Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who won last year's GIII Robert B. Lewis with MGISW and “TDN Rising Star” Dortmund (Big Brown), looks to capture his sixth renewal of that test Saturday at Santa Anita and has two chances to do so with Mor Spirit (Eskendereya) and Let's Meet in Rio (Flatter). Owned by Michael Lund Petersen, Mor Spirit finished second on debut sprinting in Arcadia Sept. 27 and broke through with a decisive score when extended to a mile there Oct. 23. Splitting Eclipse finalist Airoforce (Colonel John) and subsequent GIII Lecomte S. winner Mo Tom (Uncle Mo) when second in a sloppy renewal of Churchill's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Nov. 28, the Michael Lund Petersen runner bested GSW stablemate Toews on Ice (Archarcharch) to take the GI Los Alamitos Futurity S. last time Dec. 19.
“He has a lot of tactical speed but you can't let him use it too early,” said Baffert. “We're teaching him to sit and wait. He's a big horse and beautifully made. He's got a really long stride. He'll be best going a mile and an eighth and further.”
Off the board in his first two attempts sprinting last fall, Let's Meet in Rio earned his diploma next out over the reopposing Laoban (Uncle Mo) in a one-mile test at Los Alamitos Dec. 5. The Juddmonte Farm homebred looked like the type that would appreciate more ground in the future when charging late to be second to stablemate Collected (City Zip) in the GIII Sham S. going eight panels here Jan. 9. Laoban enters off a third-place effort in the Sham for trainer Eric Guillot and owners Southern Equine Stable and McCormick Racing.
Fellow Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer saddles Hans Poetsch's undefeated I Will Score (Roman Ruler). Wiring the field to don cap and gown by 6 1/2 lengths in his career bow at Los Alamitos Sept. 11, the dark bay made it two in a row with an optional claimer score going 6 1/2 furlongs here Jan. 3.
Budget Stable's Dressed in Hermes (Hat Trick {Jpn}) makes his first attempt on dirt since finishing fourth on debut to MGSW Exaggerator (Curlin) at Del Mar July 25. Improving to third behind SW and GISP Hollywood Don (Tapit) in his first turf start at Del Mar Aug. 12, the Janet Armstrong pupil graduated in the Zuma Beach S. here Oct. 10 and was fifth next out in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf over a yielding course at Keeneland Oct. 30. The gelding justified favoritism last time when beating out Collected in Del Mar's grassy GIII Cecil B. Demille Mile Nov. 29. Rounding out the field is Uncle Lino (Uncle Mo), who finished a neck third to I Will Score in that Jan. 3 optional claimer; and Path of David (Istan), who is two-for-two since transferring to Kristin Mulhall last fall including a win in the turfy Eddie Logan S. Dec. 31.
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