Bob Baffert

Opting for a confidence-builder over a trip to Saratoga for next weekend's GI Metropolitan Handicap, Baoma Corp's 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) made light work of three rivals in Saturday's GIII Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita, strolling home under little encouragement from Juan Hernandez to score as a mile the best. The slowest away from the inside stall, the prohibitive favorite methodically made his way through at the inside and poked his head in front as they raced in post-position order into the far turn. The comebacking Dr. Venkman...

With her most likely competition coming from her stablemate Splendora, MyRacehorse and Peter Leidel's Seismic Beauty went to the front and never looked back, rolling home an easy winner in Sunday's GII Santa Margarita Stakes. Breaking from the high draw, Seismic Beauty wasted no time as she sprinted to the front and was clear of 4-5 favorite Splendora rounding the first turn. Clicking off race horse fractions of :23.05 and :46.25, the 8-5 second choice continued to control the narrative through three quarters in 1:09.84. Still clear of fellow Bob...

Kentucky Derby hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was out over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Saturday morning as his preparations for the GI Belmont Stakes continued while a fleet of Grade I hopefuls also put in their works for respective contests. Putting in his second move since winning the nation's top prize for sophomores in early May, the Godolphin homebred went in company with fellow Grade I-winner Arthur's Ride (Tapit)--the pair clocking five panels in 1:02.54 (4/5) and 1:02.94 (5/5), respectively. Sovereignty started two lengths behind the grey and to his outside....

'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic), scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby with a foot bruise, worked seven furlongs in 1:24.80 (1/1) at Santa Anita Friday morning in preparation for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga June 7. He previously worked four furlongs in :49 at Churchill Downs May 11. The front-running winner of the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct Apr. 5 is trained by Bob Baffert and campaigned in partnership by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge...

After he crossed the wire first aboard Journalism (Curlin) in the GI Preakness Stakes, jockey Umberto Rispoli planned to take a few days off and bask in what was the biggest win of his career. Instead, he has found himself in the middle of an ugly controversy involving his ride and the bumping incident with Flavien Prat, who was aboard 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time). The two banged into each other in upper stretch and impeded the Steve Asmussen-trained Clever Again (American Pharaoh). While some people have...

While no immediate plans for the GI Belmont Stakes have been made for Saturday's sensational Preakness 150 hero Journalism (Curlin), connections report that when their colt leaves the Pimlico grounds in a couple days, he will either go directly to Saratoga or to Michael McCarthy's Kentucky base at Churchill Downs. With the son of Curlin under consideration for the GI Belmont Stakes June 7 at Saratoga, McCarthy and Eclipse Thoroughbreds' Aron Wellman spoke to the press Sunday morning and said the decision will be made in the next day or...

3rd-Pimlico, $50,960, Msw, 5-17, 3, 4, 5/6yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.80, gd, 5 1/2 lengths. VARNEY (c, 3, Vekoma--Summer of Fun {SW & GISP, $306,671}, by Include), who cost a whopping $775,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, got the Preakness program off to a winning start for the Bob Baffert barn, leading every step of the way to break his maiden at career start number four late Saturday morning at Pimlico. Favored at 4-5 at post time stretching out to two turns off a fourth to his 'TDN Rising Star'...

BALTIMORE, MD -- In the days leading up to the 150th Preakness, a lot had been made of the one horse that wouldn't make it into Saturday's lineup at Pimlico--Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief). However, those that have been entered in the final renewal of the Classic race before Old Hiltop faces the demolition man are certainly no slouches. Leading the fray, Journalism (Curlin) returns off a runner-up finish in the Run for the Roses. Lest some may have forgotten, however unlikely, he went off post-time favorite for the...

GI Kentucky Derby third-place runner Baeza (McKinzie) returned to the work tab Friday at Santa Anita with an easy four-furlong drill in :53.60 (43/43) for trainer John Shirreffs. He was joined on the tab by fellow 3-year-old Barnes (Into Mischief) who also worked four furlongs (:48.00 {6/43}) for the first time since finishing last of five in the GI Santa Anita Derby April 5 for trainer Bob Baffert. After choosing to skip Saturday's GI Preakness Stakes, Baeza is slated to start next in the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga June...

BALTIMORE, MD -- Much has been said about the genuine friendship between Hall of Famers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert that has developed over the years. And the lively banter between the two, as well as several of the other members of the training ranks in attendance at Thursday's Preakness Alibi Breakfast, did nothing to dispel that notion. Completely sidestepping the suggested seating assignments, Baffert planted himself at Lukas's table, which also included John Bellinger, who makes up BC Stables with partner Brian Coelho. The team is represented in...

The name of the book recently released by Simon & Schuster is "Death of a Racehorse," which might lead one to believe that author and CNN Reporter Katie Bo Lillis is the latest to jump on the anti-racing bandwagon. That is not the case. This is a book that truly can't be judged by its macabre cover or title. It's not that Lillis is a cheerleader for racing. A graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start program, she clearly understands the sport and seems pained by what ails it--breakdowns, overuse of...

5. TRUE PASSION, CD, 5/11, 6 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure: 84 Video Replay (f, 3, Audible--Fortune Pearl, by Mineshaft) O-Norman Stables LLC, B-SF Bloodstock LLC & Hartwell Farm Inc (Ky), T-Lonnie Briley, J-Corey Lanerie. Look who cracks this week's top five: Lonnie Briley! The sharp third-out 7 1/2-length MSW winner also races for Robbie Norman, owner of Coal Battle. Briley picked out the 3-year-old filly for $50,000 at OBS last June. She's the first foal to race from Fortune Pearl, 2015's GII Delaware Oaks winner who was third in the...