Baffert and Callaghan in spotlight again
ARCADIA, Calif. – Less than a week after their runners swept the top three positions in the Kentucky Derby, trainers Bob Baffert and Simon Callaghan have prominent players in consecutive optional claimers at Santa Anita on Friday.
The Baffert-trained Govenor Charlie has a connection to the Triple Crown, having finished eighth in the Preakness Stakes in 2013. Govenor Charlie, who runs in the fourth race, is returning from a lengthy layoff.
Govenor Charlie is part of a field of six that includes the Baffert-trained Secretsatmidnight, who is entered to be claimed for $62,500 in his first start since November. Also in the field is Macro Access, a group stakes winner in Argentina last year who was last of seven in his U.S. debut March 26.
Footstepsinbronze, also coming off a long layoff, goes in the third race for Callaghan. Footstepsinbronze must beat Twentytwentyvision, who won an optional claimer on turf April 11, and Bench Light, a former claimer who was second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap last August.
Key Contenders
THIRD RACE
Footstepsinbronze (Last 3 Beyers: 91-90-85)
◗ Footstepsinbronze has not raced since winning an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar last August, his second win in his last three starts. On Friday, Footstepsinbronze is part of a field of seven in a race at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
“I think he’s got a good shot,” Callaghan said. “We’ve always thought he was a good horse. He had some time off after a few little things.”
◗ An Irish-bred who has raced only in the United States, Footstepsinbronze has won 2 of 5 starts for owner Adam Richey.
◗ Callaghan said Footstepsinbronze has a chance to run in stakes with a good race Friday.
FOURTH RACE
Govenor Charlie (Last 3 Beyers: 99-79-97)
◗ Govenor Charlie has not raced since finishing second in an optional claimer here in April 2014. Earlier in his career, he won the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby in 2013 before losing to Oxbow in the Preakness.
◗ Friday’s race is run at 1 1/16 miles, which is farther than Baffert would have preferred for Govenor Charlie’s first race back.
“He’ll probably need one,” Baffert said. “I would have liked to have run him seven-eighths to start out. There are not a lot of opportunities.”
◗ Govenor Charlie, a 5-year-old who has won 2 of 7 starts, races for Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman.
Baffert said Govenor Charlie had “nothing major” wrong when he was sidelined.
“He needed time,” he said.