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Medina Spirit To Join Baffert Stablemate Life Is Good In San Felipe Lineup

Bob Baffert will double-team his opposition with varsity Triple Crown contenders Life Is Good and Medina Spirit in next Saturday's Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. The San Felipe is a major steppingstone to the G1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

“Life Is Good will work tomorrow and Medina Spirit worked today (Saturday),” said the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer, who seeks to add to his record seven San Felipe victories.

Game neck winner in a three-horse photo of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Jan. 30, Medina Spirit went six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.20, fastest of 11 drills at the distance, the average time of which was 1:12.89.

“He worked well and if he comes out of it in good order, the plan is to run in the San Felipe,” Baffert said of the Protonico colt. “I'll run two in there.”

Baffert's previous San Felipe wins were recorded by Prime Timber (1999), Point Given (2001), Preachinatthebar (2004), Pioneerof the Nile (2009), Dortmund (2015), Mastery (2017) and Authentic last year.

Hall of Fame member John Velazquez, who piloted Authentic to victory in the Kentucky Derby en route to 2020 Horse of the Year honors, will ride Medina Spirit for the first time, while Mike Smith retains the mount on undefeated G3 Sham Stakes winner Life Is Good, a colt by leading sire Into Mischief. Medina Spirit closed to within three-quarters of a length of Life Is Good to be second in the Sham.

Baffert also is considering Mastering for the Santa Anita Handicap next Saturday. The son of Street Sense would be making his stakes debut in the Big 'Cap, which Baffert has won on five occasions, with General Challenge (2000), Misremembered (2010) and three times with Game On Dude (2011,2013, 2014).

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Report: Egan, Smith Penalized for Saudi Cup Rides

Jockey David Egan has been fined $100,000 and suspended two days for excessive use of the whip when riding Mishriff (Ire) to victory in the $20 million Saudi Cup Saturday, according to a report on the website horseracingplanet.com.

In addition, Mike Smith was handed a two-day suspension for his ride aboard runner-up Charlatan (Speightstown) for causing interference, according to the site. The stewards ruled that he interfered with Sleepy Eyes Todd (Paddy o'Prado) shortly after the start. It was the second straight year that Smith was penalized. In 2020, he was fined $210,000 for breaking the whipping rules when aboard runner-up Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute). He was also given a nine-day suspension.

Egan was forced to forfeit 10% of his earnings. The winning rider in the Saudi Cup earns $1 million, based on 50% of the purse. Under Saudi rules, a jockey cannot strike a horse more than 10 times during a race.

Ths story will be updated.

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11 Strikes And You’re Out Of Luck: Egan Socked With $75,000 Fine For Overuse Of Whip In Saudi Cup Victory

Jockey David Egan, the 21-year-old who guided Mishriff to a surprise victory over Charlatan in Saturday's $20-million Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will have to forfeit 10% of his slice of the $10-million winner's purse for violating the country's whip rules, according to HorseRacingPlanet.com.

The website reports Egan exceeded the Saudi Jockey Club's 10-strike limit, leading to both a two-day riding suspension and a fine of an estimated $75,000.

Stipendiary steward Phil Tuck told HorseRacingPlanet.com: “We took into account that two hits were down the shoulder in the backhand position and considered that he used the whip 11 times behind the saddle. He had 10% of his prize-money deducted.”

The website also reports that Charlatan's jockey, Hall of Famer Mike Smith, was suspended two days for allegedly interfering with Sleepy Eyes Todd about 100 meters from the start of the one-turn, nine-furlong race. Smith was hit with a nine-day ban and heavy fine in the inaugural running of the Saudi Cup in 2020, having to lose approximately $210,000, or 60% of his earnings from Midnight Bisou's second-place finish.

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Foley Takes Jockeys Challenge

Irish jockey Shane Foley took top honours in the stc International Jockeys Challenge in Riyadh in Friday after winning two of the four races comprising the contest, which set the stage for Saturday's card that includes the $20-million Saudi Cup.

Foley beat just three home in the opening leg of the challenge, which was won by Mike Smith, who was deputizing for jockey John Velazquez whose trip to Saudi was dashed on account of travel-related issues. Foley turned things around in the next race, however, navigating Emblem Star (Take Charge Indy) from the extreme outside gate 14 to take up a handy position before kicking clear by four lengths. Foley made it a double in the next with Motawariyah (KSA) (Fong's Thong), who similarly exited gate 13, and although he was unplaced in the final race his lead was safe, with his closest pursuer Smith finishing fourth. After sealing the championship, Foley paid tribute to the late Pat Smullen.

“It's fantastic to be involved, and maybe I wouldn't be here if Pat Smullen was here,” Foley said. “He'd have probably got the invite as he was the go-to man and it's days like today that make you think of Pat, but he'd be proud of me I think.”

Of the event, he added, “When you're competing in these races it's a random draw, so you've a chance of getting on a fancied horse and I was lucky enough to draw two that had chances. I had a nice run around on both of them and they both won. I know they're not group races, but it's on the big stage with a lot of people watching and obviously good for your career. It's up there was one of the most enjoyable nights I've had for a while.”

Saudi rider Adel Alfouradi won the final leg of the challenge, giving him enough points for second, while Mike Smith, who is in town to ride Charlatan (Speightstown) in the Saudi Cup, was third.

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