Baffert has options for Parenting after Affirmed victory

ARCADIA, Calif. – The manner of Parenting’s first start around two turns in Sunday’s $100,000 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita has left Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert enthusiastic about the colt’s future.

In all likelihood, Baffert will know very soon where Parenting rates in the national division.

Parenting, a colt by Justify who races for Gandharvi LLC, is unbeaten in two starts. He won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs by 2 3/4 lengths on April 26, and the Affirmed Stakes at 1 1/16 miles by 7 1/2 lengths as the 4-5 favorite.

“We’ve been waiting to get Parenting to go this far,” Baffert said in the winner’s circle. “This stakes just came up perfectly for him. It is nice to have a fresh 3-year-old for the summer campaign.”

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Baffert did not commit to Parenting’s next start.

“We have some options,” he said.

There are nationally prominent races later this summer as well as the $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby at 1 1/8 miles at Los Alamitos on June 29. Baffert has won the Los Alamitos Derby the last seven years.

In the Affirmed Stakes, Parenting disputed the pace while racing on the inside. He took the lead on the turn and rapidly pulled away from four rivals.

“All the credit goes to the horse,” said winning jockey Juan Hernandez said.

Parenting, purchased for $750,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales 2-year-olds in-training sale in April 2023, has earned $92,400.

Parenting is the latest stakes winner on Baffert’s deep team of 3-year-olds.

On Sunday afternoon, Baffert declined to provide an update on the undefeated colt Nysos, who won the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in February in his last start.

The news is brighter regarding Prince of Monaco and Muth.

On Saturday, Prince of Monaco finished a fast-closing second in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes at seven furlongs at Saratoga, the colt’s first start of 2024. Prince of Monaco won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year.

Muth, a sharp two-length winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on March 30, worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday for an intended start in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 20.

Muth was the morning-line favorite for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18, but missed the race after he was diagnosed with a fever early on race week.

The Haskell is on the schedule of Stronghold, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April. Stronghold, who finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 at Santa Anita on Monday for trainer Phil D’Amato.

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