Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

Why I Voted for Taiba

Who was the most talented 3-year-old male to race this year? I will not argue with anyone who says the answer is Epicenter (Not This Time). He won the GII Louisiana Derby, finished second in the GI Kentucky Derby and second in the GI Preakness S. From there, he won the GII Jim Dandy S. and the GI Runhappy Travers S. before an injury kept him from finishing the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Other than the Classic, he finished first or second in all of his starts and won four graded stakes. Classy, talented, consistent, Epicenter checked a lot of boxes.

But was he the most accomplished 3-year-old male to race in 2022 and what bearing should that have on the Eclipse Awards? That's where this gets tricky. After his win in the Travers, it looked like Epicenter had wrapped up the 3-year-old championship, but he never won again, while Taiba (Gun Runner) finished the year with a flourish. He won the GI Pennsylvania Derby, finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and, on Monday, won the GI Runhappy Malibu S. at Santa Anita. Earlier in the year, he won the GI Santa Anita Derby, in what was just his second career start.

Some want to argue that Taiba wasn't overly impressive in the Malibu, that he didn't beat a great field and that his time for the seven furlongs was just .24 seconds faster than the fillies went two races earlier in the GI La Brea S. None of that matters, a Grade I win is a Grade I win and, for Taiba, it was his third this year. Epicenter won only one Grade I, the Travers.

So do you go with the best horse (probably Epicenter) or the one who accomplished the most (probably Taiba)? There's no wrong answer here, but I have always given preference to the horses who won the most Grade I races and the score is Taiba 3-Epicenter 1. That's why I filled out my ballot for Taiba.

For a horse to be deserving of a championship they must have succeeded at the highest levels of the sport. The way we keep score is with the graded stakes system and Grade I's are the gold standard when it comes to accomplishments. In this one very important category, Taiba was clearly the winner over Epicenter.

When it comes to head-to-head competition, neither comes out ahead. Epicenter finished in front of Taiba in the Kentucky Derby, but Taiba was making just his third lifetime start and wasn't ready for such a tough assignment. Taiba finished ahead of Epicenter in the Breeders' Cup Classic, but you can't fault Epicenter for being injured. Had trainer Bob Baffert not been suspended by NYRA, Taiba very well could have faced Epicenter in the Travers, a race that could have gone a long way toward proving who was better, but we weren't lucky enough to see that showdown.

A lot of Epicenter fans say he should be rewarded for his body of work. But what about Taiba's body of work? He started seven times and won four races. That's comparable to Epicenter, who ran eight times and also won four starts.

As is usually the case, most other Eclipse categories were no-brainers. There were, however, a couple of races worthy of debate.

I was ready to vote for War Like Goddess (English Channel) after she ran a creditable third against males in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. That race came after she beat the boys in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. But my vote went to Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom). The vote was based on the same logic I used for Taiba-versus-Epicenter. Regal Glory won three Grade I races and War Like Goddess won only one.

In the human categories, Irad Ortiz Jr. (jockey), Todd Pletcher (trainer), Godolphin (owner and breeder) were all obvious winners. The one vote I cast that went against the grain was in the apprentice jockey category. I voted for Vicente Del-Cid, who dominated at Delta Downs and Evangeline Downs. While it's true he didn't ride at top-tier tracks, through Dec. 26 he had 274 wins. Trailing only Irad Ortiz, that's second best in the country and 91 wins ahead of Jeiron Barbosa, second in that category among bugs. It won't be long before Del-Cid is winning races on a regular basis at a top track.

The Eclipse Awards ceremony honoring this year's champions will be held Jan. 26, 2023, at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida. It's then that we will find out if the 3-year-old title goes to Epicenter or Taiba. Both are deserving winners, it's just that Taiba deserves it a little more.

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Taiba Adds to Five-Win Day for Baffert in Runhappy Malibu

On a record-setting opening day at Santa Anita, Zedan Racing Stable's Taiba (Gun Runner) earned his third Grade I victory and bolstered his chances for an Eclipse award with a 4 1/4-length victory in the GI Runhappy Malibu S. Monday in Arcadia. The win was the fifth on the card for trainer Bob Baffert, who recorded three graded victories with Fun to Dream (Arrogate) winning the GI La Brea S. and Country Grammer (Tonalist) taking the GII San Antonio S. Baffert was also represented by Faustin (Curlin), who was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his debut win in the card's fourth race.

“It just shows you the clientele that we have,” Baffert said of the brace of wins. “It is unbelievable, they let us buy these horses and I have a great team and staff. Everyone works hard, and when you are given these horses, you're lucky if you know what to do with them and sometimes you don't.

Baffert wasn't the only one having a good day in the California sunshine, as an on-track crowd of 41,446 produced an all-time opening day record all-sources pari-mutuel handle of more than $26 million.

“I just want to thank all the fans who showed up today,” Baffert said. “It is beautiful when you win with this many people here. Santa Anita is the Great Race Place.”

Taiba, the 2-5 Malibu favorite, tracked pacesetting Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) through fractions of :22.18 and :44.38. He overtook the pacesetter into the stretch and turned for home in tandem with longshot Straight No Chaser (Speightster), who briefly looked a threat. But Taiba put that foe away with a furlong to run and drew away, completing the seven furlongs in 1:21.75 and becoming the only North American 3-year-old with three top-level victories in 2022. Forbidden Kingdom re-rallied for second and Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft) was third.

“That horse is like a bike and you have to pedal,” said winning rider Mike Smith. “Going long, you don't have to do it as much, but I knew that going short it would be tough. Last time he didn't break very well in the Breeders' Cup; he stumbled. I thought, 'If I break through it, I can get in front of the two next to me outside and at least gain third. Right?' Well, I didn't see the outside horse, and I decided not to take a chance and see what he was going to do. Normally, I have to get aggressive with him at that point like I did in Philadelphia, but today that horse actually helped me.”

Baffert aded, “It was a tough Malibu, but turning for home he always looks like he's empty, and he just finds new life. I don't know where he gets it from. He just has more gears and we saw an extra one today.”

Amr Zedan, who is co-owner of Country Grammer, had his second graded win of the day when Taiba strode clear in the Malibu.

Taiba, a $1.7-million purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale, won the GI Santa Anita Derby in just his second start, earning a spot in the GI Kentucky Derby. He was 12th on the first Saturday in May, but had a productive second half of the season, missing by just a head when second to Cyberknife (Gun Runner) in the GI Haskell S. before winning the Sept. 24 GI Pennsylvania Derby. He was most recently third in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

“He's getting better and better,” Baffert said of the almost 4-year-old. “He looked a little heavy in the paddock but that's him. I think he is a lot like his sire, Gun Runner, getting better with age and he needs to go further, it is a little short for him. He has turned in to quite a horse.”

Pedigree Notes:

Taiba is one of six Grade I winners for his young sire, Gun Runner. He is the second foal out of his multiple stakes-winning Ohio-bred mare, Needmore Flattery, who sold to Yeguada Centurion while in foal to Uncle Mo for $195,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale. Her 2-year-old filly Tita Mimosa (Ire) (Uncle Mo) has been working at Tampa Bay Downs. The mare also has a yearling colt by Waldgeist (GB), who sold for €81,000 at this year's Arqana October sale.

Monday, Santa Anita
RUNHAPPY MALIBU S.-GI, $302,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, 7f, 1:21.75, ft.
1–TAIBA, 124, c, 3, by Gun Runner
               1st Dam: Needmore Flattery (MSW, $732,103), by Flatter
               2nd Dam: Kiosk, by Left Banker
               3rd Dam: Phone Switch, by Phone Trick
($140,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $1,700,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR).
O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Bruce C Ryan (KY); T-Bob
Baffert; J-Mike E. Smith. $180,000. 'TDN Rising Star'
Lifetime Record: MGISW, 7-4-1-1, $1,956,200.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Forbidden Kingdom, 122, c, 3, American Pharoah–Just
Louise, by Five Star Day. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($300,000 Ylg
'20 FTKSEL). O-MyRacehorse & Spendthrift Farm LLC;
B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $60,000.
3–Hoist the Gold, 120, c, 3, Mineshaft–Tacit Approval, by
Tapit. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE.
($47,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Dream Team One Racing
Stable; B-Dream Team Racing (KY); T-Dallas Stewart.
$36,000.
Margins: 4 1/4, 3/4, NK. Odds: 0.40, 6.90, 29.30.
Also Ran: Nakatomi, Strava, Apprehend, Straight No Chaser, Messier, Perfect Flight.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Arrogate’s Fun to Dream Gives Baffert Record La Brea Win

Jill Baffert and Connie Pageler's Fun to Dream, beaten just once now in six trips to the post, scored her first graded victory with a determined win in the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita Monday.

Fun to Dream shadowed the pacesetters three wide down the backstretch. She stuck her head in front at the top of the lane and held Awake at Midnyte–the only horse so far to have finished in front of her–at bay down to the wire to score by 3/4 lengths.

“This horse is getting really, really good,” said winning jockey Juan Hernandez. “She's improving a lot, and she's shown up in her last couple of starts. Today, she was traveling very smoothly on the back side, and she broke sharp. Then after that, I felt like I had a ton of control. Turning for home I asked her to switch leads and pick it up, and she did the rest.”

Winning trainer–and co-breeder–Bob Baffert saddled four of the seven fillies in the La Brea and was earning his record ninth win in the race, as well as his fourth victory on Santa Anita's opening-day card Monday.

“All the fillies, they were doing so well, and I was hoping that one of them would get there and she just got the perfect trip, outside,” Baffert said. “Juan just sat there, and you could tell he was loving it, turning for home. I'm sitting next to my wife Jill, and she can't believe what she's seeing.”

The Cal-bred Fun to Dream, who was bred by Bob Baffert and Pageler, was a debut winner in May, and captured the Fleet Treat S. in her second outing in July. She suffered her first loss when second, but disqualified to ninth, behind Awake at Midnyte in a Sept. 4 optional claimer at Del Mar. She stretched out to 1 1/16 miles and returned to the winner's circle with a 4 3/4-length victory in an Oct. 1 optional claimer and was coming off a narrow victory against state-bred foes in the seven-furlong Betty Grable S. at Del Mar Nov. 13.

“You breed these horses, hoping for this moment,” Baffert said. “Arrogate, I had to breed a mare to him and now, she is a Grade I winner. It looks like she's just getting better and better. She doesn't know she's a Cal-bred.”

Pedigree Notes:

Bob Baffert claimed Lutess on behalf of Live Your Dream Racing for $8,000 out of her final career start in 2012. She is also the dam of multiple stakes winner Heck Yeah (Acclamation). She produced colts by Smiling Tiger in 2021 and 2022 and was bred back to that sire this year.

Fun to Dream is the fourth graded winner for the late Arrogate, who was represented by 2022 Grade I winners Cave Rock, And Tell Me Nolies, and Secret Oath.

Monday, Santa Anita
LA BREA S.-GI, $301,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:21.99, ft.
1–FUN TO DREAM, 120, f, 3, by Arrogate
               1st Dam: Lutess, by Maria's Mon
               2nd Dam: Alchema, by Menifee
               3rd Dam: Madeira M'dear, by Black Tie Affair (Ire)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Natalie J.
Baffert & Connie Pageler; B-Connie Pageler & Bob Baffert
(CA); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $180,000. Lifetime
Record: 6-5-0-0, $426,590. *1/2 to Heck Yeah
(Acclamation), MSW, $397,949. Werk Nick Rating: B+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Awake At Midnyte, 120, f, 3, by Nyquist
               1st Dam: Midnight Union, by Union Rags
               2nd Dam: Midnight Visit, by Henny Hughes
               3rd Dam: Open Window, by Trempolino
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($85,000 RNA Wlg '19 KEENOV;
$190,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $320,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR;
$485,000 RNA 3yo '22 FTKNOV). O-Reddam Racing LLC;
B-Forty Oaks (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $60,000.
3–Kirstenbosch, 120, f, 3, by Midnight Lute
               1st Dam: Llandudno (GSP, $150,160), by Belong to Me
               2nd Dam: And Guess What, by Kris S.
               3rd Dam: T. V. Residual, by Pirate's Bounty
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Keith
Abrahams (KY); T-John W. Sadler. $36,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3 1/4, HF. Odds: 2.70, 7.00, 31.20.
Also Ran: Midnight Memories, Ganadora, Ain't Easy, Under the Stars. Scratched: Hot Peppers.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Country Grammer Wins San Antonio With Authority

Country Grammer, reunited with Frankie Dettori for the first time since winning the G1 Dubai World Cup in March, strode home an easy winner of the GII San Antonio S. at Santa Anita Monday. Sent off the 3-5 favorite, Country Grammer was hustled from his outside post by Dettori, but was unable to match the speed of his inside rivals and was caught four wide into the first turn as Hopkins (Quality Road) took the early lead and was in front through fractions of :22.76 and :46.16. Country Grammar rolled up three wide into the far turn and grabbed the lead into the stretch before bursting clear to an easy victory.

“I'm spending the winter here and on day one riding here, on one of the best horses in the world, the pressure was on,” Dettori admitted. “I felt it but the horse was in great form, and I was able to enjoy the scream of the crowd and it is nice to be back at Santa Anita. What a place! What a crowd, it's amazing.”

Dettori has announced 2023 will be his final year in the saddle.

“Thirty five years went like a flash,” the Italian said. “I've got to make these last 12 months the best that I can and enjoy it. Most of all I've had a great career, and this is where it all started, and this is where it will finish.”

Country Grammer, purchased as a 4-year-old by WinStar Farm from the dispersal of the late Paul Pompa for $110,000 at the 2021 Keeneland January sale, ended his 2021 campaign with a win in May 31 GI Hollywood Gold Cup. He resurfaced nine months later to finish second in the Feb. 26 G1 Saudi Cup and went one better in the World Cup at Meydan a month later. The 5-year-old returned stateside to be second in the July 30 GII San Diego H. and was beaten 19 lengths when second behind Flightline (Tapit) in the Sept. 3 GI TVG Pacific Classic. He was making his first start since finishing second in the Oct. 1GI Aweso me Again S.

“This horse is training better than he ever has, and he likes a deeper racetrack,” winning trainer Bob Baffert said. “This horse has brought us so much joy when things were down. He always shows up. It was nice of Frankie Dettori to win one like that. He's such a great rider, and it's his last year to be part of it. I'm just blessed the owners gave me the horse to train, and I have a great staff backing me.”

Pedigree Notes:

Arabian Song, in foal to Wicked Strong, sold for $5,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November sale and was exported to Saudi Arabia. She has a 3-year-old filly by that sire racing in Saudi Arabia and has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Saint Anddan. Under Country Grammar's third dam, Willstar, is Group 1 winner Etoile Montante (Miswaki), as well as the dams of Grade I winner Obligatory (Curlin) and multiple graded winner Bonny South (Munnings).

Monday, Santa Anita
SAN ANTONIO S.-GII, $200,500, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:43.45, ft.
1–COUNTRY GRAMMER, 123, h, 5, by Tonalist
                1st Dam: Arabian Song, by Forestry
                2nd Dam: Prima Centauri, by Distant View
                3rd Dam: Willstar, by Nureyev
($60,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $450,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR; $110,000
4yo '21 KEEJAN). O-Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, LLC,
Winstar Farm LLC and Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Scott
& Debbie Pierce (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Lanfranco Dettori.
$120,000. Lifetime Record: 14-5-5-1, $11,277,320. *1/2 to
Joyful Cadence (Runhappy), SW & MGSP, $546,155. Werk Nick
   Rating: A+. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
   Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Stilleto Boy, 123, g, 4, Shackleford–Rosie's Ransom, by
Marquetry. ($420,000 3yo '21 FTKHRA). O-Steve Moger;
B-John & Iveta Kerber (KY); T-Ed Moger, Jr. $40,000.
3–Heywoods Beach, 123, h, 5, Speightstown–Unfold the Rose,
by Catienus. ($150,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $190,000 RNA 2yo '19
FTFMAR; $180,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-Hronis Racing LLC;
B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-John W. Sadler. $24,000.
Margins: 4HF, 3HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.60, 5.00, 9.30.
Also Ran: Breakfast Ride, Hudson Ridge, Hopkins.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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