Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

Aug. 22 Insights

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HALF TO LEA DEBUTS AT THE SPA

1st-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:10 p.m.

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider homebred FOLIAGE (Speightstown), a half-brother to Grade I winner Lea (First Samurai), makes his career bow in this spot for Al Stall. In addition to his top-level victory on the dirt, Lea was GISP on turf and earned over $2.35-million before retiring to Claiborne’s stud barn. Their MSP dam Greenery (Galileo {Ire}) is also the dam of SW Acre (Blame) and GSP Heath (Pulpit). Greenery is a half to MGSW Grassy (El Prado {Ire}), GSW & G1SP Lady in Waiting (GB) (Kylian) and GSW Savannah Bay (GB) (In the Wings {GB}). This is also the family of GISW Stroll (Pulpit). Todd Pletcher unveils a son of the red hot young stallion Constitution in Honorable, whose dam is a half to GSW & MGISP Comical (Into Mischief). This is also the family of MGISW sire Colonel John (Tiznow). TJCIS PPs

BROWN UNVEILS SIBLING TO GUINEAS WINNER

5th-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 3:28p.m.

Chad Brown saddles a well-related European making his career bow here in SIFTING SANDS (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Purchased by Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm for 500,000gns at TATOCT, the bay is a half to three-time Group 1 winner Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Their dam is a full-sister to European champion and five-time Group 1 scorer Fame and Glory (GB) (Montjeau {Ire}). Graham Motion unveils Excursion (Curlin), a $325,000 KEESEP purchase. The bay is a half to GI Preakness S. winner Oxbow (Awesome Again) and SW & GSP Awesome Patriot (Awesome Again). Their unraced dam Tizamazing (Cee’s Tizzy), is a full-sister to three-time Eclipse winner and top sire Tiznow, MGSW Budroyale and GSW Tizdubai. This is also the family of MGISW Paynter (Awesome Again). TJCIS PPs

CANADIAN ROYALTY MAKES CAREER BOW AT WOODBINE

6th-WO, $126.8K, Msw, 2yo, f, 7fT, 3:45 p.m.

Blue Heaven Farm homebred ANGELOU (Curlin), a daughter of dual Sovereign Award winner Roxy Gap (Indian Charlie), makes her debut in this test. The Canadian champion and MGSW is also the dam of GSW Café Americano (Medaglia d’Oro). Chuck Fipke homebred Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown) also makes her first trip to the post here. Her MGSW dam Lady Shakespeare (Theatrical {Ire}) is out of Grade I winner Lady Shirl (That’s Nice), who also produced GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf heroine Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}) and MGISW Shakespeare (Theatrical {Ire}). Mark Casse sends out an intriguing firster in Jungle Cat (Animal Kingdom), a son of Brazilian Group 1 winner Sutil (Brz) (Redattore {Brz}) with a page littered with top Brazilian runners. TJCIS PPs

OBSAPR TOPPER HIGHLIGHTS LOADED FIELD OF DEBUTANTES

1st-DMR, $55K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 5:00 p.m.

PRINCESS NOOR (Not This Time) topped the OBS April Sale, which was held in June this year, at $1.35-million and she makes her first trip to the post in this test for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Breezing in :20 1/5 at the sale, the dark bay is out of Grade III winner Sheza Smoke Show (Wilko). Baffert also saddles another exciting first timer in Flash Magic (Pioneerof the Nile), a half-brother to champion juvenile and young sire Good Magic (Curlin). Their MSW dam Glinda the Good (Hard Spun) is a half to GSW Take the Ribbon (Chester House). This is also the family of GISW Miss Houdini (Belong to Me), dam of MGISW Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) and MGSW & GISP Papa Clem (Smart Strike). Peter Blum Thoroughbreds’ homebred Peachtree Road (Quality Road) also debuts here for Richard Mandella. The bay is a half to undefeated stakes winner Princess Arabella (Any Given Saturday), dam of MGSP Ulele (Candy Ride {Arg}); and SW & MGSP Dyna’s Lassie (Dynaformer). TJCIS PPs

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TVG Pacific Classic: More On The Line For Maximum Security Than $500,000 Purse, Breeders’ Cup Berth

Maximum Security, a winner of nine of 11 starts and nearly $12-million in purses, a remarkably talented and unfortunately star-crossed colt, a runner who – despite his enviable record – is looking to reestablish himself as the big dog on the American racing scene, gets his chance to do just that at Del Mar near San Diego, Calif., on Saturday when he headlines the track's headliner on a five-stakes afternoon — the Grade 1, $500,000 TVG Pacific Classic.

The son of New Year's Day, bred by owners Gary and Mary West, who have added partners to his ownership group in the European trio of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, will take on five rivals in the mile and a quarter for 3-year-old and up and he'll have Abel Cedillo in the boot for the run. Cedillo rode the bay to a hard-fought nose victory in the San Diego Handicapat Del Mar on July 25 in his first start in five months and first under the care of trainer Bob Baffert. The 4-year-old carried top weight of 127 pounds that day but, under the weight-for-age conditions of the “Classic,” he – and all the other runners – will go postward with 124 pounds Saturday.

The TVG Pacific Classic offers all the monetary and prestige advantages of a $500,000 Grade 1 race, but it also provides a notable plus in that it is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race, meaning its winner gets a guaranteed entry into its designated race, one with all fees paid. In this case that race is the $7-million Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run on Saturday, November 7, at Keeneland in Lexington, KY.

Here's the field for the 30th edition of the TVG Pacific Classic from the rail out with riders and morning line odds:

C R K Stable's Midcourt (Victor Espinoza, 7/2); Hronis Racing's Higher Power (Flavien Prat, 3-1); Parque Patricios Racing Stables' Mirinaque (Tiago Pereira, 10-1); Estate of Sharon Alesia and Burns Racing's Dark Vader (Umberto Rispoli, 12-1); Maximum Security (even), and Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal's Sharp Samurai (Juan Hernandez, 8-1).

The TVG Pacific Classic is Race 10 on Saturday's 11-race program, the premier offering of five Graded stakes on the card. It has a $300,000 winner's share.

Maximum Security finished first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified and placed 17th in the world's most famous race. Then this year he again finished first, this time in the world's richest race — $20-million Saudi Cup — only to have his purse money put on hold because of issues with his previous trainer and allegations of the use of drugs on his horses. The horse surely does his share with the running; he could, however, use a bit of racing luck besides.

Higher Power won this TVG Pacific Classic last year and will be a stout threat to repeat on Saturday. The 5-year-old horse by Medaglia d'Oro shows a record of five firsts and a bankroll of more than $1.5 million to his credit.

Midcourt gave Maximum Security a ferocious tussle in the mile and one-sixteenth San Diego 'Cap last month. He's a multiple-stakes winner, including the Native Diver at Del Mar last fall.

Sharp Samurai is switching from grass to dirt to try his luck Saturday. The 6-year-old gelding by First Samurai has won eight races and more than $800,000, but only shows three dirt starts from 20 total outings.

Mirinaque is a South American by way of Argentina making his U.S. bow Saturday. He was a four-time winner in his native land, among them a pair of Group 1 races.

Dark Vader will be looking for his first stakes win in the TVG Pacific Classic. He's a 5-year-old horse by Tale of Ekatai.

First post for Saturday's big program is 2 p.m.

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Coolmore Australia’s Virtual Stallion Parade Features Justify, American Pharoah

With the Southern Hemisphere breeding season kicking off and travel clamped down on a global scale, Coolmore Australia has released an hour-long “virtual stallion parade” to show off its 2020 roster, including Triple Crown-winning shuttle stallions Justify and American Pharoah.

The video series features virtual inspections and walk videos of each stallion, along with interviews with several prominent figures within the Coolmore organization, and surrounding the careers of the individual horses.

The Coolmore staff is represented by some of its highest-ranking members, including John Magnier, M.V. Magnier, David Wachman, and James Bester.

Justify, in particular, got a spotlight during the virtual stallion parade, featuring a conversation with the aforementioned Coolmore staff discussing the 2018 Triple Crown winner, as well as trainer Bob Baffert and Ashford Stud manager Dermot Ryan.

“It's so unusual to win a Triple Crown,” John Magnier said. “People have to realize there's only been 13 of them ever, and this fella is an unbeaten Triple Crown winner. You could be talking about he could be a Northern Dancer or he could be a Sunday Silence. He could be the next big thing.

“The world will get fixed sooner than everybody thinks, and when these Justify-type animals go to the yearling sales down there, the international people are going to be interested in Justifys and things of that nature,” he continued. “The way this game is going, the people that are going to survive, I believe, are the people that have the international outlook.”

For both Justify and American Pharoah, Magnier said their underlying appeal to turf racing made them priorities to add to the stallion roster, even though neither raced on the surface themselves, because that perceived affinity for the grass opens them up to greater international success in parts of the world where turf is the dominant surface, such as Europe and Australia.

“It's probably far more likely that Justify should get grass horses than American Pharoah,” Magnier said. “That was the reason that we just had to have him. He shouted for grass, really, and all of his racing was done on the dirt.”

American Pharoah, the winner of the 2015 Triple Crown, has already proven Coolmore's turf hunch to be true, as the sire of prominent grass runners including 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Four Wheel Drive. However, Magnier was confident the surface success would balance itself out over time.

“It's only a matter of time before American Pharoah will get a good dirt horse,” he said. “He's had some success in Japan.”

Baffert echoed Magnier's sentiment that Justify could have had it in him to compete on the turf, if he had been called on to do so.

“People have always asked me, 'You need to bring a horse to Ascot,'” Baffert said. “Now, that would have been the horse to take to Ascot. I think he would have been just phenomenal. But, the really great ones, they can run on anything…He brought his track with him.”

Noting Justify's imposing physical and penchant for getting to the lead early, Baffert said Justify probably could have succeeded on the opposite side of the surface and distance spectrum, as well.

“I came from the Quarter Horse world, and believe me, he could have won the All American Futurity, a $2-million race,” he said. “He's that quick. He's that versatile that he's quick on his feet and just gets running really fast. I could have trained him to win an 870 [yard] race.”

Justify's first Northern Hemisphere foals are weanlings of 2020, and Ryan said they're already starting to emulate their sire in terms of their physicals.

“They have that big hip, rear end, and good hind leg,” he said. “That big ass-end, strength, that drives him. That's very dominant in nearly all of them, that rear end and muscle behind.”

The full virtual stallion parade video can be found below, but the landing page to break the show out by individual stallions can be found here.

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Second Chances: Spielberg

In this continuing series, TDN’s Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

The highly regarded Spielberg (c, 2, Union Rags-Miss Squeal, by Smart Strike), runner-up on debut as the 4-5 favorite for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert in a quickly run maiden special weight at Del Mar Aug. 8 (video), is currently being aimed at the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity Sept. 7.

Campaigned in partnership by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm LLC and Robert E. Masterson, Spielberg brought $1 million at last year’s Keeneland September Sale, the co-highest price of 60 yearlings to change hands by his promising young sire in 2019.

“He’s definitely one of the stars of the stable,” SF Racing’s Tom Ryan said. “We do have lofty expectations.”

Carrying the name of legendary film director and producer Steven Spielberg and boasting an eye-catching worktab lined with bullets, the word was certainly out ahead of the flashy chestnut’s six-furlong unveiling earlier this month.

Debuting with blinkers, he broke sharply from his outside draw and kept the early leaders within his scope in third through a quarter mile in :22.27. He ranged up three wide heading into the far turn and challenged for command at the top of the stretch, but couldn’t keep pace down the lane with the ultra-impressive third-time starter Dr. Schivel (Violence), who drew clear to score by 5 3/4 lengths.

Spielberg earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort while the winner was awarded an 86 rating.

“I thought his first race was a very good effort and he came out of it in great shape,” Ryan said. “He will have gotten an education from it and he was beaten by what looks like a very nice colt as well.”

Spielberg returned to the worktab with a four-furlong spin in :49 (32/69) at Del Mar Aug. 17 (XBTV video).

“I texted Bob yesterday,” Ryan said. “We had two colts work-($610,000 KEESEP yearling) Tarantino (Pioneerof the Nile) and Spielberg. I said, ‘How did the two directors do?’ He said, ‘Both went great.’ He’s very happy with him. He just cruised around there and went on his own. He seems to be ultra- professional and very straight forward to deal with.”

Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. and out of the three-time winner Miss Squeal, Spielberg hails from the extended female family of Grade I winners Dream Deal, Clear Mandate, Strong Mandate, et al.

Other standouts by Union Rags out of Smart Strike mares include: Union Strike, who broke her maiden in the 2016 GI Del Mar Debutante S.; and the stakes-winning Still There, who completed the exacta in Saratoga’s GI Ballerina S. two summers ago.

Ryan concluded, “What he accomplishes as a 2-year-old would be a nice entree to what I hope he’s capable of as a 3-year-old.”

Previous standouts featured in ‘Second Chances’ include: GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Royal Ascot G2 Norfolk S. runner-up Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), MGISW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Paradise Woods (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. runner-up Candy Tycoon (Twirling Candy).

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