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Baffert Confirms Concert Tour For Preakness; Barnes Staying At Churchill To Oversee Preparations

Last September, Jimmy Barnes watched on his phone in an ambulance as his boss Bob Baffert captured a record-tying sixth Kentucky Derby (G1) with Authentic in the COVID-delayed Classic. Saturday, Baffert's long-time assistant trainer was back watching the race in person at Churchill Downs as Medina Spirit provided Baffert a record-breaking seventh Kentucky Derby victory.

Barnes had sustained a fractured wrist when the barn's other 2020 Derby entrant, Thousand Words, reared and flipped as the assistant trainer attempted to saddle him in the paddock's walking ring. Knocked off balance, Barnes fell and landed awkwardly on his right wrist. Barnes was back at Baffert's Churchill Downs barn the next morning after the break was set at Louisville's Norton Audubon Hospital, but he ultimately had surgery in California with screws inserted to stabilize the injury.

“Especially if you win, you want to be here,” Barnes reflected Monday at Churchill Downs. “But I'd been here enough and we'd won it enough that I knew what was ahead of me. They didn't know how hard it was going to be to get out of here. They said we could either go now (to the hospital) or it could be like 8 o'clock when you get out of here. I knew I probably had four or five hours at least ahead of me, setting it and doing all that. So I said, 'Let's go.' And I watched it on my phone.”

The mishaps weren't over, however, as Authentic later knocked down Baffert in the Derby winner's circle on the turf course.

“It was nice to have Jimmy there and nobody fell down in the winner's circle,” Baffert said Sunday of Medina Spirit's victory in the 147th Kentucky Derby. “It was very enjoyable, and it was good to do it in front of fans.”

Now back on his pony, Barnes again is overseeing Baffert's Pimlico-bound contingent, which, in addition to the Derby winner, could include Rebel Stakes winner Concert Tour for the May 15 Preakness (G1) as well as horses for other stakes next week.

Baffert told the Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman Monday that Concert Tour will run in the Preakness, because owner Gary West “wants to take a shot.”

Concert Tour worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.60 Sunday and is scheduled to work again this weekend. Gary and Mary West's son of 2007 Derby winner Street Sense walked Monday and will jog Tuesday, Barnes said.

Baffert will be out to break a tie with fellow Hall of Famer Robert Wyndham Walden, who had seven Preakness winners between 1875 and 1888. Baffert's most recent of seven Preakness champions include Triple Crown winners Justify in 2018 and American Pharoah in 2015. Each of his Preakness winners went on to be voted 3-year-old champion.

Medina Spirit, who has never been worse than second in six career starts, paid $26.20 to win as the sixth betting choice of 19 while marking the seventh California-based horse to win the Derby in the last 10 years.

“Was I surprised?” Barnes said. “He was running against good horses in California. California horses are usually right there in the Kentucky Derby. He'd run second to (now-injured stablemate) Life Is Good. He was second to John Sadler's horse (Rock Your World) in the Santa Anita Derby. So he'd run respectable races, maybe not the way we needed him to run. He wants to be up front, out in the clear and we had other horses who were faster than him. It just didn't work out for him. He ended up having to be behind and having to close. But going a mile and a quarter, you just never know: Are we going to go on the lead the whole way?

“… I thought there was enough speed that someone would have gone with us.”

Barnes began working for Baffert in November of 1998. His first Derby victory with for Baffert was the trainer's third, front-running War Emblem in 2002. However, Barnes first came to Churchill Downs for Derby weekend in 1999, with Silverbulletday winning the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Baffert attempting to win a third straight Derby with the filly Excellent Meeting and the colt General Challenge. Excellent Meeting rallied from 18th to take fifth (beaten a total of 2 1/4 lengths) and Santa Anita Derby winner General Challenge was knocked sideways shortly after the start and struggled home 11th.

“I saw what it took,” Barnes said. “You need a pretty good horse and you want to be out in front. You need to be up close in the clear to have your best chance.”

Medina Spirit had a second walk day Monday since keeping runner-up Mandaloun at bay for a half-length victory Saturday, with third-place Hot Rod Charlie and fourth-place favorite Essential Quality both beaten about a length for everything.

“He'll probably walk three days – that's our typical deal,” Barnes said. “Maybe Wednesday he'll jog. We'll see how the weather is. It's hard to give them too many days off when we're coming right around. But all systems look good right now. Everything is good.”

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High-Priced Cezanne Leaves Big Impression In Kona Gold

Purchased for a whopping $3,650,000 at age two and idle since Aug. 1, Bob Baffert's Cezanne came back to the races in a massive way on Sunday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as he rallied into a blistering pace and came away with a 9 ¾-length victory over odds-on favorite Brickyard Ride. With leading man Flavien Prat picking up his fourth win on the day and his second stakes score, Cezanne, a 4-year-old colt by Curlin, smoked home in 1:14.71 for 6 ½ furlongs.

Taken in-hand out of the gate while stablemate Ax Man chased Brickyard Ride, Cezanne was next to last in a field of four at the rail and moved into contention around the far turn while well within himself. With Prat sitting motionless to the five sixteenths pole, Cezanne fairly sailed by Brickyard Ride turning for home and won in sensational fashion as Baffert picked up his second win on the day.

“It worked out well,” said Prat, who has now ridden Cezanne in all four of his starts, winning three times. “We had a fast pace in front of us and we were able to save ground. He gave me a good kick when I asked him. He ran really nice.”

Fourth in the two turn Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 1, Cezanne, in his second career stakes assignment, was the second choice at 9-5 and paid $5.80 and $2.40 with no show wagering.

“We knew there was going to be a hot pace,” said Jimmy Barnes, assistant to Baffert, who also collected his fourth Kona Gold win today. “Not sure how fast, but it ended up being fast, and you know Cezanne just ate them up. (Prat) gave him a wonderful ride and Bob had him ready…With the races coming up this spring and summer, we should be looking really good with Cezanne.”

Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and St. Elias Stable, Cezanne, who is out of the Bernardini mare Achieving, now has three wins from four starts and with the winner's take of $60,000, increased his earnings to $123,000.

Brickyard Ride, who set similarly fast splits in winning the Grade II, seven furlong San Carlos Stakes here on March 6, was unable to notch his third consecutive stakes win, but stayed gamely for the place, finishing 1 ¼ lengths better than Fight On, while Ax Man checked in last.

Ridden by Alexis Centeno, Brickyard Ride, the lone Cal-bred in the field of four 3-year-olds and up was off at 3-5 and paid $2.20 to show.

Fraction on the race were 21.18, 43.60 and 1:08.27.

With a training double, Baffert has 32 wins through 50 racing days, two better than Phil D'Amato. Prat, who also won the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup earlier with Tizamagician, now has 89 wins, 38 clear of Juan Hernandez. Prat's 16 stakes wins put him six in front of Umberto Rispoli.

Racing resumes with first post time for a nine-race card on Friday at 1 p.m.

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Kirkpatrick & Co Presents In Their Care: For Alsagoor, A Long Road To A Dream Come True

Abdullah Alsagoor arrived in California from his Saudi Arabia homeland approximately a year and a half ago. He was 18 years old, a teenager bold enough to dream big but with seemingly no idea how to make those dreams come true.

“I wanted to see another world,” he said of the decision to leave behind his parents, Sarah and Mahdi, and a close-knit family that included five sisters and five brothers.

His parents had strongly endorsed the move and were in position to offer him some financial support. He recalled Sarah telling him, “Go do your goals.” Alsagoor had been taught to ride at a young age by Mahdi, a trainer in Saudi Arabia. One of his goals was to develop his skills until he was good enough to be hired as an exercise rider by Bob Baffert, a trainer of world renown. He intended to use that work to help pay for his studies in pursuit of his ultimate goal – to become a commercial pilot.

Alsagoor arrived at Los Alamitos Race Course with photos intended to display his riding ability to trainers who might need extra help. One problem: He was continually barred from entering.

“I talk to security, 'Please, let me in so I can talk to trainers and see how I can get my license,' “ he recalled.

He struggled to express himself during his first six months in the United States. He had neither family nor friends; no one willing to intercede in his behalf. He recalled one day when he successfully entered Los Alamitos and made his way to the jocks' room. He tried to explain his desire to gallop horses for different trainers in the morning. He said someone asked to check his weight. He stepped onto the scale wearing his riding gear and a jacket.

When the scale read 130 pounds, he said he was subjected to ridicule.

“They make joke,” he recalled. “How are you going to be a jockey?”

When he finally gained access to the backside, that led to more disappointment. He said one trainer asked him to stop by the following week, promising to give him an opportunity then. When he came the next week, he was told he would need to wait another week. That went on for weeks. Once he obtained his license, he said his limited opportunities came on mercurial horses that were a danger to themselves and anyone who attempted to work with them.

Alsagoor was a beaten young man. The “other world” he had so eagerly wanted to explore seemingly wanted nothing to do with him. He felt very much like a stranger in a strange land. He called his mother to arrange to return home.

“I almost cried,” he said. “I said, 'I can't stay here. I can't stay in the United States anymore. I want to come back. I can't talk to anyone. I don't have any friends. I can't order for me food when I go to a restaurant. I can't stay here anymore.'”

Sarah pleaded with him to give it more time. He said she told him, “Keep your ambition. Keep your hard work. Be nice to everyone.”

Abdullah Alsagoor works a horse at Santa Anita

Someone suggested to Alsagoor that he might find more work at Santa Anita. He began getting on a few horses there for different trainers and displayed some ability. Humberto Gomez, a native of Mexico City who is entrusted with Baffert's finest stock, was among those who took notice of the newcomer.

Shortly after that, Jimmy Barnes, Baffert's top assistant, asked Gomez if he knew of any freelance help that might be available.

“It's not easy to make a recommendation or bring somebody to Baffert's barn,” Gomez said, referring to the lofty expectations that surround the operation. “I got a feeling with this guy. I don't know what it was.

“It was his body language, his presence, the way he presented himself. He was a genuine person. The way he presented himself, I said, 'Let me see if I can help him.' Bob likes people who want to improve, who've got ambition.”

Introductions were made and Alsagoor soon proved to be a good student, overcoming early nervousness and mistakes to become a fixture at the barn each morning over the last five months or so. Gomez also assisted Alsagoor in securing a better living arrangement, arranging for him to room with one of his friends. Alsagoor is making steady progress toward his pilot's license as a student at Universal Air Academy.

Alsagoor refers to Gomez as “my brother.” When Baffert assigned Gomez to journey to Saudi Arabia to work with Charlatan in advance of the Saudi Cup, Alsagoor's family welcomed Gomez upon his arrival as if he was one of their own, asking what they could do to make him more comfortable during his stay.

Alsagoor feels as though his new life gets better every day now.

“Before I moved here, my dream was to gallop for Bob, and it's come true,” he said. “Thank God for that. You can't imagine what he's done for me.”

Alsagoor knows he is better for his struggles, as severe as they were.

“It opened my mind to everything and made me strong,” he said.

He is finally happy that he came. And even happier that he stayed.

Tom Pedulla wrote for USA Today from 1995-2012 and has been a contributor to the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Blood-Horse, America's Best Racing and other publications.

If you wish to suggest a backstretch worker as a potential subject for In Their Care, please send an email to info@paulickreport.com that includes the person's name and contact information in addition to a brief description of the employee's background.

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Baffert On Concert Tour’s Rebel: ‘An American Pharoah-Type Run’

Concert Tour and Hozier were to be flown back to their Southern California base Sunday, a day after finishing 1-2, respectively, in Oaklawn's $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds, continuing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's stranglehold on the major Kentucky Derby prep race.

Accompanied by Jimmy Barnes, Baffert's main assistant, Concert Tour and Hozier departed the barn area at approximately 9 a.m. (Central) and vanned 57 miles to Little Rock's Clinton National Airport for a Tex Sutton Equine Air Transportation flight.

Both horses exited the 1 1/16-mile Rebel in good order, Barnes said before training hours Sunday morning outside the Royal Glint barn, which house horses for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Baffert's horses normally ship into Lukas' barn at Oaklawn.

Concert Tour ($5.40) remained unbeaten in three lifetime starts with a front-running 4 ¼-length victory under regular rider Joel Rosario. It was Baffert's record-extending eighth Rebel victory and 16^th in a Kentucky Derby prep race at Oaklawn – all since 2010.

“To me, it was kind of an American Pharoah-type run,” Baffert, via phone, said about 20 minutes following the race. “He was doing it with ease, with plenty left.”

American Pharoah, of course, is the measuring stick for Baffert's growing list of Rebel winners, taking the 2015 edition by 6 ¼ front-running lengths in his 3-year-old debut before sweeping the Triple Crown. Baffert also won the Rebel in 2010 (Lookin At Lucky), 2011 (The Factor), 2012 (Secret Circle), 2014 (Hoppertunity), 2016 (Cupid) and 2020 (Nadal).

Baffert has had at least one Rebel starter every year since his first in 2010. He has compiled an 8-4-1 mark from 15 starters, with his horses earning an eye-popping $3,971,000 in prize money.

“It's amazing,” Barnes said. “Our horses, they suit this track. They run well over it. We just took it to them yesterday, early. If they were going to beat us, they were going to have to pass us.”

Concert Tour, who was making his two-turn debut, was able to clear speedy even-money favorite Caddo River from post 7 going into the first turn and set comfortable fractions of :23.42 for the opening quarter-mile, :47.53 for a half-mile and 1:12 for three-quarters. Caddo River, after breaking from the rail, was glued to Concert Tour's flank on the outside down the backstretch and made a bid for the lead late on the second turn. But Concert Tour had another gear, opened up four lengths in midstretch and coasted home under little urging. Winning time over a fast track was 1:43.18.

“Very confident,” Rosario said. “I just looked at his ears and knew he was very happy what he was doing. Every time that horse came to him, he just took off. Very nice horse.”

Concert Tour, a homebred for Gary and Mary West, received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 94 – equaling a career high – for his Rebel victory. The son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense also received a 94 Beyer for his half-length victory in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2) Feb. 6 at Santa Anita in his previous start.

Concert Tour earned 50 points for his Rebel victory to vault to No. 4 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, according to Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 starters, with starting preference given to horses with the highest point totals earned in designated races like the Rebel. Hozier, exiting a Feb. 15 maiden victory at Santa Anita, is No. 12 with 20 points. The Rebel was Oaklawn's third Kentucky Derby points race.

“These horses are just starting to come around at the right time,” Baffert said. “That's what you want.”

Baffert was noncommittal on whether Concert Tour and/or Hozier would return to Oaklawn for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 10. Baffert has won the Arkansas Derby three times – Bodemeister in 2012, American Pharoah in 2015 and last year's second division with Nadal.

“We'll get them back here and see how they are,” Baffert said. “I don't make that call until about two weeks before.”

The presence of another top prospect in Baffert's barn, Life Is Good, will undoubtedly impact the decision. Life Is Good, like Concert Tour, is 3 for 3, a two-time graded stakes winner and bred by the Wests.

“It's a good problem to have,” Barnes said.

Next-race plans are pending for locally based Caddo River and Keepmeinmind, their respective trainers said Sunday morning.

Caddo River, a homebred for John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs, finished fifth after a front-running 10 ¼-length victory in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 22. The Smarty Jones was Oaklawn's first of four Kentucky Derby points races.

“He seems to be OK,” trainer Brad Cox. “At the 3, 3 ½ (pole), it looked like he kind of ranged up, but couldn't get by. Just not good enough. I don't have a whole lot of excuses right now.”

Cox said he will talk with Anthony before making any decision about Caddo River's next start. Anthony has won the Arkansas Derby a record three times (1980, 1987 and 1992).

Trainer Robertino Diodoro said Keepmeinmind (sixth) will be considered for the Arkansas Derby and the $800,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) April 3 at Keeneland. Keepmeinmind was making his 3-year-old debut after concluding 2020 with a last-to-first victory in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs.

“Not making excuses, but I was concerned about the track,” Diodoro said. “It started drying up during the week. You see Thursday's times, you see Friday's times and yesterday, and even watching training, it was getting to be like the interstate. I think one horse, C Z Rocket, who exploded down the lane (Saturday's $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes), other than that, I never saw a horse win if they weren't within three lengths of the lead Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Very disappointed. I know he's a better horse than what he showed yesterday.”

Diodoro said a decision about Keepmeinmind's next start should come in the next couple of days.

The Arkansas Derby will offer 170 points (100-40-20-10, respectively) to the top four finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Keepmeinmind (18) ranks No. 14 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

The Baffert-trained Spielberg, runner-up in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 27 at Oaklawn, has 17 points to rank No. 15. Caddo River (10) is No. 24.

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