Baffert first-timers the ones to watch
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – The 2-year-olds are active this fall at Los Alamitos. The track runs at least one maiden special weight or stakes race for 2-year-olds on each of the first eight days of the fall Thoroughbred season.
The upcoming weekend includes two stakes for juveniles – the $100,000 Barretts Debutante on Saturday and the $100,000 Barretts Juvenile on Sunday. As an appetizer, a good maiden race Friday goes as race 4. No surprise, the principals are trained by Bob Baffert.
First-time starters Concord’s Star and Uninvited follow a tough act from their own stable. The performances of Baffert 2-year-olds during opening week included an impressive debut win by the filly Lemhill Basr and an easy stakes win by the colt Mt Veeder.
Baffert’s starters Friday are owned by breeders who also owned the sires. Kaleem Shah owns Concord’s Star and raced his sire, Concord Point. Concord Point won 4 of 6, including the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby in 2010. The current crop of 2-year-olds is his second crop.
George Jacobs owns Uninvited and raced his sire, Misremembered. He won 6 of 13, including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in 2010. Misremembered won three graded stakes, and his first runners are 2-year-olds.
Concord’s Star and Uninvited face five others in the 5 1/2-furlong race. Those are the recently gelded Nicaradalic Rocks, the improving Big Finish, and first-time starters Two the Punch, Papa Papa Papa, and Mad Bum.
KEY CONTENDERS
Concord’s Star
◗ The first named foal produced by a 2-for-11 mare, Concord’s Star debuts with a series of sharp gate workouts at Los Alamitos, Del Mar, and Santa Anita.
◗ The sire Concord Point has had eight debut winners from 38 runners, an outstanding 21 percent win rate.
Uninvited
◗ The dam of Uninvited has produced 11 named foals, including Grade 3 winner Derrianne and stakes winner Present Danger. Two of the dam’s runners won first out.
◗ Progeny of Misremembered are 1 for 6 first time out.
◗ Uninvited has worked exclusively at Los Alamitos.
Nicaradalic Rocks (Beyer: 47)
◗ Keith Desormeaux trains Nicaradalic Rocks, who was gelded following his eventful third-place debut July 17 at Del Mar. Nicaradalic Rocks misbehaved in the paddock, post parade, and at the starting gate when he made his debut. He produced no speed but ran on late in the $80,000 maiden-claiming sprint.
Two the Punch
◗ Kory Owens trains Two the Punch, a gelding by an outstanding debut stallion, Top Hit. Top Hit’s progeny have won 28 percent first time out. Two the Punch is a sibling to winners Rock U Up and Rocked Twice.
Big Finish (Last 3 Beyers: 61-42-24)
◗ Trained by Molly Pearson, Big Finish will be among the pacesetters.
◗ His most recent start was a third-place finish in an $80,000 maiden-claiming race at Del Mar.