Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

Messier Seeks Redemption in Bob Lewis

'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker) looks to make amends after finishing second as the heavy favorite last out in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity S. as the people's choice once again in Sunday's GIII Robert B. Lewis S. A dominant second-out graduate at this oval in October, the bay captured the GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar Nov. 14 and was run down late and forced to settle for second last out at Los Al Dec. 11.

His Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert also saddles Wharton (Candy Ride {Arg}) for the same connections. The $475,000 KEESEP buy powered home to a 5 1/4-length graduation at Santa Anita Dec. 31, earning the 'TDN Rising Star' tag.

Simon Callaghan sends out a flashy maiden winner in Sir London (Malibu Moon). Runner-up in his first two attempts sprinting in the fall, the $700,000 EASMAY acquisition demolished the field by 10 lengths next out going a mile at Los Alamitos Dec. 4.

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Baffert Duo Top Las Virgenes Field

Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) looks to take her first step down the GI Kentucky Oaks trail Sunday in Santa Anita's GII Las Virgenes S. Run down late to be a close second on debut at this venue Oct. 31, the dark bay was fourth next out at Del Mar Nov. 20. The $375,000 OBSOPN buy stormed off to a 12-length graduation when extended to a mile last time at this oval Jan. 7, earning a field-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

Adar Manor is joined in the gate by her more accomplished stablemate Eda (Munnings). Victorious in both the Anoakia S. and Desi Arnaz S. in the fall, the $550,000 OBSMAR buy captured the GI Starlet S. when extended to two turns at Los Alamitos last out Dec. 4.

The Bob Baffert-trained duo face a flashy maiden winner in Queen of Thorns (Violence). The $300,000 OBSAPR purchase went wire-to-wire in her six-panel career bow at Santa Anita Jan. 1, cruising home an eight-length winner.

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Baffert Stablemates Top Field For Sunday’s Las Virgenes

A rousing 12 length maiden special weight winner going a flat mile in her most recent start, Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor looms a short price favorite versus four sophomore fillies at the same distance in Sunday's Grade 3, $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita.

An important steppingstone to both the G2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 9 and the Kentucky Oaks May 7, the Las Virgenes winner will be awarded 10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, with four, two and one point awarded to the next three finishers. However, fillies trained by Bob Baffert (Adare Manor and Eda) are not eligible for Oaks points due to Churchill Downs' ban of the Hall of Fame trainer.

A disappointing fourth as the 3-5 favorite in her second start going 6 ½ furlongs two starts back on Nov. 20 at Del Mar, Adare Manor, a filly by Uncle Mo, put it all together when she stretched out for the first time in a thoroughly dominant gate to wire performance here on Jan. 7.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Adare Manor, who earned a Las Virgenes best last-out Beyer Speed Figure of 92, will be ridden back by John Velazquez in what will be her fourth career start.

Owned by Baoma Corporation, Baffert will also send out Eda, who pressed the pace throughout en route to a hard fought half length win in the G1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos Dec. 4. A winner of a pair of ungraded sprint stakes, the Anoakia on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita and the Desi Arnaz on Nov. 13 at Del Mar, Eda tried two turns for the first time in the Starlet and earned a 76 Beyer with Juan Hernandez up, who will ride back on Sunday.

The leading money earner in the field with $370,000 and a winner of four out of her six starts, Eda will likely stalk her well fancied stablemate Adare Manor and hope that she can run her down late.

Off as the 4-5 favorite in her first start here on Jan. 1, Peter Eurton's Queen of Thorns ran to the betting, as she galloped by eight lengths going six furlongs while earning a 73 Beyer. A bay filly by Violence, Queen of Thorns, who is owned by Exline-Border Racing, LLC, Richard Hausman, William Hudock and Susanna Wilson, was purchased for $300,000 out of a Florida 2-year-old in training sale last April. With leading man Flavien Prat back aboard, Queen of Thorns should be well supported in her second career start.

Unbeaten in two starts on dirt by a combined 37 ¼ lengths in Lethbridge, Alberta Canada, Gracelund Gray made a favorable impression in her U.S. debut for veteran trainer Howard Zucker, as she rallied to finish second, beaten one length in a six furlong turf allowance here on Jan. 16. Although she raced very greenly, Gracelund Gray more than tipped her hand and with Tyler Baze back aboard, she looms a live longshot in a short field.

Owned by John and Kelley Gravenslund, this Kentucky-bred daughter of Goldencents elicited this pre-race comment from Zucker on Jan. 16: “Santa Anita is a long way from Lethbridge, and I'm not just referring to the mileage (1,423 mi)!”

Although she gave a good account of herself, Gracelund Gray will no doubt be getting a major class test in the Las Virgenes.

THE GRADE 3 LAS VIRGENES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 3 of 9 Approximate post time 1:30 p.m. PT

Miss Everything—Drayden Van Dyke—120
Gracelund Gray—Tyler Baze—120
Adare Manor—John Velazquez—120
Queen of Thorns—Flavien Prat—120
Eda–Juan Hernandez–124

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday, which will also include the Grade III, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m.

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Messier Out To Make Amends In Sunday’s Bob Lewis Stakes

Second at 1-2 in his most recent stakes assignment, Messier will be out to make amends and stamp himself an “A-List” Derby hopeful as he heads a field of five sophomores going 1 1/16 miles in Sunday's Grade 3, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.

An important prep on the road to both the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies, the Lewis will provide the winner with 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and the second, third and fourth place finishers with four, two and one point respectively. However, the Bob Baffert-trained colt is not eligible for those points due to Churchill Downs' ban of the Hall of Fame trainer.

A chestnut colt by Empire Maker, Messier, an impressive six furlong maiden winner here three starts back on Oct. 22, then galloped to a 3 ½ length score going seven furlongs in the G3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 14. Subsequently dispatched at 1-2 in the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity at a mile and one sixteenth, he appeared to have the race won three sixteenths of a mile out, but the Doug O'Neill-trained Slow Down Andy, although racing erratically, came back on to Messier's outside to register a one length win.

Although beaten in his first two turn assignment, Messier, who has been favored in all four of his starts, appeared undaunted, as he galloped out strongly and in front around the Clubhouse turn at Los Alamitos. Trained by Baffert and owned by SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, et al, Messier is well seasoned, with two wins and as many seconds from four starts. Ridden by Flavien Prat in his last three starts, he'll be handled for the first time by John Velazquez in the Lewis.

Messier's primary rival certainly appears to be the Simon Callaghan-trained Sir London, who crushed four rivals in breaking his maiden by 10 lengths as the 1-5 favorite on Dec. 4 at Los Alamitos. Second in a pair of maiden sprints on Oct. 3 at Santa Anita and Nov. 13 at Del Mar, Sir London led every step of the way in breaking his maiden at a flat mile Dec. 4 and seems very well spotted in Saturday's Lewis as he retains the services of Flavien Prat.

A $700,000 2-year-old in training sale purchase in May of last year, Sir London is by Malibu Moon and is owned by AMO Racing USA and Qatar Racing Limited. Heavily favored in his last two starts, he also brings a last-out Beyer Speed Figure of 80 to the Lewis, which compares favorably with Messier's 83 Beyer, which he earned in finishing second in the Los Al Futurity.

Campaigned on grass in his last four starts, Kretz Racing's Cabo Spirit rallied for an impressive a 1 ¼ length win in the one mile turf Eddie Logan Stakes here on Jan. 2, an effort that was flattered by runner-up Maglev's victory on turf here Sunday in the ungraded Baffle Stakes. Trained by George Papaprodromou, Cabo Spirit is by Pioneerof the Nile and fetched $575,000 at an Ocala, Fla. 2-year-old in training sale last April. Winless in his first three starts on dirt, Cabo Spirit has won two out of his last four starts on turf and his connections are hoping that with seasoning, he can transfer that solid recent form to the main track on Sunday with regular rider Victor Espinoza back aboard.

Dismissed in his six furlong debut at 24-1 here on Jan. 22, Doug O'Neill's Happy Jack won like a horse that should relish a route of ground. Shuffled back around the turn, he split horses three sixteenths out and went to easily defeat Baffert's favored Bletchley Park and galloped out impressively as well. Owned and bred by Calumet Farm, Happy Jack is by Oxbow and will be ridden back by Abel Cedillo.

THE GRADE 3 ROBERT B. LEWIS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 9 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

Messier—John Velazquez—120
Sir London—Flavien Prat—120
Cabo Spirit—Victor Espinoza—124
Wharton—Juan Hernandez—120
Happy Jack—Abel Cedillo–120

First post time for a nine-race program, which will also include the Grade III, $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes, is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m.

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