Baffert sees bright future for Native Diver winner Mr Fisk

DEL MAR, Calif. – In the moments after Mr Fisk won his first graded stakes in Sunday’s Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar, trainer Bob Baffert’s thoughts turned briefly to a major race at the same venue next November.

“The Breeders’ Cup Classic is here,” Baffert said. “We have to keep him happy and healthy.”

The 2024 BC Classic is a long way off, but that has not kept Baffert from hoping that Mr Fisk can develop into a leading runner in the two-turn older horse division next year.

On Sunday, Mr Fisk won his debut at 1 1/8 miles, closing from fourth in a field of seven to win by 1 1/4 lengths over favored Skinner. In coming months, Mr Fisk will have races such as the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 2 as a goal, Baffert said.

Owned and bred by Sunny Brook Farm, Mr Fisk won his second consecutive stakes in the Native Diver. On Sept. 3, Mr Fisk closed from off the pace to finish in a dead heat for first with the Baffert-trained Tahoe Sunrise in the Shared Belief Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile at Del Mar.

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The Native Diver was Mr Fisk’s first start against older horses.

“In the last 60 days, he’s changed,” Baffert said. “He’s starting to fill out.”

Baffert has depth to his older male division. Arabian Knight, the winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 2 and the fourth-place finisher in the BC Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, is currently being rested for a 2024 campaign, Baffert said over the weekend.

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