Baffert in familiar position with talented 2-year-olds
?q=100)
DEL MAR, Calif. – A loaded cast of juveniles has run to expectations for trainer Bob Baffert through the first four weekends of the Del Mar summer meeting.
Baffert swept the two six-furlong Grade 3 stakes for 2-year-olds on Saturday and Sunday, winning Saturday’s $150,000 Best Pal Stakes with Desert Gate, who won by 8 3/4 lengths, and Sunday’s $150,500 Sorrento Stakes for fillies with Himika, who was first by only 4 1/4 lengths.
They rate as leading contenders for the two Grade 1, $300,000 seven-furlong races on the final weekend of the meeting – the Del Mar Debutante for fillies on Sept. 6, and the Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 7.
It’s all familiar territory for Baffert.
Desert Gate, a colt by Omaha Beach purchased for $260,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale Co.’s March 2-year-olds in training sale, gave Baffert his 12th winner in the Best Pal.
Himika, bought for $900,000 at OBS in April, was a record ninth win for Baffert in the Sorrento.
“I’ve got a good clientele,” Baffert said in the winner’s circle on Sunday. “They let us load up.”
The Del Mar Debutante and Futurity have been Baffert’s late summer proving ground as well. He has won the Debutante 11 times and the Futurity a staggering 18 times, including the last four runnings.
Baffert often has multiple runners in the Debutante and Futurity. Desert Gate and Himika may have competition from stablemates in those Grade 1 races.
On Saturday, the Baffert-trained Bottle of Rouge, owned by his wife, Jill, won a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs. Bottle of Rouge was second to Himika in her debut on June 12.
Among colts in recent weeks, Baffert has won maiden races for 2-year-olds with Brant on July 26, Buetane on Aug. 3, and Balboa on Sunday.
Brant won by 5 1/4 lengths, finishing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.63. A $3 million purchase at OBS in March, Brant earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101.
Balboa won Sunday’s race at 6 1/2 furlongs by 7 3/4 lengths.
Baffert was reluctant on Sunday to state how many runners he would have in the Debutante or Futurity.
“I don’t get ahead of myself,” he said.
Baffert’s depth, particularly among 2-year-old males, could lead the stable to send runners elsewhere, such as Saratoga for the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at seven furlongs on Sept. 1.
For all that Baffert has accomplished in 2-year-old stakes at Del Mar, he is winless with three runners in the Hopeful in the last 20 years, including two third-place finishers.
Last year, Baffert won the Best Pal Stakes with Getaway Car and the Sorrento with Nooni. Both are in training after lengthy layoffs, Baffert said.
Getaway Car, fourth behind stablemate Gaming in the 2024 Del Mar Futurity, won the Sunland Park Derby in New Mexico in February. He has not raced since a fourth-place finish at 4-5 in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in March.
Nooni, fifth behind stablemate Tenma in the 2024 Del Mar Debutante, has not raced since she finished fifth of seven in the Grade 2 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos last December.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.