Pimlico: Awesomemundo rallies for DuPont Victory

BALTIMORE - Trainer Bob Baffert was in a richer race on Saturday at Pimlico, running Bodemeister in the Preakness, but he might not have been in a more important one than the Grade 3, $100,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff, because he was running Awesomemundo, owned by his wife, Jill.

Domestic tranquility remained intact, because Awesomemundo ($4.80), the favorite, rallied strongly to get the lead late, outfinished Love and Pride by a head, then survived an objection to prevail in the 1 1/16-mile race for older fillies and mares.

"House horse," Baffert said in the winner's circle. "This was a very important win."

[PREAKNESS STAKES: Replays and recaps from Saturday’s Pimlico card]

Awesomemundo was timed in 1:44.70 over a fast but tiring surface. Mike Smith rode her. John Velazquez, who rode Love and Pride, claimed foul for a bump inside the final furlong, but the stewards made no change.

"My horse came in, but the inside horse came out," Smith said.

Awesomemundo was sixth in the eight-horse field during the early going after being squeezed back at the start. She was forced to go wide on the turn.

"I told Mike, 'She runs like Zenyatta a little bit, but don't count on her to make up that much ground,'" Baffert said.

Love and Pride, who was on or near the pace throughout, finished 4 1/2 lengths clear of third-place Catch a Thief.

Awesomemundo, 4, a daughter of Awesome Again, has now won four times in seven starts. The DuPont was her stakes debut, but Baffert has high hopes for her.

"She's a filly who hopefully can run in the Breeders' Cup," Baffert said.

The Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic is Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, where Awesomemundo won an allowance race in her prior start.