Bob Baffert

Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine (Into Mischief), last year's Eclipse champion female sprinter, aims for her fifth straight victory in the GI Ketel One Ballerina S.--a Win and You're In event for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint--at Saratoga Saturday. Gamine capped her championship campaign with a 6 1/4-length romp in last year's F/M Sprint and she has been largely unchallenged in three starts so far this term. The bay filly opened 2021 with a five-length score in the Apr. 4 GIII Las Flores S. and added the May 1 GI...

Even though trainer Bob Baffert has secured only a preliminary injunction in his ongoing lawsuit against the New York Racing Association (NYRA) that allows him to race at New York's three major tracks pending the final resolution of the case, his attorneys filed a motion in federal court Aug. 25 seeking $162,086 in legal fees and expenses from NYRA based on the claim that Baffert is due that money as the "prevailing party." The three attorneys Baffert engaged for work on this case have billed him at rates between $450...

Medina Spirit (Protonico) was supplemented, at a cost of $1,000, to Sunday's Shared Belief S., a one-mile event for 3-year-olds on the Del Mar main track. The $100,000 contest will be the first start for the colt since finishing third--beaten five lengths--by Rombauer in the GI Preakness S. at Pimlico May 15.  His victory in the May 1 GI Kentucky Derby victory remains in limbo pending a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission ruling. "I've entered him, he's running," Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. "I figure I'll use this as...

Medina Spirit (Protonico), unraced since a third-place finish behind Rombauer (Twirling Candy) in the GI Preakness S. at Pimlico May 15, was not among the nominees to the Aug. 29 Shared Belief S., but may be ready for the GI Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 25, trainer Bob Baffert said Saturday. "There have been rumors about that horse since May 1," Baffert said with a laugh. "There has been a lot of talk about that horse. He's going to breeze this week and I'll know more after that. I go work-by-work with...

Baoma Corp.'s Private Mission (Into Mischief) looks to secure her black-type badge Saturday in Del Mar's GIII Torrey Pines S. A debut winner at Santa Anita Oct. 18, the $750,000 FTSAUG buy checked in fourth as the favorite in this venue's Desi Arnaz S. Nov. 14. The bay returned to winning ways with a front-running score in a six-panel optional claimer in Arcadia June 12 and tries a mile for the first time here. The Bob Baffert pupil prepped for this with a best-of-82 five furlongs in :59 flat at...

Hudson Ridge (American Pharoah) carries a baby two-race winning streak into Sunday's GIII La Jolla H. at Del Mar, the second of two-lead up races for the GII Del Mar Derby Sept. 4. The bay colt has yet to run a poor race going two turns on the grass and nearly got the job done going a mile at Santa Anita May 1, missing by a neck while dead-heating for the plce spot with next-out maiden scorer No Foolery Here (Carpe Diem). Encouraged by Abel Cedillo, trainer Bob Baffert entered...

With the door to a divisional title slightly left ajar by Malathaat (Curlin)'s recent upset loss, eight evenly-matched sophomore fillies will line up in Saturday's GI Longines Test S. at Saratoga. Slightly favored on the morning line is Klaravich Stables' Search Results (Flatter), who, if not for the length of a Malathaat neck, may herself be favored for champion 3-year-old filly honors as the calendar turns to the season's second half. A four-length debut victress Jan. 3 at Gulfstream, the $310,000 Keeneland September purchase repeated with a pair of scores...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency EXPENSIVE & WELL-BRED JUVENILES DEBUT ON WHITNEY UNDERCARD 5th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 2:52p.m. An intriguing group of juvenile colts seek their diplomas Saturday on the GI Whitney S. undercard. The most expensive of the group is OXO Equine's IMMOKALEE (Curlin). The $750,000 KEENOV acquisition is out of MGSP Banree (Macho Uno), a half-sister to MSW & MGSP Superstition (Ghostzapper) and GSW Gloryzapper (Ghostzapper). Chad Brown unveils a colt from the first crop of the late Arrogate in $590,000 KEESEP buy Big Skipper. The bay...

A wide-open field of 11 juvenile fillies have been entered for Friday evening's GII Sorrento S. at Del Mar. Smash Ticket (Midnight Lute) is the 9-5 morning-line favorite off the heels of a field-best 78 Beyer Speed Figure earned in a five-length maiden score at second asking for trainer Todd Fincher at Del Mar July 17. She impressively dueled clear that day after breaking poorly. The dark bay was previously a debut second in the Lone Star mud June 5. "It was a pretty big ask for her to jump...

2nd-Del Mar, $70,500, Msw, 7-31, 2yo, f, 5f, :58.67, ft, 3/4 length. GRACE ADLER (f, 2, Curlin--Our Khrysty {GSW, $313,260}, by Newfoundland), sent off the 2-5 choice for this unveiling, broke outward for the six hole, but rallied into contention before settling into fourth as Sugar Sugar (Twirling Candy) led through a :22.80 half. Asked for more by Flavien Prat and giving it passing the quarter pole, the chestnut was the widest of three with Valentina Ghada (Practical Joke) and Sugar Sugar turning for home, ground to the front in...

Tabor, Magnier and Smith's As Time Goes By (American Pharoah) looks for her third straight win--and an automatic berth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff--in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar Sunday. The Bob Baffert trainee, second in the Mar. 13 GI Beholder Mile, romped home by 9 1/4 lengths in the Apr. 24 GII Santa Margarita S. She was all out to hold off This Tea (Curlin) in the May 22 GII Santa Maria S., but has been freshened since then and is training strongly...

2nd-DMR, $70K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 5:30 p.m. ET Willow Grace Farm and Michael Petersen's GRACE ADLER (Curlin), a $700,000 FTKSEL yearling graduate, debuts for Bob Baffert. She was produced by GSW Our Khrysty (Newfoundland), a half-sister to GISW Bullsbay (Tiznow). The chestnut, a half-sister to GSP Virginia Key (Distorted Humor), fired a five-furlong bullet from the gate in :59 1/5 (1/81) at Del Mar July 24. She is drawn widest of six and will be guided by Flavien Prat. TJCIS PPs