Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rising Star Seeks BC Berth in American Pharoah

'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road) looks to stamp his ticket to the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile in Friday's GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita. Topping the OBS April sale at $1.5 million, the Speedway Stable colorbearer wired the field for an effortless 4 1/4-length graduation in his 5 1/2-panel unveiling at Del Mar Sept. 4, earning a gaudy 98 Beyer Speed Figure. His breeding indicates this extension to a route of ground should be no problem and with his rail draw, pilot Mike Smith is likely to weaponize the colt's speed yet again.

Baffert saddles two more members of this seven-horse field in Rockefeller (Medaglia d'Oro) and Flying Drummer (Gun Runner). A $750,000 KEESEP purchase by the group know as the Avengers, Rockefeller led every step of the way in his career bow going six furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 28 and was geared down late, coasting home to a 2 1/4-length win and an 80 Beyer Speed Figure. The red hot Flavien Prat climbs aboard for this two-turn bow and Rockefeller is another colt who should not blink at the added distance.

The maiden Flying Drummer, an $850,000 OBSAPR buy, rounds out the Baffert trio. Missing by a head in his six-panel debut at Del Mar Aug. 7, the gray finished 4 1/4 lengths behind Oviatt Class (Bernardini) last time going a mile at the seaside oval Aug. 27.

Pappacap (Gun Runner) looks to return to winning ways in this event. A front-running winner of his career bow at Gulfstream May 14, the bay was a decisive winner of the Aug. 7 GII Best Pal S. at Del Mar, beating Finneus (Stay Thirsty) by 4 3/4 lengths. He was fourth last out behind the Baffert-trained Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) in the GI Del Mar Futurity S. Sept. 6, in which Finneus was second.

Undefeated Cal-bred Joker Boy (Practical Joke) rounds out the field. Rallying to win at first asking in a state-bred event at Del Mar, the bay wired the Cal-bred I'm Smokin S. last out sprinting in SoCal Sept. 4. He tries open company and two turns for the first time in this leap into the deep end.

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Grace Adler Headlines Chandelier

Grace Adler (Curlin) looks to take her record to three-for-three and provide Hall of Famer Bob Baffert with his 12th victory in Santa Anita's GII Chandelier S. Friday, a “Win and You're in Event” for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in November. A debut winner at Del Mar July 31, the $700,000 FTKSEL purchase already secured her spot in the gate for the World Championships with a dominant late-running score in the Sept. 5 GI Del Mar Debutante S., which she won by 11 1/4 lengths over Dance to the Music (Maclean's Music). The chestnut did get the perfect set up that day–with a trio of speedsters leading to a pace collapse–but there is enough speed signed on here to give her a similar set up. This is Grace Adler's first try around two turns, but she is bred to run all day and her performance last out over seven furlongs suggested added distance would be no issue. Baffert–whose 12 wins in this event include five of the last nine renewals–also saddles a maiden of three starts in Censorship (Tonalist), who was second to Desert Dawn (Cupid) last out going a mile at Del Mar Aug. 26.

Several flashy first-out winners take on the more accomplished favorite here, including 'TDN Rising Stars' Electric Ride (Daredevil) and Ain't Easy (Into Mischief). Trained by John Sadler, Electric Ride pressed the pace early and blew her rivals away in the lane for an 8 1/2-length graduation in her six-panel unveiling at Del Mar Aug. 28, earning an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. A $400,000 KEESEP acquisition, the Phil D'Amato-trained Ain't Easy bided her time in mid-pack early, circled the field turning for home and charged clear to don cap and gown by 5 1/4 lengths in her sprint debut in SoCal Aug. 21. D'Amato also sends out GII Sorrento S. winner Elm Drive (Mohaymen), who was part of the early pace duel in the Del Mar Debutante and paid the price, fading to seventh.

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NYRA to Court: A Hearing Was ‘Exactly’ What Baffert Had Argued For

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) told a federal judge Wednesday that it shouldn't face “contempt of court” allegations initiated last week by trainer Bob Baffert because NYRA has been fully compliant with a July court order that–by NYRA's interpretation–should allow its scheduled hearing on Baffert's exclusion from its tracks to proceed.

NYRA is already defending itself in a federal lawsuit initiated by the Hall of Fame trainer with the well-publicized history of equine drug positives over whether or not NYRA violated Baffert's constitutional rights by trying to ban him outright without any type of hearing back on May 17.

On July 14, the United States District Court (Eastern District of New York) granted Baffert a preliminary injunction that allowed him to race at New York's three major tracks pending the resolution of his overall case.

While that ruling clearly allowed Baffert to start horses at Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park and Aqueduct, NYRA additionally took the judge's order to mean the association could move forward with drafting a set of procedures for holding hearings that could suspend licensees who engage in injurious conduct.

After those rules were made public, NYRA, on Sept. 10, wrote a letter summoning Baffert to appear at just such a videoconference hearing.

On Sept. 22, Baffert filed a motion asking a federal judge to hold NYRA in civil contempt for trying to schedule any sort of hearing that could once again bar him from participating at NYRA's tracks. That filing stated that, “NYRA seems to believe now that it can simply offer a sham hearing and get around the Court's ruling by creating rules after the fact.”

One week later, NYRA's Sept. 29 filing hit back at that assertion: “Plaintiff moves to hold NYRA in contempt for providing Plaintiff exactly what he argued he was entitled to in support of his motion for a preliminary injunction–notice and an opportunity to be heard.

“Plaintiff incorrectly asserts that the Notice of Hearing, Hearing Rules and Procedures, and Statement of Charges demonstrate that, 'NYRA's conduct is simply a repackaged version of the same action already enjoined,'” the filing continued. “What the Hearing Rules and Procedures and Statement of Charges actually show is a substantially different process that is now in place, which was not afforded in connection with the May 17 suspension that the Court enjoined.”

NYRA's filing continued: “Because NYRA at all times acted in good faith to comply with the Order, and Plaintiff has not demonstrated that the harsh tool of contempt should be wielded here, the Court should deny the requested relief. Indeed, NYRA's actions that are at issue were undertaken in compliance with the Order and provide Plaintiff what he asked for–a hearing during which he could present his side of the story…

“Plaintiff's speculation that NYRA created its Hearing Rules and Procedures to target him is incorrect,” the filing continued. “The Hearing Rules and Procedures are of general applicability and are designed to afford the process this Court deemed necessary in its Order.”

NYRA argued in its filing that it should neither be held in contempt nor have a cease and desist order levied against it prohibiting the association from taking any action to potentially suspend Baffert.

The filing contended that's “because Plaintiff has failed to meet his heavy burden to show any of the three elements for contempt: 1) a clear and unambiguous prohibition in the Order barring NYRA from establishing and utilizing a hearing process with respect to Plaintiff; 2) clear and convincing proof that NYRA violated the Order; and 3) evidence that NYRA has not diligently attempted to comply with the Order in a reasonable manner.”

Baffert had requested that the court “admonish NYRA for its behavior” and immediately order it to 1) Cease and desist from all conduct concerning or relating in any way to any suspension of Baffert until after the full conclusion of the case; 2) Pay a $5,000 fine for each day that it does not comply with the court's directives; 3) Reimburse Baffert for attorneys' fees and court costs related to the new motion for contempt.”

Again, NYRA disagreed.

“Finally, even if the Court were to find that NYRA's actions were inconsistent with the Order, Plaintiff should not be awarded attorneys' fees and costs as a consequence of NYRA's good faith attempt to comply with the Order,” the Sept. 29 filing summed up. “The Court likewise should not impose the daily fines that Plaintiff seeks because no harm has resulted from NYRA's actions and because such fines are unnecessary to ensure NYRA's continued compliance with its Order.”

Baffert's videoconference before a hearing officer was supposed to have taken place Sept. 27.

But exhibits that NYRA attached to its filing show emails from earlier this month in which Baffert's attorney requested more time. With the hearing officer's permission, that hearing date was pushed back to Oct. 11.

It was also revealed that Baffert will not be required to testify or participate in the video hearing on that date because this first session will be all about scheduling future dates and setting deadlines for things such as the filing of witness lists and evidence exhibits.

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Medina Spirit Faces Older Horses Seeking Classic Berth In Saturday’s Awesome Again Stakes

Medina Spirit, upset first-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, will face older horses for the first time as an outstanding field of eight three-year-olds and up contest Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita. A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, the winner of the Awesome Again will earn a fees-paid berth into the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Although a cloud of uncertainty continues to hover over the validity of the Derby result due to the fact the Kentucky Racing Commission has not yet issued a ruling on Medina Spirit's positive test for an excessive amount of the permitted steroid betamethasone, the Florida-bred colt by Protonico has gone on to finish third in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes May 15 and he comes off a sharp gate to wire score in the ungraded Shared Belief Stakes going one mile at Del Mar Aug. 29.

Entered but scratched by Bob Baffert out of last Saturday's $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, Medina Spirit stayed home and drilled a solid five furlongs Saturday in 59.80, fourth best of 59 at the distance. Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., Medina Spirit, who was purchased for a bargain $35,000 at the 2020 Ocala Breeders' July Sale of 2-year-olds in training and older horses, has now amassed earnings of more than $2.3 million. With a win in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes in his third start on Jan. 30 and three seconds from four starts at Santa Anita, Medina Spirit has an overall mark of 8-4-3-1.

An overachiever with an abundance of natural speed, look for regular rider John Velazquez to send Medina Spirit in a race that will unquestionably command the focus of the entire racing world.

John Sadler's Tripoli, an up and coming 4-year-old colt by Kitten's Joy, has the look of a “now” horse as he comes off a scintillating 1 ¼ length score going a mile and a quarter in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Aug. 21, a race in which he pressed the early pace en route to his third win from six starts this year. A maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs on turf in his second start here on June 14, 2020, Tripoli will be making his second Santa Anita main track start on Saturday.

Owned by Hronis Racing, LLC, Tripoli has had three recorded works since his Pacific Classic win, his most recent a five furlong drill at Santa Anita Sept. 26 in 1:00.20, which ranked sixth of 89 that morning. With his first career stakes victory in-hand, he'll again be ridden by Tiago Pereira.

Well beaten by Tripoli as the 2-1 favorite in the Pacific Classic, the John Shirreffs-trained Express Train, a forwardly placed winner of the Grade II San Diego Handicap two starts back on July 17, will try to bounce back with regular rider Juan Hernandez up. A close second five starts back in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 6, Express Train, who is owned by Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable, LLC, is 6-1-3-1 at Santa Anita and should bounce back with a much improved effort on Saturday.

C R K and Shirreffs will also send out the venerable but quirky 6-year-old gelding Midcourt, who will likely be forwardly placed in the early going.

Sent to San Luis Rey Downs over the summer, the Richard Baltas-trained Idol will be making his first start since rallying from off the pace to win the Santa Anita Handicap, which was his first stakes win. Lightly raced, this 4-year-old colt by Curlin has three wins from six starts and he's got a pair of local works to his credit for his return, a five furlong drill in 1:01.40 on Sept. 19 and six furlongs on Sept. 26 in 1:12 flat. Owned by Calvin Nguyen, Idol will be out to validate his Big 'Cap score and to make his way on to the Breeders' Cup Classic stage.

Tizamagician, who earned a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure while finishing second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Tripoli in the Pacific Classic, can be counted upon to be sent early as he again tries to employ gate to wire tactics with Flavien Prat up. Trained by Richard Mandella and owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, LLC, this 4-year-old colt by Tiznow is enjoying a terrific year with three wins and as many second from seven starts and 2021 earnings of $487,000.

THE GRADE 1 AWESOME AGAIN WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 11 Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT

Tizamagician—Flavien Prat—124
Midcourt—Edwin Maldonado—122
Express Train—Juan Hernandez—124
Stilleto Boy—Kent Desormeaux—118
Medina Spirit—John Velazquez—122
Azul Coast—Abel Cedillo—122
Tripoli—Tiago Pereira–126
Idol—Joe Bravo—124

The Awesome Again is one of five stakes to be run a blockbuster 11-race card Saturday. Special early first post time is 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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