Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

The Week In Review: So Many Storylines On Preakness Day But None Bigger Than Another Tragedy

There was an exciting race, a thrilling stretch duel between winner National Treasure (Quality Road) and runner-up Blazing Sevens (Good Magic), and the first-ever win in the GI Preakness S. by classy Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. And think what you want of Bob Baffert, but his winning the first Triple Crown race he entered since the suspensions and bans had ended was a compelling chapter to this story. The man sure can train a race horse.

But those stories will start to drift away as we head to the GI Belmont S. and beyond. The one that will not is that this was another Triple Crown race marred by the death of a race horse. Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) broke down on the undercard, during the running of the GIII Chick Lang S., and had to be euthanized. That he is also trained by Baffert was red meat for racing's many critics.

This came after seven horses died at Churchill Downs in the lead-up to the GI Kentucky Derby. Two more horses have died at Churchill since the Derby, including one on Saturday.

From the mainstream media, the takes on the Preakness were predictable. A front-page, above-the-fold story in the Baltimore Sun appeared under this headline: 'National' Conflict. National Treasure's victory in the race contrasted with a horse's death earlier in the day–highlighting the controversy in a historic, but deadly sport. This was the headline on the Associated Press's report of the race: “Baffert back from ban, wins Preakness with National Treasure after another horse euthanized.”

And please don't dismiss this as noise from those who don't understand our game. On the two biggest racing days of the year so far, two days where the general public is paying attention to the sport, we left them with a dark and disturbing narrative, that as long as there is horse racing, horses will die. What's not to understand about that? We had hoped the Preakness card would shift the story, that the day would be without incident, that Mage (Good Magic) would win again and put himself in position to win a Triple Crown, and that we could put the seven deaths at Churchill in the background, at least somewhat. So much for that.

Had it happened to any other trainer, the story wouldn't have taken off like it did. But Baffert, because he is highly visible, trains a lot of very good horses, and has had his problems, is under the microscope like no other trainer.

A day after the Preakness, the Baltimore Sun, never known to be an anti-racing publication, was at it again. This time the subject was Baffert. The headline read “After a record-setting victory, Bob Baffert remains a messy figure atop a messy sport.” The story included this take on the Hall of Famer: “No one does a better job preparing horses to meet their potential on the most-watched stages in racing. No one inspires greater distaste from those who see racing as corrupted by drugs and death.”

Does Baffert deserve to have all the fingers pointed at him? He has had a spotless medication record since coming back from suspension and Havnameltdown was the first horse of his to break down in a race since he came back. Pimlico officials were extra careful to check every horse racing on the card from head to toe and their vets found nothing wrong with Havnameltdown. That Baffert would never have another horse break down was never going to happen. This one just happened to happen at the worst time possible.

In the aftermath of his roller-coaster day, the sport saw a side of him rarely seen. He was obviously very troubled by the death of the horse and during at least one interview was fighting back tears. It was more of the same Sunday when he spoke to the Pimlico media team.

“To me, the memory of this race would be that I lost Havnameltdown,” he said. “It was nice to win the race, but to me it was a pretty sad day.” He continued: “I'm still upset about losing that horse yesterday. My memory of this race is going to be about him. It just took all the fun out of it.”

None of what he said either Saturday or Sunday seemed contrived or an act. You could tell that he was really hurting.

But this shouldn't be about Baffert. It is much bigger than that. It is about what happened at Santa Anita in 2019. It is about the deaths at the Derby. It is about the two horses that died just down the road at Laurel on the April 20 card. It is about those horses you never heard of who have died in races, like Hair of the Dog (Hangover Kid), who died in a $4,500 claimer on April 1 at Charles Town, while no one was paying any attention.

Yes, we can and have done a better job protecting these horses. We could do better still, starting with changing all dirt tracks to the much-safer synthetic surfaces that are out there. That would make a huge difference. But I won't waste much more time on that argument because that's never going to happen. Then there's HISA. It is not a magic bullet, but it should make things better. It goes into effect Monday.

But here's the real problem. We will not ever eliminate breakdowns that lead to horses being euthanized. We still have a social license to operate, but will that last forever? The best we can do right now is to ask the public to accept that horses dying in races is inevitable and that we are working on the problem. That's a tough sell.

Then we cross our fingers, move on to the next big race and hope and pray that nothing goes wrong. It's a terrible position to be in.

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Preakness Runners Plan Next Steps; Mage To Target Travers

Following his win the in GI Preakness S. Saturday, trainer Bob Baffert said that National Treasure (Quality Road) and Sir Barton S. winner Arabian Lion (Justify) would stay at Pimlico for a few more days this week and may go on to New York for races on the Belmont S. program June 10. Though he did not rule out Arabian Lion, he said National Treasure was a more likely candidate for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont S. Baffert said he did not want to send the colts back to his base at California and then ship back to New York.

“They went so slow early, he had so much horse that he couldn't pull him up at the end he told me,” Baffert said. “Arabian Lion, I'm not sure if he's up for the mile and a half, but he did run a big race yesterday. It could change. I have until tomorrow to make these calls. I could change my mind and send them back home on Tuesday. So long as they are eating well, which they are, and they came out of it well, I think I'll be keeping them here relaxed for a little bit and I don't have to ship them.”

Next up for GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Mage (Good Magic) is some time off. The colt, owned by OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH, will head to The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Ky.

“He was there from May of last year to October,” Restrepo said after checking on Mage at the Pimlico Stakes Barn Sunday morning. “We will get him turned out and do some training. Everything is great. The colt is fantastic, bright-eyed and his head is up. We could not be any happier with him after trying as hard as did in the Preakness. The kid is an iron horse.”

The next goal for Mage, who won the GI Kentucky Derby in his fourth start, will be the GI Travers S. at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 26.

“We will give him a little vacation and he will power up and we will figure out the best way to get to the Travers,” Restrepo said. “He has not missed a day and has been on the engine since January.”

Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) finished a head behind National Treasure in the second leg of the Triple Crown Saturday.

“We thought he ran exceptionally well,” said John Capek. “It's tough to be a little bit short on the winning side of things, but we are pleased with his progress.”

Blazing Sevens shipped back to New York early Sunday morning. Trainer Chad Brown has not said what the colt's next race will be.

“We will talk to Chad and see what is best for the horse for his next race,” said Capek.

Trainer Steve Asmussen saw enough in Red Route One's (Gun Runner) fourth-place finish that after the race he said the GI Belmont S. is the obvious target.

“You're not guaranteed to get pace in the Belmont. You win races because of pace, and you benefit from it periodically. And then other times you don't. This would have been the latter for him,” he added. “He is nearing $700,000 in earnings. He's kept very good company his whole career and was probably beaten [4 3/4] lengths in the Preakness in a race I don't think set up ideally for him. Does he beat them under different circumstances? Who knows? But I do like the opportunity to run him a mile and a half.”

While he did not contest the Preakness as the runner-up at the Kentucky Derby, Two Phil's (Hard Spun) is possible to return to Churchill Downs in June for the GIII Matt Winn S. according to trainer Larry Rivelli.

Rivelli stated Two Phil's could run in either the Matt Winn June 11 or the GIII Ohio Derby June 24 at Thistledown. Either would be used as a prep for the GI Haskell S. at Monmouth Park July 22 and the GI Travers S. at Saratoga Aug. 26.

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National Treasure Outgames Blazing Sevens In Preakness 148

BALTIMORE, MD–The ABC Wide World of Sports telecast used to kick off with legendary TV host and personality Jim McKay uttering “The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat.” And never were those atipodal points more evident than they were for trainer Bob Baffert on Pimlico's Preakness Day card. His first runner on the card, Arabian Lion (Justify) strode to a four-length victory in the Sir Barton S., getting the Baffert team off to a fast start. However, the celebration was short lived. Two races later, 4-5 choice Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) broke down tragically during the running of the GIII Chick Lang S., necessitating his euthanasia. The Baffert team was utterly devastated. Fast forward to the day's feature event, the Baffert team sheltered in Pimlico's indoor paddock to watch the race, and while Baffert put on a brave face, chatting with the media, his wife Jill looked visibly shaken. Just moments later, nerves and anticipation culminated in an explosion of emotion as National Treasure (Quality Road) crossed the wire in front. Baffert's son, Bode, had his father in an intense bear hug his father, shouting in jubilation. And in a heartbeat, Bob worked his way over to Jill, engulfed in the frenetic excitement and who just collapsed into his arms, in a flood of tears. The couple's emotionally charged and lingering embrace felt palpable to many in the small group of bystanders.

“This business is twists and turns, ups and downs,” said Baffert. “We started out great, we had a horrible race and we've been totally wiped out after [Havnameltdown] got hurt. The emotions of this game, there's so many responsibilities a trainer has, employees, horse and jockey safety, and then to win this…Losing that horse today really hurt. I'm very happy for Johnny [Velazquez] that he got the win. It's been a very emotional day.”

The victory marked a record eighth Preakness win for the Hall of Fame trainer, surpassing Robert Wyndham Walden (7) and Baffert's good friend and fellow Hall of famer D. Wayne Lukas (6).

“To win eight–right now I'm not thinking about the eight because, hopefully, I want to come back here and add to that. But I'm happy for just this horse doing what he did today. I mean, this horse brought us all out of just a horrible moment today, and I'm just grateful to that horse.”

The victory also marked the first Preakness win for Velazquez, who has been aboard for all six of the colt's career starts.

“With all the blessings that I've had and all the success I've had in other races, not having won this one was definitely missing. It's very special to have it.

Pace Makes the Race..
Away cleanly from the inside stall, the colt drew Velazquez to the front as Coffeewithchris (Ride On Curlin), the co-longest shot on the board at 10-1, took up the chase with 9-2 third choice Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) and the defending Kentucky Derby champ and 7-5 favorite Mage (Good Magic) in close pursuit through an opening quarter in :23.95. Down the backstretch, a super-rank Red Route One (Gun Runner) sensed the poky pace and threw his head in the air as Joel Rosario tried to quell the smoldering inferno. Still cruising up front while throwing down an equally sedate half in :48.92, National Treasure maintained a 1 1/2-length advantage over Coffeewithchris with the trio of Red Route One, Mage and Blazing Sevens drafting another length behind. Blazing Sevens rider, Irad Ortiz Jr., started to turn the screws on the leader after three quarters in 1:13.49, setting the duo up for an epic battle. Turning for home, National Treasure held the inside advantage, while Blazing Sevens swung out six paths wide with the Derby champ being fanned out even wider and trying to mount his own challenge down the center of the track. At the top of the stretch, Blazing Sevens relentlessly closed on the leader who still had something left in the tank. Deadlocked midstretch, the duo appeared to gain, and then lose, the lead with every stride. With Velazquez scrubbing on the colt left handed and Ortiz Jr. showing the whip to his mount on the outside, the pair rolled down the stretch, battling with every stride, and ultimately hitting the wire seemingly in unison. The photo told another tale, however. Or a head as it were. Mage finished 2 1/4 lengths back in third while Red Route One was another 2 1/2 lengths farther back in fourth.

“I got a good break and hooked him outside a bit to think about what I was going to do,” explained Velazquez. “It wasn't really the plan [to put him front] but I really wanted to put him in a good rhythm. We got to the [first] turn and went to the inside and saved some ground. And we also saved some ground on the second turn when Irad [Ortiz Jr. aboard Blazing Sevens] started moving at the three-eighths pole, I stayed in there. But when I came to the quarter pole, I put a little pressure on [National Treasure] and he fought the whole way. At the 3/16ths pole, he put up a really good fight and he did not let [Blazing Sevens] pass him. That's what champions do.”

“You ride the best you can and the horse responds the best he can and does everything you want to do. That's what it takes. We do all the planning, that's what you hope for. He did everything I asked him to do.”

While the fractions proved a detriment to some, they were the ace in the hole for team Baffert and National Treasure.

“I loved [the early fractions],” he said. “If we could make the easy lead and just cruise around there…We knew he would love the distance. Once I saw the half-mile fraction, there was no excuses. That horse came to him…I thought he was going to go by us. But our horse dug in. It was a great race.”

In stark contrast, a visibly gutted Chad Brown was pragmatic about Blazing Seven's narrow defeat.

“I did not want to be in the middle of the racetrack the whole way, but I don't think Irad [Ortiz Jr.] had much choice,” the trainer explained. “The horse just got a very, very wide trip and he came up just short. I think the amount of ground lost probably cost him. I was a little worried because he was so wide the whole way. I thought maybe it might take the starch out of him a little bit, and it did. He had the outside post and I think Irad made the best decisions that he could. I don't see what he could have done differently.”

With Mage's Triple Crown dreams dashed, assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. also thought his colt's chances were compromised by the slow pace.

“We took the shot; it was worth the shot, and we got beat,” he said. “But I don't take anything from the winner. They beat us. That's it. He ran a good race to be third.”

He continued, “If you take him farther back [off a slow pace], the closer, maybe he doesn't respond. No speed in the race…The horses in front were going easy. Those horses, you don't beat them [with that pace]. They always fight. They fight when they go fast; imagine when they go so slow. They rebreak.

He added, “He's lightly raced; we'll see how he comes back. We'll regroup, take our time and see what's next to him. Nobody is going to take the Derby from him.”

Classic Winner in the Making…
Sent off the 3-1 second choice in his career debut at Del Mar last September, the Kentucky bred came home a 1 1/2 length winner and was jumped up into top tier company for his next two, finishing runner-up behind stablemate Cave Rock (Arrogate) in the GI American Pharoah S. before coming home third to ultimate juvenile champion Forte (Violence) and Cave Rock in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in November. Shelved for the rest of the year, he returned with a third behind two more Baffert alums–Reincarnate (Good Magic) and Newgate (Into Mischief)–in the GIII Sham S. Jan. 8. Transferred to Tim Yakteen in order to earn Kentucky Derby points for his latest start, he finished fourth behind Practical Move (Practical Joke) in the GI Santa Anita Derby.

“He won early and he showed us he was a nice horse, but we knew that he needed distance.” Baffert explained. “It just took him a while. He is still hasn't really filled out into his frame.”

Coming into Saturday's race, the sophomore worked four furlongs in a bullet :47.40 (1/31) at Santa Anita May 12 following a six-furlong move in a bullet 1:11.20 (1/4) May 6.

“We can tell his last works were very strong–he was working like a really good horse,” he continued. “His works were ridiculous. We also shipped here early because I didn't want to bring him too close to the race. I wanted to give him a chance to settle in.”

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Following the highest of highs and the lowest of lows experienced by the Baffert team over the course of a single day, the Hall of Fame trainer acknowledged it was the team effort that meant the most to the man who has spent a lifetime training horses..43 years to be exact.

“To me, this means more for Johnny getting his first Preakness win,” he said. “I give Johnny credit; he got him out of the gate beautifully. That's why he's in the Hall of Fame. I always feel confident when Johnny is on my horse.”

He continued, “I also have a great team. We've got Jimmy Barnes, you all know; my assistant, Pascual Rivera; all my grooms. They're the ones that do all the hard work. I delegate a lot of this, and we're a good team. They know what's expected of them.”

And while Baffert admits that his team at the barn are important parts in his success, he also acknowledges that his 'home' team is the very foundation of his empire.

“Well, I couldn't have done it without my beautiful wife Jill's support and my family and my friends,” he said. “We've been through a tough go. But we knew we would get through this, and the thing–I just focus. Like I said, it's the love of the horse that just keeps me focused and keeps me going, and I just kept the noise out.”

Addressing some of the challenges he has faced in recent times, he admitted, “It was tough. We had some tough moments. But it's days like this that it's not really vindication. I feel like we have a moment where we can enjoy it. We have a moment where we enjoy what we do. We get rewarded for how hard everybody in my team works. To me, that's mainly what it's about.”

Pedigree Notes:
National Treasure's victory gave Lane's End sire his 15th Grade 1/Group 1 victory. Offered at last summer's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale, bloodstock agent Donato Lanni extended to $500,000 on behalf of SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables. The partners subsequently brought on partners Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Peter Blum Thoroughbreds, also responsible for Champion 3-year-old Authentic, also trained by Baffert and campaigned by Starlight and Madaket in partnership with Spendthrift and Myracehorse.

Run through the Keeneland September yearling sale in 2013, the winner's dam Treasure RNA'd for $375,000. After producing a pair of colts by Speightstown in 2017 and 2018, both with earnings over $200,000, she followed with a full sister to National Treasure prior to the Preakness winner. Most recently, she produced a colt by Omaha Beach in 2021 named Pirate followed by a filly by Authentic last season. She was bred back to Quality Road.

Saturday, Pimlico
PREAKNESS S.-GI, $1,650,000, Pimlico, 5-20, 3yo, 1 3/16m, 1:55.12, ft.
1–NATIONAL TREASURE, 126, c, 3, by Quality Road
               1st Dam: Treasure, by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Proposal, by Mt. Livermore
                3rd Dam: Lady of Choice, by Storm Bird
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN,
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($500,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG). O-SF Racing LLC,
Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson,
Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge
Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Peter E. Blum
Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R. Velazquez.
$990,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-1-2, $1,335,000. Werk Nick
Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Blazing Sevens, 126, c, 3, Good Magic–Trophy Girl, by
Warrior's Reward. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($140,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN;
$225,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG). O-Rodeo Creek Racing, LLC; B-Tracy
Farmer (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $330,000.
3–Mage, 126, c, 3, Good Magic–Puca, by Big Brown. ($235,000
Ylg '21 KEESEP; $290,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-OGMA
Investments, LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC and
CMNWLTH; B-Grandview Equine (KY); T-Gustavo Delgado.
$181,500.
Margins: HD, 2 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 2.90, 4.90, 1.40.
Also Ran: Red Route One, Chase the Chaos, Perform, Coffeewithchris. Scratched: First Mission.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Justify’s Arabian Lion Romps In The Sir Barton

'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify) was sent off the 2-5 jolly for Saturday's Sir Barton S. at Pimlico and came away in the final 150 yards to become the 11th worldwide stakes winner (sixth in the U.S.) for his outstanding young stallion.

Off extremely alertly in a scratched-down field of five, the $600,000 OBS April breezer led through a leisurely opening quarter in :24.47 under an easy John Velazquez hold, but was forced to pick it up some in the middle stages, as second choice Tapit's Conquest (Tapit) went for a middle move three off the inside in an attempt to apply bit of pressure to the leader. Arabian Lion still held the call after three-quarters in 1:11.22 and when Tapit's Conquest gave it one final crack entering the final furlong, the burly chestnut hit another gear after a right-handed reminder from Velazquez and ran out a facile winner over a track that has been yielding quick times.

Named a 'Rising Star' for a three-length debut success at Santa Anita Oct. 9, Arabian Lion nearly overcame a bobbling start in a Breeders' Cup Friday allowance at Keeneland, setting for a close second behind next-out Springboard Mile runner-up Giant Mischief (Into Mischief). Inexplicably last of five when heavily favored in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity, he was fourth of four in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 4 before just getting run down by would-be GI Preakness S. second favorite First Mission (Street Sense) in Keeneland's GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. Apr. 15.

“I should have run him in the Preakness!” said trainer Bob Baffert. “I didn't think he could lose in the Lexington. I was just, 'How did he get beat?' I think that race sort of helped him, and I wanted to give him one more time around two turns. He is such a beautiful horse. He is like a smaller version of Justify and I think he is just starting to wake up. What I saw today, and that time was pretty impressive, I think he [belonged] in the Preakness the way he ran today. The Belmont is a possibility with him.”

Arabian Lion is one of four winners from five to race out of a full-sister to the stakes-placed Mary Rita (Distorted Humor), whose multiple graded stakes-winning son Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro) was a bang-up third in the GII American Turf S. on the Kentucky Derby undercard. The colt, who counts the legendary Personal Ensign as his third dam, has a foal half-sister by Frosted. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

SIR BARTON S. SPONSORED BY BRANDON AND DIANNAH PERRY TO BENEFIT THE THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE, $99,000, Pimlico, 5-20, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:41.13 (NSR), ft.
1–ARABIAN LION, 118, c, 3, by Justify
1st Dam: Unbound (SP, $359,826), by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Possibility, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Personal Ensign, by Private Account
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($600,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Zedan Racing Stables Inc; B-Bonne Chance Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R Velazquez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: GSP, 6-2-2-0, $217,600.
2–Tapit's Conquest, 118, c, 3, Tapit–Conquest Lil Miss, by Horse Greeley. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. ($350,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Robert V LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds & Madaket Stables LLC; B-WinStar Farm LLC & Tapit Syndicate (KY); T-Brad H Cox. $20,000.
3–Denington, 118, c, 3, Gun Runner–Stronger Than Ever, by Congrats. O/B-Fern Circle Stables & Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek) (KY); T-Kenneth G McPeek. $10,000.
Margins: 4, 6HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 3.00, 3.50.
Also Ran: Sheriff Ronnie, Feeling Woozy. Scratched: Masterwork.

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