Baffert puts finishing touches on his big horses

ARCADIA, Calif. – An uneasy stew of anticipation of upcoming races mixed with a perilous immediate future at Santa Anita permeated the track on Monday morning, as top-class horses prepared for expected starts in two of the biggest races of the meet this Saturday, while camera crews from five local television stations did morning reports, all referencing the meet’s 23rd fatality, which occurred Sunday.

The main track was fast, but played on the slow side, as it has in recent weeks. The track has had a terrific safety record since Dennis Moore, the former track superintendent, was brought back as a consultant after 22 horses perished earlier in the meet. Sunday’s fatality was in a downhill turf race, and likely would have been viewed solely as an unfortunate accident had it not been for the cumulative effect of what transpired in previous months.

The suspension of racing for 3 1/2 weeks last month caused the Santa Anita Handicap, originally scheduled for March 9, to now be run Saturday, the same day as the Santa Anita Derby. Trainer Bob Baffert has the likely favorites for both races in McKinzie and Game Winner, and put both through their final drills on Monday, both traveling six furlongs with jockey Joe Talamo aboard.

McKinzie, working by himself shortly after the first renovation break at 6:30 a.m., went off steadily and finished up well while receiving a clocking of 1:14.40.

“He was breezing,” Baffert said. “He’s been ready forever.”

Baffert had given serious thought to sending McKinzie to Dubai for the World Cup on Saturday, but decided against it. McKinzie never has been a heavy horse, and Baffert thought subjecting him to that journey wasn’t in his best interests now. Perhaps next year. For now, “I think he’s the best horse in the country, and now he has to prove it,” Baffert said.

McKinzie’s main rival will be Gift Box, who has not raced since winning the San Antonio on opening day Dec. 26.

Game Winner worked in company, per usual, shortly after the 7:45 break. He was on the inside of his company and edged in front late while timed in 1:13.40 – the fastest time of eight works at the distance – and galloped out well.

“He’s ready, huh?” Baffert said. “He’s Hercules.”

“Ready to go,” Talamo reported as he jogged back with Game Winner following the work.

Joel Rosario has the mount on Game Winner in the Santa Anita Derby. Baffert also is scheduled to run Roadster in a field that will be small but packed with quality, including Instagrand, Nolo Contesto, and Extra Hope.

The third Grade 1 race on Saturday is the Santa Anita Oaks, in which Bellafina will be favored.

Baffert on Monday also worked Dessman, who went six furlongs in 1:14.80 under jockey Victor Espinoza. Dessman, second most recently in an allowance race at Oaklawn on the Rebel undercard, is being considered for the Wood Memorial on Saturday at Aqueduct, and Espinoza would ride him if he goes, according to his agent, Brian Beach.