Bob Baffert

Friday's Racing Insights: Pricey Uncle Mo Colt Jude Gets The Call To The Post In Arcadia

6th-SA, $60K, Msw, 3-5yo, 6f, 6:33 p.m. ET. Set for his unveiling is $2-million 2023 Keeneland September grad JUDE (Uncle Mo), who was purchased by Zedan Racing and sent to trainer Bob Baffert. Out of winner at 2 Helena Bay (GB) (Johannesburg), the first-time starter is a half-brother to GI TVG Pacific Classic Stakes hero & sire Collected (City Zip) and a current 2-year-old colt in-training by Gun Runner--himself a $700,000 Keeneland September buy for M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm. TJCIS PPS 8th-BAQ, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6fT, 4:53...

[ Read More ]
Breeders' Cup Connections: For Morgane Kervarrec, It's All About the Horse

Morgane Kervarrec knows she's not exactly known for being the most outgoing person on the backside. But for her, the job has never been about small talk or making appearances. It's about the work, the horses, and the quiet rhythm of morning training at Santa Anita. "People will say sometimes that maybe I'm not really social," Kervarrec admitted. "It's not that I'm tired of being social. I'm just tired of fake connections with people that you don't get with animals. That's why I picked this job. You deal less with...

[ Read More ]
Passion Breeds Success: Tenma Next Fasig-Tipton Star for Baoma Corp.

Over the past decade, Baoma Corp. has become synonymous with elite horses competing at the sport's highest level. But for those who know Susan and Charlie Chu personally, it's their unwavering dedication to their horses that stands out most. "They take good care of their horses and protect them," said the Chus' longtime trainer Bob Baffert. "That's why they do so well. They've had a lot of luck and a lot of success. They're not only great clients, but they're great friends of mine and they love racing." "Susan cares...

[ Read More ]
Intrepido at Santa Anita
Breeders' Cup Next for Santa Anita Stakes Winners

All five stakes winners on Saturday's card at Santa Anita--GI American Pharoah Stakes winner Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), GII Oak Leaf Stakes winner Explora (Blame), GII Rodeo Drive Stakes winner Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy), GIII Chillingworth Stakes winner Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) and Speakeasy Stakes winner Later Than Planned (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB})--were reported to be doing well Sunday and will move on to the Breeders' Cup. "He's got a lot of class," trainer Jeff Mullins said of Intrepido, who earned an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile with...

[ Read More ]
Legendary Handicapper Jeff Siegel Passes Away

Courtesy Santa Anita The news late Saturday of the passing of Jeff Siegel, the legendary handicapper and longtime member of the Santa Anita Park family, hit with an unexpected weight. Not that his passing at age 74 was unexpected, as he had been fighting aggressive cancer since earlier this year. But the finality of the news brought with it the realization that Jeff was gone and the hole that he left behind is unlikely to be replaced. "Jeff Siegel was, and will always be the epitome of Santa Anita Park,"...

[ Read More ]
The Week in Review: A Slew of Stakes Races and How They Might Affect the Breeders' Cup

The final round of preps for the Breeders' Cup took place this weekend and there was no shortage of stories or races. There were 26 graded stakes run from Friday through Sunday and nine of them were Grade I's. As always, this weekend helped to clear up the Breeders' Cup picture. Here's a look at what happened: GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile: You had three races, the GI Champagne, the GI Breeders' Futurity and the GI American Pharoah and each race featured a potential superstar in Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), Desert...

[ Read More ]
Beholder's Daughter Tamara Back In A Big Way, Romps In The Chillingworth

She's back! The beautifully-bred Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) returned to the races Saturday off nearly a year-long layoff and did so with a statement win in the GIII Chillingworth at Santa Anita. The Spendthrift homebred set hearts aflame as a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' juvenile, emulating the success of her mother to start her career two-for-for including a 6 3/4-length stroll in the GI Del Mar Debutante. The heavy favorite headed into the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita in 2023, she faltered home in seventh and...

[ Read More ]
Sweet Sixteen: A Sensational Saturday From Sea To Shining Sea

by TDN Editorial Staff Buckle up, race fans, it's going to be a wild ride on Saturday, as no fewer than 16 graded stakes from New York to Lexington, from Los Angeles to Toronto are scheduled, with horse racing's championship weekend now officially less than four weeks down the road. Without further ado, let's jump into the always-productive card at Aqueduct. Champagne, Frizette Share Spotlight at Belmont at the Big A A quartet of graded stakes, headed by the 'Win and You're In' GI Champagne S. and GI Frizette S.,...

[ Read More ]
Imagination Ignites Breeders' Cup Dreams with Santa Anita Sprint Championship Win

Imagination (Into Mischief) showed an electric turn-of-foot in the lane to overhaul the defending champion and claim his automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup by way of the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes. Back at the six furlong distance for the first time since his debut two years ago at Del Mar, the Bob Baffert trainee had predominantly been a two-turn horse in his career and had two elite-level placings last year to his credit--once in the spring in the GI Santa Anita Derby when he came a neck...

[ Read More ]
Perfect Is as Perfect Does: Cavalieri Strolls Home to Win Zenyatta, Stamps Ticket to Breeders' Cup Distaff

Much like the diva the race was named in honor of, Cavalieri (Nyquist) gave the fans on hand a moment's worry at the start, but rolled home the easiest of winners to stamp her ticket to the Breeders' Cup via the 'WAYI' GII Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita. Unbeaten in her career, the Speedway Stables colorbearer entered the race off a stalk and pounce performance which saw her claim the GI Beholder Mile by three-quarters of a length over stablemate Richi (Chi) (Practical Joke) back in March--who returned here for...

[ Read More ]
Santa Anita Updates: Confirmations for Breeders' Cup from Saturday's Big Winners

The connections of Johannes (Nyquist), Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), and GI Goodwood Stakes runner-up Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast) have confirmed their charges as Breeders' Cup bound in November after their stellar performances Saturday. One-two finishers Nevada Beach and Full Serrano were both doing well Sunday morning after the Goodwood, and barring any hiccups between now and the Breeders' Cup, will both be targeting respective Breeders' Cup races--the former having earned an automatic berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with his victory. A 3-year-old making just his fourth start,...

[ Read More ]
Nevada Beach Upsets Full Serrano in 'WAYI' Goodwood

Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's lightly raced 3-year-old Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), last seen capturing the Los Alamitos Derby June 28, fired fresh off the bench to punch his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with an 8-1 upset victory for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert against older horses in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Goodwood S. at Santa Anita. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile upsetter Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast) was second as the 1-2 favorite. Privman (Justify) was third. Fourth beneath Mike...

[ Read More ]
X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.