Santa Anita: Baffert runners have winning family outing

Shigeki Kikkawa

Govenor Charlie, by Minight Lute out of a daughter of Silverbulletday, won his maiden race on the same day Shakin It Up, also with those bloodlines, won the San Vicente.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bob Baffert kept it all in the family on Sunday at Santa Anita. The Hall of Fame trainer won the San Vicente Stakes with Shakin It Up, and a maiden race with Govenor Charlie, both of whom are closely related, being by champion Midnight Lute out of daughters of his two-time champion Silverbulletday.

Both of Sunday's winners were bred by Mike Pegram, who owned Silverbulletday. Pegram owns Shakin It Up in partnership, as he did with Midnight Lute.

Both Midnight Lute and Silverbulletday were trained by Baffert. He also trained Vindication, the damsire of Shakin It Up.

The success of Midnight Lute is gratifying for Baffert, and not just financially.

"We went all-in on Midnight Lute," Baffert said.

Baffert strongly believed Midnight Lute would prove to be a top sire, citing his overcoming a serious setback to become a two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint winner. There was a reason Midnight Lute, despite being a son of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet, was confined to sprints.

"Early on, he had an infection in his throat," Baffert said. "That's why his throat went bad. He would have run all day. Unfortunately, he had 60-percent air capacity, but all his foals breathe fine."

The success of Silverbulletday, meanwhile, skipped a generation. While she was top-class - winning 15 races, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and the Kentucky Oaks - and her grandsons are showing promise, her offspring were undistinguished, if they got to the races at all.

"Her daughters are really good producers," Baffert said. "Silverbulletday was a real favorite of mine."