SANTA ANITA: BAFFERT HORSE TAKES SAN FELIPE.Byline: Art Wilson Arthur Earl "Dutch" Wilson (December 11, 1885 in Macon, Illinois; died June 12, 1960 in Chicago, Illinois) was a catcher in Major League Baseball. Art Wilson was the catcher for Cubs pitcher Hippo Vaughn during the "double no-hitter" game in 1917. Staff Writer ARCADIA - 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. , holding court in the Santa Anita Santa Anita may refer to:
n. pl. winners' circles An enclosed area at a racetrack where the winning horse and jockey are brought for awards and publicity. Noun 1. Sunday, turned philosophical for a moment. ``This is like the Final Four,'' he said. ``We're in the prelims right now, and you sort of feel like you get to go on to the next game.'' But this wasn't college basketball College basketball most often refers to the American basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA. History
Baffert has been quiet this year until a week ago, when Wimbledon, a colt he has been high on since last year, followed his maiden victory with a powerful score in the Louisiana Derby. Sunday, with all eyes on 6-5 favorite St Averil and 2003 juvenile champion Action This Day, Baffert saddled the winner of the $250,000 Grade II San Felipe Stakes The San Felipe Stakes is a race for Thoroughbred horses run each year at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The race is normally held in mid-March and is open to horses, age three, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles (8.5 furlongs) on the dirt. . Preachinatthebar, a son of 1997 Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm, withstood a furious stretch duel with St Averil to post a nose victory in 1:42 4/5 for the 1 1/16 miles on dirt - the same time Silent Sighs ran Saturday while winning the Santa Anita Oaks Santa Anita Oaks is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to three-year-old fillies willing to race 8.5 furlongs (1 1/16 miles) on the dirt, it currently offers a purse of $300,000. . Baffert said Preachinatthebar, an improving colt who was the fourth choice in the wagering at 8-1, had to win the San Felipe to justify his confidence in the horse and move forward off his third-place showing in the Sham Stakes on Feb. 8. ``He's just now growing up, and he's not through yet,'' Baffert said. ``He ran today the way I thought he would. I thought he was going to run a big race.'' Preachinatthebar, ridden by Javier Santiago, was third after the first quarter-mile and moved to second behind his stablemate Noun 1. stablemate - a horse stabled with another or one of several horses owned by the same person stable companion Equus caballus, horse - solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times , Odds On, after the first four furlongs before taking the lead and holding off St Averil's charge. Santiago, 26, began riding at Santa Anita on Feb. 4 after beginning his career in his native Puerto Rico and then having a brief stay at Delaware Park. He also won aboard Wimbledon in Louisiana, and Baffert said he's comfortable with the jockey on any of his Derby candidates. ``He passed the test when I brought him to Louisiana Downs,'' Baffert said. ``If you can win down there, you can win anywhere.'' Baffert's other San Felipe entry, Odds On, faded to finish sixth - beaten by 8 1/2 lengths - after setting early fractions of :23 1/5 and :46 4.5. Laditude, a 60-1 long shot, dumped jockey Mike Smith at the start and caused confusion into the clubhouse turn when he rushed to join the leaders. Action This Day's trainer, Richard Mandella, said the traffic jam might have contributed to a big gash behind his colt's right hind ankle. ``We just have to hope it's not too bad,'' he said. Action This Day, ridden by 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 , was sent off the second choice at 5-2 and finished seventh, 9 1/2 lengths behind the winner. St Averil, forced about four-wide into the first turn by the loose horse, was an unlucky loser after winning the Santa Catalina Stakes on Jan. 17. ``Mike Smith's horse cost me the race,'' jockey Tyler Baze said. ``That's it. I was five-wide at the turn. I still thought I won it.'' art Wilson, (626) 962-8811 art.wilson(at)sgvn.com |
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