Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

Derby Up Next for Authentic

Authentic (Into Mischief) exited his win in Saturday’s GI TVG.com Haskell S. at Monmouth Park in fine shape and will now train up to the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Sunday. The colt pulled away to a clear advantage in the stretch of the Haskell before holding on to a last-gasp victory over Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic).

“We’re going to work on him a little until then [the Derby],” Baffert said. “I was pretty proud of him. He ran well. I might have to put a little blinker on him because he went to idling on me. Turning for home, I kept waiting for him to turn it on, but he was doing some looking around and idling there. [Jockey] Mike [Smith] saw that other horse coming at the last minute.”

Still Baffert found plenty of positives from Authentic’s victory.

“He’s a late [May 5] foal,” Baffert said. “He’s maturing, but he’s a quirky little guy. I think that it’s impressive that he shipped, he got on a plane, he went all the way over there, and he handled it well. He didn’t get hot in the paddock. He handled it all well and that’s what you want to see. I’m happy with him. But he still has a lot of improving to do.”

Authentic left Monmouth Park and vanned to Lexington where he will spend a week before catching a flight back to Baffert’s Southern California base.

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said it was also on to the Derby for Ny Traffic, who shipped back to his New York base Sunday.

“That was a tough beat, but to be honest, it really didn’t hurt that much because I am just so proud of this horse,” Joseph said. “He ran an amazing race. At the quarter-pole, it looked like he was all done and the other horse was going to win easily. But he got going again and I’m very proud of him.”

Looking ahead to the Derby, Joseph said, “I thought we already had enough Derby points going in, so the important thing was to just get a good race into him. Now it’s about who is moving forward, not who has peaked or is going backward. Going forward is the most important thing right now and that’s why that tough beat can’t really hurt me. I was just really happy to see him take that major step forward. That’s the most important thing. Most definitely, there is a lot to be excited about with him. I just want him to stay sound and healthy and then we’re on to the Derby.”

While he has yet to win a stakes race, Ny Traffic was second in both the GIII Matt Winn S. and the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby and was third in the GII Risen Star S.

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Letter to the Editor: Davant Latham

Until horses live in a laboratory environment, environmental contamination will occur…hich means zero tolerance is impossible. “Zero Tolerance” is a great soundbite, but unrealistic. The recent final disqualifications of Charlatan and Gamine from their Oaklawn victories for minute levels of lidocaine are ridiculous. A lidocaine backpatch could easily be the source of such a tiny amount, as could a simple caslick procedure on a filly or a “no itch” topical ointment.

Let’s also consider the amount of the banned substance in their systems. Charlatan tested positive with 46 picograms of lidocaine and Gamine tested positive with 185 picograms of lidocaine. I don’t know the weight of either horse, but for the sake of simple math, let’s assume they each weigh 1000 pounds: 1000 pounds = 453,592 grams = 453,592,000 milligrams = 453,592,000,000,000,000 picograms

Do we really believe 185 picograms of any substance will have any effect on a 453,592,000,000,000,000 picogram horse?!

I am all for fair competition and am not an apologist for anyone that intentionally cheats or schemes to illegally beat the system–those trainers and vets should be banned for life. But let’s go beyond soundbites for the media (“Zero Tolerance”) and govern racing with realistic rules while pursuing truly effective measures and punishments. Stall cameras, track employed veterinarians, all meds delivered from track-owned pharmacies, etc., are better ways of controlling the delivery system. And of course one national set of rules would help.

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Record $20.5 Million Wagered On Haskell Day At Monmouth Park

Monmouth Park set a track record for handle for a non-Breeders' Cup day when bettors wagered a total of $20,479,392 on Saturday's 14-race TVG.com Haskell Stakes day card in Oceanport, N.J. The record handle was achieved despite restrictions for on-track attendance due to COVID-19 guidelines.

The overall handle from all sources surpassed the previous non-Breeders' Cup record of $20,024,509 set on Haskell Day on Aug, 2. 2015.

It is only the second $20 million handle for a non-Breeders' Cup program in Monmouth Park's 75-year history.

“The reality is that this will go down in history as one of the most challenging yet gratifying Haskell Days in history,” said John Heims, Monmouth Park's racing secretary and director of racing. “We are grateful to the Governor for his leadership and for permitting us the ability to have race fans to enjoy this terrific experience and be part of a day that will long be remembered.”

Authentic's nose victory over Ny Traffic also extended Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's record to nine Haskell victories.

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Paris Lights Takes Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks In Stakes Debut

Saturday's 104th running of the Grade 1, $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks saw a dramatic stretch battle between WinStar Stablemates color-bearers Paris Lights and Crystal Ball, with the former getting her head on the wire at the right time in the 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Paris Lights broke sharply from the outside post under jockey Tyler Gaffalione and was in the clear heading into the first turn before Crystal Ball assumed command to lead the five-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 24.43 seconds. Paris Lights kept close company just to her outside with Tonalist's Shape, who checked going into the turn, moving over to the three-path while under a tight hold from jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Approaching the far turn, Crystal Ball was put under a drive from Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano, while Gaffalione remain cool, calm and collected aboard his filly and did not begin asking her until they reached the quarter pole.

At the top of the Saratoga stretch, Paris Lights put a head in front, but a stubborn Crystal Ball was resilient and fought gamely to her inside. The two fillies duked it out and remained nip and tuck throughout the remaining furlong and a half, but Paris Lights came out on the winning end, completing the journey in a final time of 1:50.81 on the fast main track.

Crystal Ball finished 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Antoinette who rounded out the trifecta.

Tonalist's Shape and Velvet Crush, who walked out of the gate and was never a factor, completed the order of finish. Altaf was scratched.

Paris Lights made her stakes debut in the CCA Oaks, arriving at the event off a pair of victories going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs. She now boasts a record of 4-3-0-1 and earnings of $287,912.

The bay daughter of Curlin earned 100 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on September 4 at Churchill Downs.

The win was a redeeming one for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who turned the tables on Crystal Ball's Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert three years after coming out on the losing end of a memorable stretch battle in the 2017 CCA Oaks when Elate finished a head behind the Baffert-trained Abel Tasman.

“I think the fact we had another allowance race in her at Churchill [helped],” said Mott, who saddled Ajina to victory in the 1997 CCA Oaks. “She broke her maiden and we were able to get another allowance race in her for experience and build on that experience a bit and on her confidence level. It paid off today.”

The Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama on August 15, which also is a Kentucky Oaks qualifier, is in play for Paris Lights, Mott said.

“I don't see any reason we wouldn't make that her potential goal. We've been lucky enough to win it a couple of times and naturally, I'd like to try it again,” said Mott – a three-time winner of the Alabama.

The victory marked the first Grade 1 win at Saratoga for Gaffalione, who has been aboard Paris Lights in all four of her starts.

“My filly just kept digging in. The other filly [Crystal Ball, No. 5] was a little stubborn to get by, but my filly is all class,” said Gaffalione. “All credit to Mr. Mott and his team. As usual, they do such a fabulous job and I'm just thankful I got the opportunity to ride her.”

Gaffalione took advantage of a clean trip, which he said was key to securing the win.

“My filly jumped out really well. I looked over and saw the Baffert horse [Crystal Ball] go to the lead and I figured she was the speed on form,” Gaffalione said. “I thought maybe [Velvet Crush, No. 4] would go with her, but she didn't get away that clean. So, I took advantage of it, and my filly was there for me the whole way.”

Castellano, aboard Crystal Ball, said he was far from disappointed in his filly's effort.

“She's a young horse and it was just the third start of her career,” Castellano said. “The way it developed, with better horses in this race, she hooked up and battled with one of the best horses. I'm not disappointed. I'm happy the way she did it. We just got beat on the [head] bob.”

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Paris Lights is out of the Bernardini broodmare Paris Bikini, who is a half-sister to graded stakes winner America and is a direct descendant of prolific broodmare Best In Show.

Live racing returns on Sunday with a 10-race card which features the Grade 2, $150,000 Lake Placid for 3-year-old fillies over the inner turf. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

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