Stars Ready To Shoot to Glory at Baffert Stables
The Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert has at least seven colts at this point who can be considered prospects for the Gr1 Kentucky Derby at the Baffert Stables. They have already begun devising a strategy to prepare as take them down to Churchill Downs.
Currently Ax Man is the “Go To” horse for the Baffert Stable. The son of Misremembered won his debut race at Santa Anita by 9 ½ lengths impressing most but there are some who don’t believe the same as he was put up against homebreds or yearlings that cost $100,000 or less.
When asked if he thought he had enough time to get the lightly raced Ax Man ready for the Derby, Baffert replied: “I think if he’s good enough he can do it. The San Vicente will be a big step for him, especially out of the one hole. He’s fast and he’s quick. He’s a light-framed horse and I haven’t seen any distance limitations with him. But you don’t know that until they’re put under the gun.”
Another talent at the Baffert Stables is Nero will also start in the San Vicente. Bob Baffert has a simple rule, “Whichever one is doing great that week gets on the plane and runs that week,” he said. The top two in the lineup for Baffert Stables are Mckinzie and Solomini. Baffert said one of the two will go next in the GII San Felipe Mar. 10 at Santa Anita, while the other will go in the Mar. 17 GII Rebel at Oaklawn.
“I just go by the way I feel the horse is doing,” he said. “I know McKinzie and Solomoni have already proven themselves. I’m just trying to keep them healthy and give them a positive prep going in.”
Baffert has already decided Mourinho to race in the February 19 G3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. The colt has not raced since July last year but the stable has high hopes from him.
Another one in the lineup is Restoring Hope. Baffert normally relies on the Santa Anita and Oaklawn routes to get to the Derby, but says with so many candidates this year, we may see him in races Baffert rarely runs in. “I think you’ll see us in the [GII] Blue Grass or maybe we could go to Gulfstream and run one there,” he said. “We have a few here we’re getting ready.”
When asked if he thought this could be one of his best groups of 3-year-olds, Baffert was hesitant to go that far. “The year I had American Pharoah and Dortmund, that was a really good year, and so was the year I had Real Quiet and Indian Charlie,” he said. “I’ve had some strong hands. It’s still early. Over the next month, that is when the serious stuff starts happening.”
By Apurva Chavan, Racing Writer, apurva.chavan@secretariatsworld.com