes (G3).

The race, named for the 2004 Horse of the Year and Racing Hall of Fame member, was one of 10 stakes worth $2.2 million in purses on Saturday's 14-race card headlined by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1).

Fearless, who finished second in the Fred W. Hooper (G3) and Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) going around one-turn, appreciated the stretch-out to 1 1/8 miles. The Todd Pletcher-trained 6-year-old gelding pushed his career record at Gulfstream to five wins to go along with three runner-up finishes in eight starts

Fearless stalked the pace around the first turn and along the backstretch as Carlos L. put up fractions of :24.24 and :48:08 for the first half mile. Jockey Luis Saez sent his hard-knocking mount after the tiring pacesetter on the turn into the homestretch, and the Kentucky-bred gelding drew clear.

Capocostello closed late to nip 2021 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth winner Greatest Honour by a nose for second money. Fearless ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.03 on a fast track.

“We felt like we were controlling the pace,” Saez said. “We came to the three-eighths, somebody put pressure on us. But he kicked on again. At the top of the stretch, he was all by himself. The way he finished, he finished pretty strong, pretty comfortable. I had a lot of horse left.”

Fearless, who returned $2, was bred in Kentucky by Helen Groves Revocable Trust from the Street Cry mare And Why Not. He has a 6-5-1 record from 14 career starts.

“When he's in good form, he generally puts himself in a good spot,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “I thought when he broke well and he went to the first turn, it looked like (Carlos L.) was getting a little rank and Luis (Saez) kind of let him go. Then, he was in a good stalking spot with an honest enough pace up front and he just kind of kept building up momentum as he went along.

“It's not so much about the tactics of it. He kind of tailed off last year and he was getting himself way too far out of the race. I knew when he broke well and he was putting himself in a good spot, it was more about that because that was some of the trouble we were having before we gave him a little bit of a break. He just wanted to give himself way too much to do early on.

“We'll figure it out. There's a lot of opportunities with a horse that you can kind of space around a little bit. Maybe the Pimlico Special (G3 May 20) might be good timing.”

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Ward Workers Highlight Keeneland Tab

By all accounts, trainer Wesley Ward is planning on coming out full force when Keeneland opens the doors on its spring meeting Friday, Apr. 8. To that end, four of the stable's stars tuned up for opening weekend stakes engagements Saturday morning in Lexington.

Happy Soul (Runhappy) is set to represent Ward in the GI Central Bank Ashland S., her first try around two turns, and the Gayla Rankin-owned filly blitzed six furlongs in a race-like 1:11.20 Saturday morning. Since dropping her career debut at Keeneland last April, Happy Soul has won three straight including the Feb. 19 Dixie Belle S. at Oaklawn Park. John Velazquez has the call in the Ashland.

Working on a Keeneland turf course with a bit of give in it were Ward's two 2021 Breeders' Cup winners, Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and 'TDN Rising Star' Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}). Winner of last year's GI Turf Sprint to go along with his victory in the 2020 GII Juvenile Turf Sprint, Golden Pal makes his 4-year-old debut in the GII Shakertown S. Apr. 9 and covered the distance in 1:01.20. Twilight Gleaming, who took out last year's Juvenile Turf Sprint, was timed in 1:01.40 and goes in the Listed Palisades S. Apr. 10.

Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose two wins at Royal Ascot include the 2021 G1 Commonwealth Cup, galloped five furlongs on turf in 1:02.40.

“I'm feeling great,” said Ward, in search of a fourth consecutive spring title at Keeneland. “We've got a lot of horses in various different categories–a lot of nice stakes horses. The 2-year-olds are always fun to see which ones blossom. This is the highlight of opening up my year to see how we're going to progress. We're really looking forward to it–as is everyone who comes to Keeneland in the spring. It's a great place to be–the only place to be.”

Ward is also set to saddle defending champ and 'Rising Star' Kimari (Munnings) in Saturday's GI Madison S. and one of her chief adversaries, Bell's the One (Majesticperfection), got her final tune up Saturday in Lexington. A dead-heat second last year, the 6-year-old went an easy half-mile in :49.60.

“I didn't want anything real fast,” trainer Neil Pessin said. “All of her major work was done at Fair Grounds [where she had eight works following a 2 1/2-month break].”

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