Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

Baffert Has Strong Hand In Bob Hope

Trainer Bob Baffert has accounted for seven of the last 11 winners of the GIII Bob Hope S., including two of the final three renewals when the race was known as the Hollywood Prevue S., and three out of the last four during the Bing Crosby meet capped by 'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker) 12 months ago.

It would appear that this year's running also goes through the Baffert shedrow, which sends out three of the seven entrants. Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) is the most accomplished of the trio and is accordingly the 6-5 pick on the morning line. A smooth maiden winner on his five-furlong debut over this strip July 24, the bay overcame the 10 hole to post a popular 2 1/2-length victory in the GIII Best Pal S. Aug. 14 and was last seen completing a Baffert 1-2 behind 'Rising Star' Cave Rock (Arrogate) in the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity over track and distance Sept. 11.

Newgate (Speightstown) was similarly impressive first time out, graduating by a widening 3 1/2-length margin, but stubbed his toe a bit when beaten double digits into fourth in the local Futurity. The $850,000 Keeneland September purchase cuts back to one turn off a weakening fifth in Keeneland's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity–won by next-out GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Forte (Violence)–and gets the blinkers off Sunday.

The third of the Baffert entry is the rail-drawn Hard to Figure (Hard Spun), recent winner of the restricted Capote S. at Los Alamitos Sept. 25 and who gets a major upgrade in the saddle to Flavien Prat.

Three-time maiden Practical Move (Practical Joke) was runner-up in Cave Rock's debut and was third sprinting Sept. 3 before being promoted to the victory going a mile at Santa Anita Oct. 10.

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American Freedom Relocates to Arkansas

GSW & MGISP American Freedom (Pulpit–Gottcha Last, by Pleasant Tap) has been sold to Bob and Tyree Wolesensky's Leadem Farm and will stand stud in Arkansas beginning the 2023 breeding season. American Freedom will command a stud fee of $3,500 LF.

He stood at Airdrie Stud his first four seasons. The purchase was facilitated by Brock Martin and Steve Castagnola of Taylor Made Sales Agency.

“We wanted to find the perfect match for Arkansas breeders and we are very happy with this beautiful son of Pulpit,” Tyree Wolesensky, President of Leadem Farm, said. “American Freedom is a quality dirt horse that gives breeders something to look forward to in the 2023 breeding season with his speed on the track and dazzling looks. We are very excited to introduce him to our customers in the southern Thoroughbred market and cannot wait for him to begin covering mares at our Arkansas farm this upcoming year.”

Trained by Bob Baffert for Gary and Mary West, American Freedom won the GIII Iowa Derby and was second in both the GI Travers S. and GI Haskell Invitational S.

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Girvin’s Faiza Powers To ‘Stardom’ At Del Mar

Sent right to the front after a fast beginning by jockey Flavian Prat, FAIZA (Girvin–Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike), a $725,000 2-year-old purchase out of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale, hooked up early with Teena Ella (War Front) and outlasted her rival to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut. The pair kept the pace honest, covering the first quarter in :21.92 as Teena Ella, the daughter of four-time champion Beholder, stuck a head in front and the top two pulled several lengths clear of the rest of the field. Though it looked briefly as if Teena Ella might get away, Faiza threatened past the quarter pole with Prat sitting cool while Juan Hernandez was already hard at work on his filly. By the top of the lane, Faiza began to assert her dominance, coming into the final eighth well clear as Teena Ella faded from contention. Lily Poo chased her home from second but was ultimately no match as Faiza hit the wire a wrapped-up 3 1/2 lengths ahead.

The second 'TDN Rising Star' and 16th winner for her freshman sire (by Tale of Ekati), Faiza is out of a half-sister to MGSW and Spendthrift Farm stallion Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) while second dam Pomeroys Pistol, a graded-stakes winner herself, placed in both the GI Prioress S. and the GI Test S. Faiza's yearling half-sister by Cairo Prince recently brought $160,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

4th-Del Mar, $71,000, Msw, 11-12, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:09.28, ft, 3 1/2 lengths.
FAIZA, f, 2, Girvin
1st Dam: Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Pomeroys Pistol, by Pomeroy
3rd Dam: Prettyatthetable, by Point Given
$90,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $725,000 2yo '22 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000.
O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Saturday Insights: Loaded Field Of Maiden Fillies Headlines Del Mar’s Opening Weekend

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

4th-DMR, $70K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 5:00 p.m.

The third foal out of four-time champion Beholder (Henny Hughes), TEENA ELLA (War Front) debuts Saturday for the same connections as her dam, owner/breeder Spendthrift Farm and trainer Richard Mandella. Beholder, herself out of blue hen Leslie's Lady (Tricky Creek), is a half-sister to the likes of GISW & top-10 freshman sire Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) as well as GISW & perennial leading sire Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday). The first of her siblings to make the races as 2-year-old, Teena Ella enters off a pair of back-to-back six-furlong bullets, working from the gate in 1:12 4/5 (½) Oct. 27 and timed in 1:13 2/5 (1/4) Nov. 3.

A $940,000 yearling purchase by David Wilson out of last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, Miss Monarch Bay (Into Mischief) is a half-sister to MGSP Sine Wave (Big Brown) and from the family of G1SW Menhoubah (Dixieland Band). She picks up jockey Victor Espinoza for trainer Mike McCarthy.

Following a workman-like breeze in :10, Wudi (Uncle Mo), originally a $117,000 yearling purchase, sold for $725,000 to Donato Lanni out of the OBS Spring Sale. The second foal out of a half-sister to MGSW His Race To Win (Stormy Atlantic) and the dam of GISW El Tormenta (Stormy Atlantic) and GSW Zero Tolerance (Mizzen Mast), this is the family of leading sire Smart Strike (Mr. Prospector), Canadian Horse of the Year Dance Smartly (Danzig) and Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Hello Seattle (Deputy Minister). Wudi races for trainer Bob Baffert in the silks of Baoma Corp.

The other half of the un-coupled Bob Baffert entry, Faiza (Girvin) also brought $725,000 as a 2-year-old out of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale following a breeze in :10.1. Second dam, MGSW & MGISP Pomeroys Pistol (Poneroy), also produced MGSW & Spendthrift stallion Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile). TJCIS PPS

3rd-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1m, 2:00 p.m.

A $525,000 Keeneland September yearling, MADLY DANCING (Curlin), for trainer John Ortiz, is a half-sister to GI Preakness third Creative Minister (Creative Cause), MGSP Battalion Runner (Unbridled's Song), MGSP Oceanwave (Harlan's Holiday), and GISP Dolder Grand (Candy Ride {Arg}). She is also out of a full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner and late sire Tapizar.

Breaking to the outside is $500,000 KEESEP Juddmonte purchase Undoubtedly (Blame), a daughter of MGISP And Why Note (Street Cry {Ire}), who has also produced MGSW Fearless (Ghostzapper) and MGSP Just Whistle (Pioneerof the Nile). This is also the family of GSW & MGISP Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior) and MGSW Timeline (Hard Spun). TJCIS PPS

10th-GP, $52K, AOC, 3yo/up, 1m, 5:09 p.m.

Making his first start since a distant eighth to Art Collector (Bernardini) in the 2021 Alydar S., JESUS' TEAM (Tapiture) returns to racing after a tumultuous layoff. After undergoing surgery for an ankle chip following his last race, MGISP Jesus' Team suffered both a bacterial infection that threatened his life and laminitis in both of his front feet. It has been a slow recovery back but, after runner-up efforts in both the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and the 2021 GI Pegasus World Cup to Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter), the Jose D'Angelo trainee returns Saturday off a steady Palm Meadows work tab. TJCIS PPS

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