Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

Empire Maker Colt Ices Rivals, Scores Rising Star Distinction

Crunched into 2-5 favoritism to build on a debut second at Los Alamitos at the end of June, Messier (Empire Maker) made a bold run to the front fully three furlongs from home and coasted in by 6 1/2 lengths to become a new 'TDN Rising Star' in Friday's fourth race from Santa Anita. Away only fairly beneath Flavien Prat, the $470,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase graduate worked his way up into a chasing second as the debuting Godsend (Midshipman) went a strong gallop up ahead of him. Prat allowed the heavy chalk to stride into the lead midway on the turn, widened without being asked into the stretch and was not fully extended while scoring by a margin that could have been significantly more. He stopped the clock in 1:10.26. Don't Swear Dave (Connect) completed the exacta, one spot ahead of Messier's stablemate Blackadder (Quality Road).

The winner counts Sovereign Award-winning 3-year-old filly Catch the Ring (Seeking the Gold) as his third dam. She is in turn responsible for champion Catch the Thrill (A.P. Indy), the dam of the current stakes winner Curlin's Catch (Curlin). Messier has a foal half-sister by Candy Ride (Arg), and his dam–herself the winner of the 2014 Trillium S. over Woodbine all-weather–was most recently bred to another standout for the same connections in Authentic.

Messier is the 12th 'Rising Star' for his sadly departed stallion and second in five days, joining Keeneland maiden winner Haughty. Messier's powerful ownership group nicknamed The Avengers has campaigned fellow Empire Maker-sired 'Rising Stars' Classier, winner of the GI Los Alamitos Derby in July; and Eight Rings, the 2019 GI American Pharoah S. hero. With Donato Lanni acting as agent, the conglomerate bought three more Empire Maker colts at last month's Keeneland September sale for a combined $550,000.

“He came out of that race with a little bruised bulb in his heel,” said Tom Ryan of co-owner SF Racing when asked about Messier's progress from his June 27 unveiling at 1-2 to Friday's breakout performance. “It was nothing major, but you're better to give them plenty of time. We had given him the experience of a race, and it's amazing how horses really thrive and step forward off that experience. Over the summer, he had gradually come back to himself, and he'd shown plenty in the mornings in his recent works.”

The Avengers' deep class of 2-year-old colts also includes the likes of GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity winner Pinehurst (Twirling Candy).

“He definitely looks like he's got unlimited potential,” Ryan said of Messier. “He's got size and scope–distance won't be an issue with him. He's sound, and mentally he's all there. He's exactly the right kind of horse for Bob Baffert. He's thriving on training and he's a very willing individual.”

Messier is named after NHL Hall of Famer Mark Messier, who was a teammate of Ryan's wife Katie's father Pat Hughes, along with the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey and Grant Fuhr on those legendary Edmonton Oilers teams of the 1980s.

“I was fortunate enough to go to Edmonton with Katie's father when they were voted the greatest NHL team in history [in 2017, for the 1984-85 team],” Ryan said. “Katie's uncle, Mark Napier, also played for that team, so it was an amazing family event. Clearly I have no connection to hockey, but Katie is as connected as can be. We had such a nice time, and met some great players–hockey players to me are just the coolest, most modest guys. One of the players who stood out to me was Mark Messier. I've met him several times, and he's always so poised, and such a cool guy; modest beyond belief, and incredibly fit despite having been retired for a long time. He really, really impressed me, and I suppose he was and easily could be considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time.”

4th-Santa Anita, $61,500, Msw, 10-22, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.26, ft,
6 1/2 lengths.
MESSIER, c, 2, Empire Maker
                1st Dam: Checkered Past (MSW, $334,284), by Smart Strike
                2nd Dam: Catch the Flag, by A.P. Indy
                3rd Dam: Catch the Ring, by Seeking the Gold
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $45,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables LLC, SF Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Starlight Racing, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Donovan, Catherine, Masterson, Robert E. and Schoenfarber, Jay A.; B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-Bob Baffert. *$470,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL.

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Medina Spirit Breezes Through The Fog

Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit (Protonico) drilled six furlongs in 1:13 (2/7) on a foggy Friday morning at Santa Anita as he prepares for his next start in the $6-million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar Nov. 6. The Florida-bred was put through his paces by former jockey Juan Ochoa.

“I got :59 and four,” said bloodstock agent Gary Young, who recommended the purchase of Medina Spirit to owner Amr Zedan. “You can see fine now [8:15 a.m.], but you couldn't see him when he worked. It was dark but I think the times are close enough,” Young said. “He looked good doing it.”

Medina Spirit, who will try to add to trainer Bob Baffert's four previous wins in the Classic, earned his way into the championship weekend centerpiece with a dominating five-length victory in the GI Awesome Again S. at Santa Anita Oct. 2.

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Coolmore’s Adrian Wallace Talks 2022 Stallion Roster On Writers’ Room

One day after Coolmore released its star-studded Ashford Stud stallion roster and fees for the 2022 breeding season, Coolmore's nomination sales head Adrian Wallace joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland Wednesday morning. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Wallace talked about his upbringing in the Irish racing and breeding world, the surging Munnings and Caravaggio and early returns on Triple Crown winner Justify.

Asked about Munnings, whose stud fee has jumped all the way from $40,000 to $85,000 in recent years, Wallace said, “He's a very interesting horse because if you study how his stallion career has evolved, he's really, really done it the hard way. He was a high-priced juvenile at $1.7 million, a three-time Grade II winner, Grade I placed, he obviously had the speed and the precocity, but he retired without winning the all-important Grade I. We introduced him at a fee of $12,500 and while he was always popular, he was covering workmanlike, middle of the range mares. The thing that he seems to transmit that helped him through that sort of lull in his early books is [he produces] very durable horses. It's amazing how many four, five, six, seven, 8-year-olds he has that are still running. I think when you've got horses in your stable, as a trainer, as an owner, that are constantly earning a check at whatever level you're at, it leaves a good taste in your mouth. It's very important in keeping him relevant and popular in owners, buyers and breeders' minds. And now he's at a stage where he's receiving very good support from some of the best breeders in the world. The best is yet to come with him and I think is a horse we'll eventually stand for $100,000 having done it the hard way.”

New to Ashford this year was Caravaggio, who has gotten off to a rip-roaring start in Europe and currently boasts 21 winners. Wallace discussed the decision to bring the gray son of Scat Daddy, originally bred in America, back to the States.

“He was a horse that we wanted to have back here pretty much from the moment we heard he was going to retire,” he said. “So we begged to have him and luckily, we got him in his fourth year. I think when you look at him, he's very much an American type of horse. He's very well built. He's very broad across his chest. He's got a great forearm, a great gaskin on him. He looks fast. He looked like he should have been a dirt horse rather than a turf sprinter. Certainly he's off to a flying start in Europe and he bred 170 mares here in his first book of mares. He was very popular. American breeders like him physically, so I think he's a horse with a lot to offer.”

Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by Coolmore, West Point Thoroughbreds, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders and Legacy Bloodstock, the writers picked the winner of their “Name the Colt” contest sponsored by Lane's End and Honor Code, broke down the implications of the Breeders' Cup decision on Bob Baffert, reacted to some troubling news out of Delaware Park and more. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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With Conditions, Baffert Cleared To Participate in 2021 Breeders’ Cup

Bob Baffert, the all-time leading Breeders' Cup trainer by money won, will be allowed to participate at this year's world championships on Nov. 5-6 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., Breeders' Cup said in a statement on Sunday. Baffert's participation will be contingent on certain conditions being met, including enhanced out-of-competition testing of his horses and enhanced security at his barn.

On Sept. 18, the Breeders' Cup said it would be conducting a review process to determine Baffert's status in the wake of a failed drug test by Medina Spirit after the Protonico colt finished first in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 1.

The Medina Spirit positive test for the corticosteroid betamethasone was the fifth failed drug test by a Baffert runner – and third in a Grade 1 race – over a one-year period dating back to May 2, 2020.

Stewards have yet to conduct a hearing on the Medina Spirit positive while attorneys for Baffert and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission have battled in court over testing of the split sample. Baffert is also engaged in a legal fight with the New York Racing Association, which attempted to ban the trainer from participating at its tracks.

Churchill Downs Inc. said it would not permit Baffert to stable or race at its facilities, including the flagship track in Louisville, Ky., where the Kentucky Derby is run. The Churchill Downs ban extends until the end of the 2023 spring meeting, effectively banning Baffert from the next two Kentucky Derbies.

Horses under Baffert's care will also not be awarded qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs officials have said. Among the official Derby qualifying points races is the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 5, where Baffert has two leading contenders, G1 American Pharoah Stakes winner Corniche and G1 Del Mar Futurity winner Pinehurst. The latter was co-bred by former Breeders' Cup chairman Fred W. Hertrich III and co-owned by current chair Barbara Banke of Stonestreet Stables. Baffert has several other contenders in Breeders' Cup races, including Medina Spirit, who is pointing to the G1 Classic; Gamine, who is aiming to defend her title in the G1 Filly & Mare Sprint; and Private Mission, who is pointing for the G1 Distaff.

Following is the statement issued on Sunday by Breeders' Cup:

“Breeders' Cup conducts thoroughbred racing at the highest levels of safety and integrity for the benefit of our horses, riders, participants, fans, and bettors. To this end, the Breeders' Cup Board of Directors convened a special review under legal counsel to evaluate the recent conduct of Mr. Bob Baffert in order to determine whether he should be permitted to participate in the 2021 World Championships. In the interest of fairness, Mr. Baffert was provided with advanced notice and an opportunity to take part in the process, and the Board appreciated his participation and cooperation in connection with its inquiries.

“Based on the totality of the circumstances, Breeders' Cup has decided to require all horses trained by Mr. Baffert to undergo enhanced out-of-competition, pre- and post-race testing and other security protocols, at his own expense, in order to participate in the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar.

“In addition to operating under the rules and regulations of both the California Horse Racing Board and Del Mar for the 2021 World Championships, those competing in any Breeders' Cup race are subject to another set of rules specific to the Breeders' Cup, which include the Breeders' Cup Condition of Entry, the Prohibited Substance Rule and the Convicted Trainer Rule. On top of our industry-leading protocols and standards, additional testing and security requirements for any horse under Mr. Baffert's care will be administered at his expense under a signed agreement to provide a more targeted layer of accountability. These additional measures include increased randomized out-of-competition testing for all prohibited and restricted substances, additional tests administered the week of the World Championships, increased veterinarian and security checks, and in-person 24-hour security surveillance ahead of the horse or horses' respective events. Mr. Baffert has agreed to abide by each of these additional measures.

“Working with horses and competing in the World Championships is a privilege, and medication restrictions and testing protocols are in place for a reason. The Breeders' Cup expects Mr. Baffert's complete cooperation in ensuring that every horse under his care is in full compliance with all medication restrictions and safety standards.

“Breeders' Cup looks forward to the uniform rules and enforcement mechanisms that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's antidoping and medication control program will bring to our sport.”

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