juan ochoa | Horse Racing Free Tips

Authentic Pulled Up Mid-Workout To Avoid Stricken Horse; Breeze Rescheduled For Tuesday

Haskell winner and Kentucky Derby contender Authentic was about an eighth of a mile into his penultimate breeze on Monday morning at Del Mar, reports the Daily Racing Form, when Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert radioed from his spot in the grandstand out to exercise rider Juan Ochoa, telling him to pull up.

Ahead of Authentic, near the wire, a different horse had suffered a catastrophic injury, causing track officials to set off the warning siren.

Authentic was pulled up and taken back to the barn, and Baffert decided to reschedule the colt's workout for Tuesday morning, five days ahead of his planned final breeze on Sunday. The 3-year-old son of Into Mischief is scheduled to fly to Kentucky the following morning, on Monday, Aug. 31.

The injured horse, vanned off the track after the incident, was identified as Phil D'Amato trainee Irreproachable.

Baffert Calls Maximum Security’s Pacific Classic Prep ‘Best He Has Worked For Me’

Maximum Security worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.80 at 6:30 a.m. PT on Sunday morning at Del Mar near San Diego, Calif., an exercise that drew a rave review from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

“(Maximum Security) worked the best he has worked for me,” Baffert said via text. “Right on schedule for the Pacific Classic. A very impressive breeze.”

With Juan Ochoa up, Maximum Security – who won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 25 in his first start for Baffert in a career of nine wins in 11 starts with earnings of nearly $12 million – was sent out along with stablemate McKale, a 5-year-old allowance winner.

Maximum Security's work was the best, by nearly three seconds, of five total at the distance.

Clocker Toby Turrell noted: “He looked relaxed throughout, gathered up a nice stride late and was widening on his company under the wire.” McKale was officially timed in 1:00.00 for five furlongs.

Maximum Security, a son of New Year's Day, bred and owned by Gary and Mary West of nearby Rancho Santa Fe, is one of six “probables” and three “possibles” for the $500,000 signature event of the meeting. The 30th running of the Pacific Classic is scheduled August 22 as part of a five-stakes program.

Baffert confirmed that Abel Cedillo, aboard for the San Diego, would retain the mount for the TVG Pacific Classic.

“Now all we've got to do is get those TVG guys to raise the purse …LOL,” Baffert texted.

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Baffert Breezes Derby Candidates Uncle Chuck, Authentic

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was a keen observer of workouts by Uncle Chuck and Authentic, two of his many Kentucky Derby prospects, putting in timed breezes at Del Mar near San Diego, Calif.

Uncle Chuck, who'll depart Tuesday for Saratoga and the $1 million Runhappy Travers Stakes next Saturday, covered five furlongs in 1:00.20, co-best of 71 officially timed at the distance.

Clocker Toby Turrell had the son of Uncle Mo going the first half-mile in :49.20 with gallop-outs of 1:12.80 for six furlongs and 1:39.60 for a mile that carried around to the backstretch of the track.

“I'm very happy with the work,” Baffert said. “He's all set now for next week and the big challenge there.”

Authentic went 4 furlongs in :50.20. The Kentucky Derby-bound son of Into Mischief's only loss in five starts came to Honor A.P. in the Santa Anita Derby and he most recently was a wire-to-wire narrow winner of the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

Juan Ochoa, in the irons for both Uncle Chuck and Authentic, had a hold on Authentic throughout.

“Just a little maintenance work,” said Baffert.

Another promising 3-year-old to work was Anneau d'Or, who went five furlongs from the gate in 1:01.60. Anneau d'Or was scratched from today's Shared Belief. Trainer Blaine Wright has expressed intentions to ship east for the Ellis Park Derby.

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Uncle Chuck Breezes Six Furlongs At Del Mar In 1:12.20; Draws Rail For Shared Belief

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert dispatched undefeated (2-for-2) Uncle Chuck, comebacking Eight Rings and several other stable standouts for exercises Sunday morning at Del Mar, north of San Diego, Calif., in preparation for major upcoming assignments.

Uncle Chuck, a 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo who produced a four-length victory in the Grade III Los Alamitos Derby last out, went six furlongs in 1:12:20. Del Mar clocker Toby Turrell caught interims of :12.20, :47.80, and :59.80 with a gallop out to 1:26.00 for the solo work under Juan Ochoa. Uncle Chuck is entered and drew the rail for next Saturday's Shared Belief.

Eight Rings covered five furlongs in :59.20, tied with several others for fastest of 55 at the distance. The Empire Maker colt, who ducked in and hit the rail to unseat rider Drayden Van Dyke as the favorite in the 2019 Del Mar Futurity, is preparing for the second start of his 3-year-old campaign following a fifth-place of sixth as the favorite in the Batchelor at Oaklawn Park in April.

Three-year-old filly Gamine, winner of the Acorn Stakes in June who has been mentioned as a major candidate for the Kentucky Oaks or Kentucky Derby, went 6 furlongs in 1:12.60 for a possible start in the Test Stakes at Saratoga on August 8.

Four-year-old filly Fighting Mad, winner of the Grade II Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita on May 31, covered 5 furlongs in :59.40 preparing for the Grade I, $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes next Sunday.

“She likes this track and she's been working great,” Baffert said.

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