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Baffert 1-2 As Concert Tour Edges Freedom Fighter In San Vicente

Racing as a team the final quarter of a mile, a pair of talented Bob Baffert runners, heavily favored Concert Tour and Freedom Fighter, were separated by a half length at the finish of Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Gary and Mary West's homebred Concert Tour got seven furlongs in 1:24.06 and stamped himself as an A-lister among Kentucky Derby hopefuls and provided Baffert with his record 11^th San Vicente win.

With Freedom Fighter and Drayden Van Dyke darting to the lead from the rail, Concert Tour, who broke from the outside in a field of five, was just one length off his stablemate and The Chosen Vron three furlongs out. The Chosen Vron, who had driven up the rail inside Freedom Fighter, dropped back a bit leaving the quarter pole and from that point it was all Baffert to the wire.

“Freedom Fighter just broke like a rocket ship, he's really fast and been doing really well,” said Baffert. “Rosario was trying to teach this horse how to rate a little bit and I thought they were going to get into a speed duel. I think it was a good race for both of them.

“I learned a lot about (Concert Tour), how he wants to run and maybe he doesn't need blinkers…Now we go to where I can stretch them out…I think from here you can take that big jump that you want to take, he's going to have to really step it up for now, but now he's ready for it.”

A 3 ½ length first-out maiden winner going six furlongs on Jan. 15, Concert Tour was off at 2-5 and paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10.

“After the other horse (Freedom Fighter) went to the lead, I thought the two horse (The Chosen Vron) was going to go faster, but he took his time and I thought I was in a good spot,” said Rosario. “He was a little green and cut away a little bit at the last part when I took the lead. I thought it was a good race.”

By Street Sense, out of the Tapit mare Purse Strings, Concert Tour picked up $120,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $156,600.

Freedom Fighter, who had been idle since breaking his maiden at first asking going five furlongs on Aug. 1, ran huge off the bench, finishing 2 ¾ lengths in front of The Chosen Vron. Off at 5-1, Freedom Fighter paid $3.60 and $2.20.

The Chosen Vron, who didn't appear to like being inside a quarter mile from home, kept to his task through the lane in a solid effort. Ridden by Mike Smith, he was off at 7-2 and paid $2.10 to show while finishing six lengths clear of Found My Ball.

Fractions on the race were 23.41, 45.98 and 1:10.56.

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Sophomore Pair From Baffert’s Bench Top Seven-Furlong San Vicente

With varsity aces Life Is Good and Medina Spirit awaiting their next call to action, Bob Baffert goes to his expansive bench Saturday with Freedom Fighter and Concert Tour in Santa Anita's Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

It will be the first start in five months for Freedom Fighter, a son Violence, who led throughout his debut race at Del Mar last Aug. 1, winning the five-furlong dash by a head as the 1-2 favorite.

“Going seven eighths is a tough distance,” Baffert said, “but he's quick and he's had good works. He broke his maiden first out and then we had to back off him, but he's doing well.”

Freedom Fighter, who will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, has amply displayed his readiness with a series of recent breezes, including three bullet works, the most recent a five furlong move from the gate on Jan. 28 in 59.60, handily, the fastest of 70 drills at the distance.

Concert Tour was no secret as a debut winner going six furlongs on Jan. 15. The son of Street Sense owned and bred by Gary and Mary West was in hand late as the even-money favorite, scoring by 3 ½ lengths under Joel Rosario who is back aboard Saturday.

Baffert will be seeking to add to his record of 10 San Vicente victories, having captured his first in 1997 with eventual Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm.

Subsequent triumphs were posted by Exploit (1999), Kafwain (2003), Fusaichi Rock Star (2005), Too Much Bling (2006), The Factor (2011), Drill (2012), Shakin It Up (2013), Lord Nelson (2015) and Nadal last year.

Meanwhile, individual Kentucky Derby Future Book favorite Life Is Good worked four furlongs Monday in 48.80, breezing.

“He looked really good and he's doing everything right,” said Baffert, who confirmed the Sham Stakes winner will make his next start in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes March 6, adding, “We've got a long way to go.”

The San Vicente, race seven of 10 with a 12 noon first post time: Freedom Fighter, Drayden Van Dyke, 5-2; The Chosen Vron, Mike Smith, 5-2; Uncle Boogie, Abel Cedillo, 12-1; Found My Ball, Mario Gutierrez, 3-1; and Concert Tour, Joel Rosario, 8-5.

The Chosen Vron blew out four furlongs Wednesday in 48.20 for trainer Eric Kruljac. Mr. Impossible was scratched.

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Maiden Winners Concert Tour, The Chosen Vron Head Field Of Six For San Vicente

A pair of impressive first time maiden winners, Bob Baffert's Concert Tour and Eric Kruljac's The Chosen Vron, head a field of six sophomores going seven furlongs in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita.

Under a snug hold early, Concert Tour could not have been any more impressive on Jan. 15, as he drew out to a 3 ½ length win going six furlongs in a manner that suggested he should relish more distance. By Street Sense out of the Tapit mare Purse Strings, this Gary and Mary West homebred colt appeared well within himself as the even money favorite and figures to again be a short price with Joel Rosario back aboard.

A California-bred gelding by Vronsky, The Chosen Vron was very quick from the gate in his 6 ½ furlong debut Dec. 27 and he was much the best among nine statebred rivals as the 2-1 favorite, winning off by 6 ¾ lengths under eastern-based John Velazquez.

Out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Tiz Molly, The Chosen Vron is owned by Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, John Sondereker and Richard Thornburgh. Although impressive in his debut, he'll be facing much tougher with Mike Smith up.

Second to Concert Tour at odds of 3-1, Simon Callaghan's Mr. Impossible will hope to turn the tables in what will also be his second start. Although a non-threatening runner-up, he finished eight lengths clear of the third horse in his debut and will retain the services of Umberto Rispoli.

A Kentucky-bred colt by Munnings, out of the Shamardal mare Qaraaba, Mr. Impossible is owned by his breeder, Alice Bamford, and Michael Tabor.

The “other Baffert” in the San Vicente field is Freedom Fighter. Idle since breaking his maiden at first asking on Aug. 1, it's worth noting he was the heavy 1-2 favorite in a field of nine, showed good speed and prevailed in game fashion by a head. Owned by SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, LLC and Robert Masterson, this colt by Violence has been training in solid fashion for his return with Drayden Van Dyke up.

Like The Chosen Vron, Reddam Racing's homebred Found My Ball is a California-bred stepping into open company. A runaway six length maiden going six furlongs in his second start on Jan. 22, this chestnut colt by Square Eddie, out of the Ten Most Wanted mare Silar Rules, will be ridden back by Mario Gutierrez.

An important prep to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3, the San Vicente will be run for the 79th time on Saturday. No points to the Kentucky Derby are offered in the seven-furlong contest, but it has been used as a precursor to Derby preps in the past.

THE GRADE 2 SAN VICENTE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 10 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

Freedom Fighter—Drayden Van Dyke–120
The Chosen Vron—Mike Smith—120
Mr. Impossible—Umberto Rispoli—120
Uncle Boogie—Abel Cedillo—120
Found My Ball—Mario Gutierrez—120
Concert Tour—Joel Rosario–120

Early first post time for a 10-race card on Saturday is at 12 noon. All of Santa Anita's races are available free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can watch and wager via 1st.com/Bet.

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Saturday Insights: Deep Juvenile Races on Both Coasts

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CATALANO UNVEILS CARPE DIEM SIBLING

1st-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET
A pair of loaded 2-year-old maidens–one on each coast–serve as appetizers to the major stakes Saturday. Coffepot Stables homebred REGULAR GUY (Bernardini) features at the Spa for Wayne Catalano. The dark bay is a half to multiple Grade I winner and young sire Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway), as well as to additional GISW J. B.’s Thunder (Thunder Gulch), MGSW & GISP Farrell (Malibu Moon), and two other graded stakes horses. Regular Guy faces $700,000 KEESEP purchase Olympiad (Speightstown), who makes his debut for the Bill Mott barn and is from the bottomless Emory Hamilton family of champion Chic Shirine (Mr. Prospector). His dam is a half-sister to the dam of last year’s GI Woodward S. winner Preservationist (Arch). Windcracker (Super Saver)‘s dam is out of a full-sister to GISW Include (Broad Brush), while Zunith Moon (Malibu Moon) is from the immediate family of GISW Cupid (Tapit). Freshman sires are also heavily represented with Reddam Racing homebred Team Merchants (Nyquist), $375,000 KEESEP buy Outlier (Not This Time), and $280,000 OBSMAR purchase and :20 4/5 breezer Reinvestment Risk (Upstart). TJCIS PPs

FULL TO HENLEY’S JOY DEBUTS

3rd-DMR, 55K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, post time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Eoin Harty unveils EL JOY (Kitten’s Joy) for Equilete Stables. The full-brother to last year’s GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. winner Henley’s Joy also hails from the extended family of 2019 hot juvenile and GSW Dennis’ Moment (Tiznow). Vittorio (Ghostzapper) breezed :9 4/5 at OBS in June before fetching $750,000 as the fifth-highest price of the sale. Simon Callaghan debuts him for Kaleem Shah. Trainer Ryan Hanson sends Epidemic (Orb), a half-brother to MGSW Stanford (Malibu Moon) and SW & MGSP Hedge Fund (Super Saver) from the extremely deep sire family of champions Johannesburg (Hennessy) and Minardi (Boundary), as well as GSWs Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat) and Pulpit (A.P. Indy). Bob Baffert always has his firsters firing on all cylinders for Del Mar. Freedom Fighter (Violence) has issued three bullets in his last five works, including a :47 half (1/102) where the turf meets the surf July 25. TJCIS PPs

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