Today's Edition:  Record-Setting $1.4M Justify Filly Leads The Way at OBS · Baeza Set for Summer Showdown · Royal Ascot Coverage 2

Bob Baffert

Monday's Insights: Saratoga, Del Mar Meets End with a Bang

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 3rd-Saratoga, $72k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 12:33 p.m. Bill Mott saddles Godolphin's debuting SERENE (Tapit), an $800,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase last year. The chestnut filly is a daughter of multiple Grade I-placed Fascinating (Smart Strike). Out of graded stakes winner Untouched Talent (Storm Cat), Fascinating is a half-sister to Grade I winner Bodemeister (Empire Maker). Also debuting is Peter Brant's Editor at Large (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). The Chad Brown trainee was a 260,000gns purchase at last year's Tattersalls October sale. Todd...

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Derby Wrap: Authentic 'Not Even Tired', On to Preakness

A day after picking up his record-tying sixth GI Kentucky Derby win in a renewal as unorthodox as they come, trainer Bob Baffert said victor Authentic (Into Mischief) "wasn't even tired" Sunday morning after going wire to wire and turning back odds-on Tiz the Law (Constitution) in Saturday's Run for the Roses. "I couldn't believe it, I thought he might be a little tired today," Baffert said. "He came out of it well." The triumph for Baffert was plenty unorthodox as well. After appearing to have a strangehold on the...

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More Baffert Magic in Derby 146

Bob Baffert's formidable GI Kentucky Derby line-up had continued to dwindle along this extended Triple Crown trail--with one of his entries even scratching in the paddock Saturday--but the last colt standing, Authentic (Into Mischief), provided the Hall of Fame conditioner with a record-tying sixth trophy in the "Run for the Roses." Odds-on favorite Tiz the Law (Constitution) ranged up to challenge the winner, but was repelled, and settled for second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths. Huge longshot Mr. Big News (Giant's Causeway) was this year's trifecta crasher, while second choice Honor...

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September 6 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency BLUE-BLOODED GODOLPHIN FILLY DEBUTS 1st-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, f, 7f, 12:45 p.m. Bill Mott unveils Godolphin homebred CARAMEL SWIRL (Union Rags) in this Spa baby race. Her unraced dam Caramel Snap (Smart Strike) is a daughter of MGSW Fast Cookie (Deputy Minister), making her a half-sister to MGISW freshman sire Frosted (Tapit) and GSW Indulgent (Bernardini). This is also the family of champion Midshipman (Unbridled's Song). Ken McPeek also saddles an firster of interest in Lee Pokoik homebred Tabor Hall (Candy Ride {Arg}). Her SP...

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Juvenile Fillies in Spotlight at Del Mar and Saratoga Sunday

Juvenile fillies take center stage in a pair of Grade I events at Del Mar and Saratoga Sunday. Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.'s Princess Noor (Not This Time) headlines a field of six set for the GI Del Mar Debutante S. After topping the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training at $1.35 million, she ran to the billing with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance on debut for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert at Del Mar Aug. 22. She takes on the unbeaten My Girl Red (Texas Red),...

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Goliath Versus Davids In the Kentucky Oaks

In this corner comes 'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief), a filly by one of the world's hottest and most fashionable sires who was purchased for a seven-figure price tag at public auction and has whitewashed Grade I rivals by a combined 25 3/4 lengths in her last two starts. Sharing space in the other corner is Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), a much more modest auction purchase, who is perfect in her last four against her own sex; and Speech (Mr Speaker), not quite as accomplished as her two chief rivals,...

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McKinzie Meets 'Standards' in Alysheba

As a multiple Grade I winner with 11 triple-digit Beyer figures to his name, McKinzie (Street Sense) has well established himself as a force in the older male division. But showing a pair of off-the-board finishes in three starts this season, he will be out looking for a bit of redemption when he returns to the site and race that produced his track-record setting performance last spring in Friday's GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs. Racking up powerful victories in the GI Pennsylvania Derby and GI Malibu S. as a...

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Gamine Draws Five, Made the Even-Money Choice for the Longines Kentucky Oaks

'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief), the ultra-impressive winner of the one-mile GI Longines Acorn S. and seven-furlong GI Longines Test S. in her two most recent appearances, drew gate five and was installed as the even-money favorite on Mike Battaglia's morning line for Friday's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. Owned by Michael Lund Petersen, the $220,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $1.8-million Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training topper is likely to be hard sent by John Velazquez in what will be her second go around two turns. She...

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Distorted Humor Filly Rolls in Del Mar Unveiling

3rd-Del Mar, $55,000, Msw, 8-30, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.67, ft. VARDA (f, 2, Distorted Humor--She'll Be Right, by Sky Mesa), sent off at 5-1 in this debut, battled with I'm the Boss of Me (Midshipman) just in front to her inside for the first quarter mile and soon led by a half-length. After a half in :46.36, she jetted away from her foes to win going away by 3 1/4 lengths. Heels Up (Twirling Candy) ran second, 7 1/2 lengths in front of I'm the Boss of Me. The $700,000...

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Authentic Puts in Final Derby Tune-Up

Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing's Authentic (Into Mischief) completed his final work ahead of Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby, covering six furlongs in 1:12.40 (1/9) at Del Mar Sunday morning. "Authentic is really doing well. I see him turning the corner," trainer Bob Baffert said. "Both of my horses [Authentic and Thousand Words], I think they're live. We just need some luck, you never know what is going to happen with that many horses in there." Authentic, second behind Honor A.P. (Honor Code) in the June 6...

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Sunday's Racing Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency FULL BRO TO ANALYZE IT UNVEILED BY BROWN AND PARCELLS 10th-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 6:18 p.m. ET Shirelle (Point of Entry) will carry the colors of Bill Parcells's August Dawn Farm for this first go. The $150,000 KEESEP yearling is a full brother to Brown-trained Analyze It, a 6 1/4-length debut romper in October of his juvenile season, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Analyze It took a pair of Grade III events in his next starts, and just missed in a trio of...

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Charlatan Nears Return to Training

TDN Rising Star Charlatan (Speightstown), a Triple Crown candidate earlier in the season before being sidelined by injury, is expected to return to training soon, according to Starlight Racing's Jack Wolf, who campaigns the sophomore in partnership with SF Racing, Madaket Stables and Stonestreet Stables. After detecting some filling to the front ankle following a June 1 workout [five furlongs in 1:00.80] at Santa Anita, Bob Baffert confirmed that the colt would get 45 days off after an MRI revealed chips which required minor surgery. "He's doing really well," said...

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