Breeders’ Cup Brights: Baffert Gears Up; Irad Ortiz, Jr. Hits 4,000

Posted by Admin October 15, 2024 Horse Racing

Spread the love

Bob Baffert’s brigade is gearing up for another Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 1-2.

The Hall of Fame trainer who has won more money through the first 40 Breeders’ Cups (topping $40 million), sent out a bunch of contenders for workouts on Monday at Santa Anita Park.

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert is hoping his 2024 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is better than in years past

Among them were BC Juvenile (G1) contenders Gaming and Citizen Bull, BC Classic (G1) contender Newgate, and BC Dirt Mile (G1) contenders Muth and Fort Bragg.

Gaming, the Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner and 2-for-2, and Citizen Bull, the American Pharoah (G1) winner 2-for-3, each drilled 5 furlongs in 59 seconds – the fastest works at the distance.

Newgate, who finished third in the California Crown (G1) following a six-month layoff, worked 5 furlongs 1:00.

Muth, a two-time Grade 1 winner who ran last of six as the favorite in the California Crown, worked 4 furlongs in 47.40 seconds. Fort Bragg worked 4 furlongs in 49.40 seconds. He ran fourth in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) following a nine-month layoff.

Baffert has a bunch more Breeders’ Cup contenders, including National Treasure, Prince of Monaco, Getaway Car, Non Compliant, Tenma, and Nooni.

Baffert has not fared well at two Breeders’ Cups at Del Mar

With a strong lineup and a home track edge, Baffert hopes to fare much better than he did in two earlier Breeders’ Cups at Del Mar – a combined 1-for-19.

In 2017, Baffert was 0-for-11, with his three BC Classic runners Collected, West Coast, and 2016 3-year-old champion Arrogate running second, third, and fifth, respectively.

In 2021, he won the BC Juvenile with Corniche and was 1-for-8 on the day. In the Classic, Medina Spirit, who finished first in the Kentucky Derby (G1) but was disqualified, finished second to Knicks Go.

Other BC Classic news

Trainer John Sadler said his Pacific Classic (G1) runner-up Full Serrano is targeting the BC Dirt Mile rather than the Classic … Subsanador, winner of the California Crown, has an ankle injury and won’t run in the Classic … City of Troy, the Epsom Derby (G1) winner trained by Aidan O’Brien, will run his last race in the Classic before being retired to Coolmore’s base in Ireland … Pacific Classic (G1) winner Mixto worked 5 furlongs in 1:02 for trainer Doug O’Neill at Santa Anita on Sunday … Irad Ortiz, Jr., the nation’s leading jockey, hit the 4,000-career victory mark on Sunday aboard Good Temper in the first race at Keeneland. Ortiz has won 20 Breeders’ Cup races, including three in 2023 (White Abarrio in the Classic among them), three in 2022 (Forte in the Juvenile among them), and three in 2021 (Life is Good in the Dirt Mile among them).