BAFFERT'S WEEK GOOD AND BAD.Byline: Kevin Modesti Staff Writer If the past week was an omen, Bob Baffert Bob Baffert (born January 13, 1953 in Nogales, Arizona) is an American horse owner and trainer. He graduated from the University of Arizona's Racetrack Management Program with a Bachelor of Science degree. will either win big or lose big in next Sunday's Pacific Classic. Sorry we can't be more helpful than that. The nation's leading thoroughbred trainer had a week of highs and lows, including Silverbulletday's smashing victory at Saratoga and Real Quiet's season-ending injury here, and ending fittingly with Tout Charmant winning and Excellent Meeting finishing up the turf course in the Del Mar Oaks The Del Mar Oaks is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies. The race carries a purse of $400,000 and is a Grade I event at a distance of one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the turf at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. . ``It's hard to get real excited about this because I'm disappointed with Excellent Meeting,'' Baffert said after Tout Charmant's $21.60 victory under David Flores Flores, town, Guatemala Flores (flōrəs), town (1990 est. pop. 2,200), capital of Petén department, N Guatemala. Flores was built on an island in the southern part of Lake Petén Itzá and on the site of the in the Grade I, $250,000 race for 3-year-old fillies. Favored Excellent Meeting, racing on grass and ridden by Chris McCarron Christopher John "Chris" McCarron (b. March 27 1955, Boston, Massachusetts) is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame retired jockey. He was introduced to the sport of thoroughbred racing by his older brother, jockey Gregg McCarron. , each for the first time, couldn't overcome some minor traffic trouble and came in second to last in the field of 10. She was five lengths behind Tout Charmant at the finish. It was Excellent Meeting's fourth defeat in five starts since a hard-earned fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby One of the classic U.S. Thoroughbred horse races. It was established in 1875 and run annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Ky. With the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, it makes up U.S. racing's coveted Triple Crown. . This, combined with Silverbulletday's nine-length victory in the Alabama Stakes The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. on Saturday, effectively ended the contest for best filly in the Baffert barn. ``She made a nice run (on the backstretch back·stretch n. The part of an oval racecourse farthest from the spectators and opposite the homestretch. ), but she couldn't sustain it,'' said McCarron, who took over from Kent Desormeaux Kent J. Desormeaux (born February 27, 1970, in Maurice, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana) is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year. . ``As long as she comes out no worse for wear, then (owners John and Betty Mabee) are OK,'' Baffert said, indicating Excellent Meeting won't try grass again. Tout Charmant, winning for the third time in 10 starts for Baffert, became the first double stakes winner at the Del Mar meet, surviving an inquiry into the stretch run. Laffit Pincay, who rode runner-up Smooth Player, and Corey Nakatani, on third-place Sweet Ludy, complained that Tout Charmant forced them to steady. The stewards disagreed. Baffert and Flores will seek their fourth Del Mar stakes win together in the $1 million Pacific Classic. Flores is scheduled to ride 3-year-old General Challenge. Baffert also plans to enter River Keen. A week before the Classic, the probable field grew to eight when Saudi Prince Ahmed Salman's Thoroughbred Corp. announced it will run Lazy Lode and Smile Again. Gary Stevens and Garrett Gomez will ride, with Stevens getting his choice of horses. Also expected for the 1-1/4-mile race: favored Mazel Trick, Malek, Barter Town and Jack Grandi. Notes: Tout Charmant and earlier maiden-race winner Simply Fantastic ($85) made it a rough day for pick-six bettors. A double carryover puts more than $825,000 in the pot today. . . . At Emerald Downs near Seattle, Budroyale and Garrett Gomez bounced back from a weak run in the San Diego Handicap The San Diego Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. The race carries a purse of 300,000. to prevail in a stretch duel with Mike K in the Longacres Mile. Bob Baffert-trained favorite Classic Cat finished last in his first start since April. . . . At Ferndale, Ebonist and Danny Boag led the field past the finish line four times to win the Humboldt County Marathon, at 1-5/8 miles the longest dirt-track U.S. stakes. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Tout Charmant, ridden by David Flores and trained by Bob Baffert, cruised to victory Sunday in the $250,000 Grade I Del Mar Oaks. Associated Press |
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