Baffert likely to extend dominance with well-spotted pair
?q=100)
Although trainer Bob Baffert has started more horses in Kentucky (32) than California (17) the past two months, he still has bullets for Los Alamitos.
Baffert relocated much of his stable to Churchill Downs, but competition is always easier at Los Alamitos, where Baffert’s long-term win rate is a gaudy 34.7 percent. Since daytime racing at Los Alamitos began in 2014, Baffert has won more races than any trainer – 153 wins from 440 starters through June 21. He is likely to add to the total in a pair of entry-level allowance races Sunday.
Cipriani stretches out in race 1, a mile race for fillies and mares in which she will try to build off her runner-up comeback. Cipriani’s main foe is Ryan’s Girl, who crushed three starter-allowance routes in spring at Santa Anita and was named top claiming horse of the meet.
March of Time is Baffert’s best chance Sunday, racing 5 1/2 furlongs in race 5. A lightly raced 5-year-old, March of Time has not started in more than a year but he runs well fresh and his figures top the field. His main rival is Central Dispatch, claimed for $25,000 from a turf sprint win by trainer Val Brinkerhoff.
The card Sunday also includes a split of a maiden special weight for Cal-bred 2-year-olds. In race 4, the stronger division, Repo drops off a creditable third-place debut against open company. Race 8 is a raffle with first-timers Jolt of Joy and Sip Sip Charly and second-out gelding The Moe Show.
Cipriani, the likely favorite in race 1, won her debut by more than eight lengths in 2024, finished second to stablemate Tenma in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes in winter 2025, then disappeared for a year. Favored to win her sprint comeback on May 29 at Santa Anita, Cipriani missed by a half-length.
Cipriani stretches out from 6 1/2 furlongs to a mile and could add to another notable trainer statistic: The past five years in daytime races at Los Alamitos, Baffert has won with 43 of 78 favorites for a 55 percent rate. Umberto Rispoli is named on Cipriani.
March of Time, the comebacker in race 5, has been favored in all three of his starts – a second in his debut at Los Alamitos in 2023, a maiden win at Santa Anita in 2024, and a third in a Santa Anita allowance in early 2025. March of Time earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure in each of his last two starts and is the fastest horse Sunday. Juan Hernandez is named to ride.
Others entered in race 5 include sharp Central Dispatch, turf-to-dirt contender Mubtadaa, and potential pacesetter Alphabetical Order.
Notwithstanding stablemates Cipriani and March of Time, the most probable winner Sunday is a route-to-sprint class dropper in race 2. Majestic Palisades faces easier in the $10,000 claiming starter and should deliver at a short price for trainer Librado Barocio and jockey Joel Rosario.
Sunday is the sixth day of the nine-day Los Alamitos meet. Racing resumes Friday, and closing weekend is highlighted by the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes for filly and mare sprinters on July 4. Sweet Azteca, back-to-back winner of the Great Lady M., is the top nominee.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.