Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby preparations start strong with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile title

Bob Baffert’s return to availability The Kentucky Derby couldn’t have started better when it won $2 million Breeders’ Cup Young people competed on the first day of the two-day event, which is considered the Super Bowl of horse racing. Citizen Taurus Not only did he win the race, but he also beat the other two Baffert runners. Game And Getaway CarThey finished second and fourth respectively.

The first day of the Breeders’ Cup on Friday is for 2-year-olds, all of whom will turn 3 and be eligible for the Kentucky Derby on Jan. 1.

“I wish they could have fully heated one, two, three, but they didn’t,” Baffert said. “But I’m excited about the connections for the group and all the owners involved. … They supported me (during the suspension). They were with me the whole way. “They trust me,” he said.

Read more:It’s business as usual for trainer Bob Baffert in the Breeders’ Cup

Theoretically the race was over from the start, with the Into Mischief colt ridden by Martin Garcia leading from gate to fence and maintaining his 1½ length lead all the way after taking advantage of the slow opening fractions. It was a $675,000 acquisition by a consortium that included SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables.

Garcia, Baffert’s regular rider, returned to Southern California and picked up the mount.

“I went to the field, picked up Martin,” Baffert said. “(The owners) were good about it, let’s do it. And sometimes you have to do it. Like baseball, like managing. So, you looked like (Dodger) Walker Buehler In the last inning (of the World Series).”

A few years ago Tom Ryan gathered a group of owners who pooled their considerable sums of money and gave the money to Baffert, who was then told to buy some of the winners. The group also owns last year’s Preakness winner National TreasureHe also won this year’s Pegasus World Cup.

The group remained loyal to Baffert throughout his three-year suspension from Churchill Downs following Medina Spirit’s disqualification for a medication violation after finishing first in the 2021 Derby. Citizen Bull paid $33.80 to win. This was Baffert’s sixth Juvenile win.

Citizen Bull also won the American Pharoah at Santa Anita and currently has 40 qualifying points for the Derby, which is very likely to get the horse into the starting gate at Churchill Downs.

“It’s so far away right now and you don’t really know if you have a Derby horse until January or February,” Baffert said. “Things happen. That’s why I can’t get ahead of myself. I just focus on what’s in front of me this week or next week. It’s nice to be in the conversation. But we are still a long way away.”

Read more:Breeders’ Cup: Which horses are the favorites to win at Del Mar?

Baffert did not fare well in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies, won by Immersive ($6.00) for trainer Brad Cox and ridden by Manny Franco. Baffert’s Nooni finished sixth.

Friday’s heavy favorite was Lake Victoria ($3.40), who won the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf by 1 ½ lengths. He remained unbeaten, winning his fifth race and first start in the United States. It rose from $0.70 in dollar terms.

He ran in the middle of the pack for the first half of the race, rose to second at the top, and then turned home.

The unwritten rule to bet only on foreign horses in the Breeders’ Cup turf races was three-for-three, with all winners coming from Ireland. Magnum Force ($27.00) won the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint and Henry Matisse ($9.80) won the $1 million Juvenile Turf.

There are nine Breeders’ Cup races on Saturday, all worth $1 million or more.

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This story first appeared on: Los Angeles Times.