Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

Newgate Last to First in Robert B. Lewis

In a sport often built upon uncertainty, the latest renewal of the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. offered one foregone conclusion–a Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old would emerge victorious. With only four horses–all trained by Baffert–going postward in Saturday's sophomore feature at Santa Anita, Newgate (Into Mischief) was most fancied of the quartet, with Arabian Lion (Justify) given a 2-1 chance over Worcester (Empire Maker) at 5-2. Accompanied by famed European rider Frankie Dettori, the favorite was held under restraint in last by about 2 1/2 lengths as Arabian Lion and Hard to Figure (Hard Spun), sent off at 12-1, led the way through :23.87 and :47.76 splits. Asked by Dettori for more approaching the quarter pole, the bay was three wide turning for home, and despite seeming like he had the most forward momentum, had to work hard down the lane to get past Hard to Figure, inching ahead in the final sixteenth en route to a neck victory. Worcester was third while Arabian Lion crossed the wire fourth.

“We had good pace in the race, we came back in good time,” said Dettori, who is planning to retire at the end of this season. “Today, we moved sharper and we beat some good horses. He was a little slow with his lead changes, but he ran well.”

A TDN Rising Star-earning winner at Del Mar last July, the bay finished fourth next time out in the seven-furlong GI Del Mar Futurity before a fifth in the GI Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in October. Closing out 2022 with a runner-up finish in the GIII Bob Hope S. Nov. 20, he returned in 2023 with a productive second, beaten only a neck, in Santa Anita's GIII Sham S. Jan. 8. Dettori was aboard for his latest start.

“Frankie Dettori has been teaching him how to just sit back, relax and come with a punch and that's what he did today,” said Baffert. “Newgate, before when we were sending him, he wasn't finishing. I wasn't sure how far he wanted to go…I was actually nervous before the race, worried that something weird might happen, but I can relax now.”

Pedigree Notes:
Into Mischief dominated Coast-to-Coast sophomore racing action with a pair of colts earning black-type at Santa Anita and at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Newgate's Robert B. Lewis score gave the Spendthrift stallion his 61st graded winner, following General Jim's 60th recorded winner earlier in the day in South Florida.

The winner's dam, Majestic Presence, was secured for $360,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale in foal to Runhappy. The 11-year-old mare has a year younger full-sister to Newgate, named Denim and Pearls, and a yearling half-sister by Authentic. She was bred back to Essential Quality.

Saturday, Santa Anita
ROBERT B. LEWIS S.-GIII, $196,000, Santa Anita, 2-4, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.11, ft.
1–NEWGATE, 120, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Majestic Presence (GSP-USA, MSP-Can, $227,896), by Majestic Warrior
2nd Dam: Shining Victory, by Victory Gallop
3rd Dam: Phoenix Sunshine, by Encino
'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
WIN. ($850,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight
Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet
Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC &
Catherine Donovan; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC (KY);
T-Bob Baffert; J-Lanfranco Dettori. $120,000. Lifetime Record:
6-2-2-0, $241,975. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hard to Figure, 120, c, 3, Hard Spun–Ani La, by Mr. Greeley.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($40,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $200,000
2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul
Weitman; B-James Heyward (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $40,000.
3–Worcester, 120, c, 3, Empire Maker–Lil Super Bear,
by Super Saver. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($180,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing,
Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Jay A.
Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC & Catherine Donovan;
B-Jerry Dixon Revocable Trust & Empire Maker Syndicate (KY);
T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 12.80, 2.50.
Also Ran: Arabian Lion.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Big Stars Twinkle As Entries Taken For Dubai World Cup Meeting

Defending G1 Dubai World Cup hero Country Grammer (Tonalist) is one of over 1,600 entries, including 892 individual horses from 21 countries, entered in the $30.5-million Dubai World Cup night card.

The featured event, sponsored by Emirates Airline, attracted 171 entries. Of the 24 Group or Grade 1 winners besides the Zedan Racing-owned and Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer, is the duo's three-time Grade I winner Taiba (Gun Runner).

Joining them could be a pair of longshot headliners from last year; namely, GI Kentucky Derby champ Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and upset G1 Saudi Cup victor Emblem Road (Quality Road). Japan continues their well-documented rise on the international racing stage, and 2022 G1 Dubai Turf dead-heater Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) holds a Dubai World Cup nomination this time.

As for the rest of the card, the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic nominations includes Japanese stars like the 2022 winner Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), as well as Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), the highest-rated 3-year-old in the world last year. Standing in their way is Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby who has entered Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf.

Speaking of the Dubai Turf, sponsored by DP World, the other half of the dead heat from last year in Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) returns, while newcomer Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) made the list. They could be facing rookie international shipper and reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro). Meanwhile, the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen could pit the Steve Asmussen trainee Gunite (Gun Runner) against RRR Racing's local hero Switzerland (Speightstown).

Grass sprinting noms in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Azizi Developments, are led by the well-travelled Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) who could make the journey from Down Under. Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien's three wins in the G2 UAE Derby make him a logical frontrunner, especially as he has nominated GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

The G2 Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, could signal the return of 2021 winner and G1 Gold Cup hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). While the rundown of entries for the G2 Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Nakheel, is marked by defending champion Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), as well as Japanese challengers like Lauda Sion (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) and Derma Louvre (Jpn) (Pyro), plus Americans hopefuls like Pioneer Of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile) and White Abarrio (Race Day).

“We are delighted by the strength and depth of entries for this year's Dubai World Cup meeting,” said Stephanie Cooley, International Manager for the Club. “To have horses from more than 20 countries considering the trip shows the meeting's continued global appeal.”

Invitations for the meeting are set to go out during February. Click here, for the full list of the nominations.

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The Week in Review: Baffert Bigger, Stronger Than Ever

Bob Baffert has certainly taken his lumps ever since it was discovered that Medina Spirit (Protonico) tested positive for a banned substance in the 2021 GI Kentucky Derby. He was hit with a 90-day suspension from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, the New York Racing Association banned him for a year and Churchill Downs banned him for two years. Though Baffert is still fighting the Churchill ban, in all likelihood, he will not be allowed to start a horse in this year's Derby, which would be the second straight year he was prevented from running a horse in the race.

Then, it was reported last week, that horses currently trained by Baffert must be sent to another trainer by Feb. 28. If not, they will not be eligible for qualifying points for the Derby. Last year, he didn't have to turn over his Derby hopefuls to another stable until just prior to the last round of Derby preps, races like the GI Santa Anita Derby and the GI Arkansas Derby.

With just about any other trainer, these penalties could have been a major setback, with owners sending their horses to new barns. But Baffert is not any other trainer. When it comes to winning Triple Crown races he is arguably the best there has ever been and owners know that teaming up with him improves their chances of winning the sport's most coveted races, even if he might not be the trainer of their horses when it comes Derby time. No one walked away.

So it's no surprise that Baffert has not suffered the “irreparable harm” that his lawyers kept arguing would be the case when contesting the suspensions. But no one could have foreseen what was to come, that Baffert would emerge from this with more firepower than he has ever had.

That was on full display last weekend. Baffert won the GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn with Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo). The next day he captured the GII San Vicente S. with Havnameltdown (Uncaptured), a race in which he sent out three of the four starters. But nothing shined a light on Baffert's dominance quite like the list of nominees for the GIII Robert B. Lewis S., which was released Saturday. Sixteen horses were nominated and 14 are trained by Baffert. He very well could be the only trainer to have a horse in next Saturday's race.

The list of owners of the horses nominated for the Lewis is a stellar group, individuals and partnerships who have remained fiercely loyal to Baffert. You have Zedan Racing Stables, Michael Lund Petersen, the Pegram, Watson, Weitman partnership and the SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables partnership.

The list of Lewis nominees does not include Cave Rock (Arrogate). The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up who was Baffert's best 2-year-old last year, Cave Rock, as of Sunday, had not had a published workout in 2023, not a good sign with the Derby just 95 days away.

Baffert's weekend also included a win in the GIII Las Virgenes S. for 3-year-old fillies with Faiza (Girvin) and a second-place finish with Defunded (Dialed In) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

None of which means that Baffert, or whomever is brought in prior to the Derby, has to win the race, but they will likely head to Churchill with a very strong hand, one led by Arabian Knight. After an electric win in his debut Nov. 5 at Keeneland, he had no problem with the next test, two turns and stakes competition in the Southwest. While GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Forte (Violence) has accomplished more than Arabian Knight, the Baffert runner, who cost $2.3 million at the OBS April sale, has been so impressive that he looks like the leader of the division and he tops the TDN's Derby Top 12. Look for him to take the Oaklawn route to the Derby and follow in the footsteps of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), who won the GII Rebel S. and the Arkansas Derby on his way to Louisville.

The most starters Baffert has ever had in the Derby is three, which he has done four times. Last year, Tim Yakteen, subbing for Baffert, had two. Could Baffert, or whomever is brought in to deputize, have six or seven starters in this year's race? It seems entirely possible. And after the Derby has been run, the last of the suspensions or bans that Baffert has been hit with, will be over. He can move on.

With the two-year anniversary of Medina Spirit having tested positive in the Derby coming up, the Hall of Fame trainer has proved his resiliency and his major owners have all stood by him. It's no doubt been a trying two years for Baffert, but it could have been a lot worse. He's stronger than ever.

Numbers Plummet at Sam Houston

For those of you who missed it, Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) won Saturday's GIII Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston and Scarlet Fusion (Curlin) captured the GIII John Connally Turf Cup. Not that hardly anybody was able to watch or wager on those races.

You have to feel bad for Sam Houston management, which has done a good job over the years promoting what it calls the Houston Racing Festival. The event has given the track some needed exposure over the years and brought in some good horses. Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) won the Ladies Classic in 2019 and Letruska (Super Saver) captured the race in 201.

But this year, thanks to a hissy fit from the Texas Racing Commission, the Saturday card at Sam Houston was all but invisible. The Texas racing regulators pulled the plug on the simulcasting of all races in the state after declaring that the advent of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act meant it was illegal to send the races out of state. So, unless you were present in Texas Saturday, you could neither watch nor bet on the Sam Houston races. With no betting being taken on the races, none of the major ADWs showed the Sam Houston races.

The results were predictable. The handle on the day was $488,385. Last year, when the races were run on a Sunday, the handle was $5,698,052. That's a decline of 91.4%.

The Texas tracks get some of their purse money from a fund that comes from sales taxes on horse feed, tack and other horse-related products and services. But trying to maintain purses when the handle is next to nothing is not feasible. Meanwhile, the Texas Racing Commission continues to cut off its nose to spite its face, putting the future of racing in the state in jeopardy.

At Pegasus World Cup, Business is Booming

1/ST Racing has put a lot of its resources behind turning a day at the races into an event. The best example is Pegasus World Cup Day. By combining a stellar day of racing, a $3-million race and a number of on-track entertainment options, 1/ST has turned the day into a horse racing party.

That might not appeal to everyone as there are surely a lot of curmudgeonly horseplayers who could do without having to pay a good dollar to attend and have no interest in listening to musical acts whose audience are Gen Z-ers. But it is working. They handled $43,886,543 Saturday at Gulfstream. Up until 2016, the race was not the Pegasus but the GI Donn H. and the likes of Kygo, OneRepublic and Joe Jonas were nowhere to be found. In the last year of the Donn, the handle was $19,954,971. It has more than doubled since.

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Havnameltdown Wires the San Vicente

Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's Havnameltdown set all the fractions and held stablemate and co-favorite Faustin at bay to the wire to win the GII San Vicente S. by 1 1 /2 lengths at Santa Anita Sunday. Off a tad awkwardly from his inside post, Havnameltdown recovered quickly to pull himself to the early lead and was in control after a quarter in :22.46, with longshot Man Child (Creative Cause), the lone non-Baffert runner in the four-horse field, in close attendance. The bay colt inched further clear entering the far turn as the half went up in :45.46. Faustin, making his first start since a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy debut at Santa Anita Dec. 26, loomed a threat nearing the stretch, but Havnameltdown scampered clear into the lane and maintained his advantage to the wire as his stablemate tried in vain to reel him in down the length of the stretch.

“I felt out of the gate with the first jump, he broke really fast and strong then after that I felt like I was just cruising,” said winning jockey Juan Hernandez. “He was having fun out there. He was kind of waiting for horses, I was doing the same thing, I was just waiting for him and waiting for the competition to get close to me so I could start making my horse run. At the three-eighths, I felt the pressure a little bit and I asked him and he responded really well. Turning for home he switched leads and he picked it up by himself.”

Havnameltdown will likely stay at one-turn distances, while Baffert is looking forward to stretching Faustin out.

“This horse is built for this distance that's him, one turn,” Baffert said of the winner. “He will stay one turn. Faustin, he was kind of a grinding slow, he wants to go longer, the other horse [Fort Warren] wants to go longer. You try to get outs into them so they'll learn and you'll figure [them out]. The other two are ready to go long.

“The problem is that if you break your maiden first time out, you have to run in stakes. It is that way all over the country. Just getting these races into them is important. Faustin, you can tell he is not there yet, once he goes two turns, you'll see a big difference in him. He wat trying to get there but he was running against a top-class sprinter.”

Havnameltdown was a $16,000 OBSOCT purchase by pinhooker Blas Perez, who resold the colt for $200,000 following a :9 4/5 work at last year's OBS April sale. The colt graduated on debut at Del Mar last July and added a win in the Aug. 14 GIII Best Pal S. in his second outing. He suffered his first loss when second behind stablemate Cave Rock (Arrogate) in the Sept. 11 GI Del Mar Futurity, but returned to the winner's circle with a 1 1/4-length victory in the Nov. 20 GIII Bob Hope S. last time out.

Pedigree Notes:

Havnameltdown is one of six graded winners for his sire Uncaptured. The Canadian champion 2-year-old, who began his stud career at Ocala Stud, relocated to South Korea for the 2020 breeding season.

The winner's dam, Ashley's Babe, in foal to Maximus Mischief, RNA'd for $170,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale. She has a 2-year-old Tapiture colt who RNA'd for $4,500 earlier this month at the Keeneland January sale.

Sunday, Santa Anita
SAN VICENTE S.-GII, $196,000, Santa Anita, 1-29, 3yo, 7f, 1:22.29, ft.
1–HAVNAMELTDOWN, 124, c, 3, by Uncaptured
                1st Dam: Ashley's Babe, by Put It Back
                2nd Dam: Charms Way, by Salt Lake
                3rd Dam: Remember Midnight, by Cure the Blues
($16,000 Ylg '21 OBSOCT; $200,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR).
O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman;
B-Katherine S Devall (FL); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez.
$120,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 5-4-1-0, $408,000. Werk Nick
Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Faustin, 120, c, 3, Curlin–Hard Not to Like, by Hard Spun.
'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($285,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; $800,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR).
O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Dattt Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob
Baffert. $40,000.
3–Fort Warren, 120, c, 3, Curlin–La Appassionata,
by Bernardini. 'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE,
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($550,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP).
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert
Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber,
Waves Edge Capital LLC & Catherine Donovan; B-Stonestreet
Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: 1HF, 8 3/4, 4 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 1.00, 4.90.
Also Ran: Man Child. Scratched: Gilmore.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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