SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and Fred Hertrich III’s BEACON HILL (Blame) debuts for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The dark bay, who realized a $500,000 final bid at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling sale, was the highest priced yearling out of 27 sold by his sire in 2018…
Authentic has already carved one significant milestone for his sire, his debut success at Del Mar last November having qualified Into Mischief as the first North American stallion to accumulate 200 individual winners in a calendar year. If he can also become a Classic winner, however, he will need a chapter to himself in the Spendthrift phenomenon’s epic tale…
Authentic, Charlatan and Nadal: with apologies to Alexandre Dumas, call them The Three Bafferteers. Each horse is trained by two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert, each horse is undefeated, and each horse has never even been in a photo finish in a combined 10 career starts. They have swash-buckled their way across the track, outdueling their foes while compiling $1,751,400 in earnings, and are among the top 10 in Kentucky Derby qualifying points, Nadal leading with 150, Charlatan fourth with…
When the balance of power shifts anywhere, one side or another usually makes a move to regain equilibrium. It’s the way of the world, the yin and the yang of natural order. In Avengers, a film based on Stan Lee characters from Marvel Comics, a guy named Nick Fury, head of S.H.I.E.L.D., acts to save the earth from an outside threat by recruiting a bunch of superheroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor. There’s a self-named version of…
The man of the hour, Bob Baffert, who won both halves of the Arkansas Derby and who arguably has the 1-2-3 top Derby choices, joins the TDN Writers’ Room.
Making the Grade, which will run through the 2020 Triple Crown races, focuses on the winners or top performers of the key races, usually from the previous weekend, who could make an impact on the Triple Crown. We’ll be taking a close look at impressive winners and evaluating their chances to win classic races based upon ability, running style, connections (owner, trainer, jockey), and pedigree. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve was shifted from its…
There were several places Chris Mara would rather have been this past Saturday other than at his home in Florida riding out the COVID-19 crisis. Two places in particular. In order: Churchill Downs or Oaklawn Racing and Casino Resort in Arkansas. Outside of his family, Mara, the Giants senior vice president of player personnel, has three loves in life. In order: The Giants, horse racing and golf. In a perfect world, Mara — who has ownership interests in race horses…
Once upon a time, Bob Baffert was a Quarter Horse jockey. It was his success (or lack thereof) in that profession that led to his current career path as a Hall of Fame Thoroughbred trainer. Figuring that the fires still may burn within the 67-year-old Arizona native to ride fast horses, we asked the question that many in racing would like to know: Which of his three undefeated 3-year-olds – Grade 2 San Felipe winner Authentic or Saturday’s winners of…
Colt won first division of Arkansas Derby (G1) in third start since February debut. Though Churchill Downs sat empty this first Saturday in May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the postponement of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) could work in the favor of developing 3-year-olds, including the undefeated and newly-minted grade 1 winner Charlatan…
Reached by phone Sunday, a day after sweeping divisions of the Arkansas Derby (G1) with a pair of unbeaten colts, trainer Bob Baffert said he was “trying to get the next batch ready.” That means Authentic, who remained perfect by exiting a victory in the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2). Baffert backed off the son of Into Mischief once the Santa Anita Derby (G1), originally scheduled for April 4, was postponed. A new Santa Anita Park stakes schedule released last week slots…
