American Freedom has big shot to give Baffert fourth Iowa Derby win
Bob Baffert already has won the Iowa Derby three times, more than any other trainer, and American Freedom figures to be heavily favored to give Baffert his fourth win in the race Friday night at Prairie Meadows.
American Freedom, the winner of the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico last out, is one of eight entrants in the Grade 3, $250,000 Iowa Derby, which Baffert first won in 2000 with Captain Steve. His other winners were Concord Point in 2010 and Prayer for Relief in 2011, and though American Freedom is listed as the 5-2 second choice on the morning line, it will be surprising if he doesn’t go to the post at 9:21 p.m. Central as something close to an odds-on favorite.
“If he runs well here, the timing’s good to decide between the Haskell and the Jim Dandy,” Baffert said. “He’s shown me he’s got a lot of quality. The way he’s been working, he should be tough there.”
The Iowa Derby, at 1 1/16 miles, is the feature on the second of three days comprising the Iowa Festival of Racing.
Iowa Derby, Race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
American Freedom, by Pulpit
Last 3 Beyers: 94-83-98
◗ His two wins from three starts came on wet tracks, but Baffert said he believes that if anything, mud at Pimlico slowed down American Freedom in the Sir Barton.
“I kept waiting for him to run away from those horses,” Baffert said. “It’s just coincidence his two wins were on wet tracks.”
◗ Won his debut over seven furlongs around one turn but never really got involved the second time out in the Pat Day Mile, a one-turn race run at a strong pace.
“I was going to wait for the Sir Barton, but he was doing well,” said Baffert. “He just wasn’t ready for that, and more than anything, I think he just didn’t show up. He wants to go two turns. I think he broke his maiden going seven-eighths just because he’s a good horse.”
◗ Rafael Bejarano, who was up for American Freedom’s debut win, comes in to ride.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 American Freedom. Trainer Bob Baffert is 21-4-2-3 with a $1.18 ROI over the past two years when making a jockey change in graded stakes with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Lookin for a Kiss, by Lookin At Lucky
Last 3 Beyers: 86-76-64
◗ Actually finished close to two lengths in front of American Freedom in the Pat Day Mile, and that after sticking closer to the race’s demanding early and middle pace.
◗ Flopped in his lone two-turn try, the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, but looked dull that day after breaking flat from the rail and racing behind horses.
◗ Has turned in a series of strong-looking workouts at Churchill for trainer Mike Tomlinson and should be prominent early this time.
Synchrony, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 82-77-79
◗ Was scratched from the local Iowa Derby prep June 10 after losing a hind shoe and bruising his hoof while galloping the day before but lost little time thereafter, trainer Donnie Von Hemel said.
◗ Adds blinkers as Von Hemel tries to get Synchrony to manifest latent talent that hasn’t yet come forth at age 3.
“I always felt he was a pretty nice animal, and this spring I had a little trouble getting it out of him. I think there’s more there,” Von Hemel said.
Texas Chrome, by Grasshopper
Last 3 Beyers: 89-85-78
◗ Listed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite but should go off at a much longer price than that. Has improved since stretching out to two turns but got an easy lead in beating Texas-breds two starts ago and was basically towed along by Gun Runner while finishing an even third less than two weeks ago in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill.