Bob Baffert

On this week's TDN Writers' Room, we pay tribute to D. Wayne Lukas. Friends and mentees, including Todd Pletcher, Bob Baffert, Kiaran McLaughlin and Gary Stevens, share their favorite memories and stories of 'The Coach.'

Trainer Bob Baffert earned his ninth consecutive Los Alamitos Derby Saturday when favored Nevada Beach led in stablemate Varney to top an exacta for the Hall of Famer. In a field scratched down to just four (Baffert had a third entrant in Tiz Secure {Maximum Security}), it was clear the money was on the less experienced of the stablemates with Nevada Beach having broken his maiden Apr. 19 before running second to Gaming (Game Winner) in the Affirmed Stakes June 8. Drawn just to inside, Varney was making start five,...

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has been hospitalized in Louisville, Kentucky and will not return to training, according to Lukas family members. In a release sent out by Churchill Downs, the family shared that Lukas had been battling a severe infection that had worsened his condition, and has reportedly declined an aggressive treatment plan in favor of returning home to spend his remaining time with his loved ones. In a succession plan put in place by Lukas Enterprises, Inc., horses previously under Lukas's care have been transferred to...

1st-LRC, $45K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 4:00 p.m. ET. Debuting for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, ST PETERSBURG (Constitution) was a $700,000 purchase during the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Owned by SF, Starlight, Madaket, Stonestreet, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, the colt is one of five foals out GIII Schuylerville Stakes heroine Catherinethegreat (Uncaptured), who was acquired by WinStar for $175,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale. The first-time starter hails from an extended female family which includes SW Katinka (Kantharos). TJCIS...

9th-Santa Anita, $61,500, Msw, 6-14, 3, 4,/5yo, 7f, 1:22.24, ft, 4 1/4 lengths. SIERRA SILVER (c, 3, Game Winner--Promise Me Silver {GSW, $486,681}, by Silver City) ran third behind 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time) when he was unveiled in Arcadia Apr. 6. The grey served as the runner-up at Santa Anita May 10 before getting slammed at the windows to even-money here. The 3-year-old went to his knees at the break, but was able to recover to run in the third flight up the backstretch. Sierra Silver...

Baoma Corp.'s Himika (f, 2, Curlin--Motivated Seller, by Into Mischief), a $900,000 purchase out of this year's OBS April Sale, looked in a bit of trouble through the opening three panels of a five-furlong maiden at Santa Anita Thursday. But when Juan Hernandez was able to push away from the inside and with dead aim on pacesetting Stuffy Mist (Maximus Mischief), the athletic bay gathered that one up with ease a few strides later and whistled home to score by a half-dozen eased-down lengths to become a no-brainer 'TDN Rising...

2nd-SA, 60K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 4:33 p.m. Baoma Corp went to $900,000 to acquire HIMIKA (Curlin) just two months ago at OBS April after the filly worked in a co-fastest :9.4. Bred by Klaravich Stables, she is the first foal out of stakes-placed Motivated Seller (Into Mischief), who set a new track record at Saratoga in 2021 going 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.48. Himika signaled her readiness with a near-bullet four-furlong work June 7 in :46 4/5 (2/74). TJCIS PPS 2nd-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 5:29 p.m. First-crop...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - There may not be a better person to talk to about the highly anticipated rematch between GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) in Saturday's GI Belmont Stakes than longtime Bridlewood Farm General Manager George Isaacs. Founded in 1976 by Arthur and Martha Appleton and currently owned by John and Leslie Malone, Bridlewood Farm (their legendary red-and-white silks were worn by Umberto Rispoli for that heart-stopping second leg of Triple Crown) campaigns Journalism in partnership with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners,...

2nd-SAR, $100k, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 11:20a.m. ET Coming into this maiden with a number of bullet works to his credit, COPIOUS (Curlin) will debut in the colors of Tranquility Lake Farms for trainer Bill Mott. With four bullets at Payson and two over the Oklahoma training track, the chestnut is the son of MGISW Paradise Woods (Union Rags) and hails from the immediate female family of MGSW & GISP Mr. Greeley (Gone West). His dam's half-sister Paradise Bay (Blame) has produced SW Reef Runner (This Big Beast) and his...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When the phone rang, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith was on the other end. "I'm on the treadmill," Smith said. Of course he was. Smith, who will ride 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) in Saturday's $2-million GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, has always been obsessed with working out. And, as he closes in on his 59th birthday (Aug. 10), he has no intentions of pulling the plug on his two-hour, five-day-a week workout schedule. Nor are there any plans to hang up his...

The field for the GI Belmont Stakes, ranked in "likeliest winner" order. 1) JOURNALISM (c, Curlin--Mopotism, by Uncle Mo) O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. Sales history: $825,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 7-5-1-1, $2,838,880. Last start: WON May 17 GI Preakness Stakes. For most handicappers, the decision to bet on or against Journalism will come down to whether you think he's still riding an upward...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--The sting of missing the GI Kentucky Derby has faded. Ditto for the GI Preakness Stakes. Rodriguez (Authentic) is well rested, healthy and a ready to roll 'TDN Rising Star.' The colt, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, will make his Triple Crown debut in Saturday's GI $2 million Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan, Rodriguez turned heads earlier...