Baffert sends out a pair for Sharp Cat

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The big crowds and the national television audience are gone, and so is the lucrative prize money. A week after trainer Bob Baffert won two seven-figure Breeders' Cup races at Santa Anita on the same day, he has more modest goals this Saturday - winning the $100,000 Sharp Cat Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Ten Churros, a stakes winner against statebreds at Del Mar in August, and Toro Bonito, stakes-placed last month at Santa Anita, are Baffert's two starters in the Sharp Cat, which is run at 1 1/16 miles on the Cushion Track main track.

Both fillies are owned by Hal and Patti Earnhardt. They bred Toro Bonito, and bought Ten Churros privately during the summer.

Ten Churros is the most accomplished filly in the Sharp Cat. She won the Generous Portion Stakes at six furlongs for statebreds at Del Mar on Aug. 27 and finished second to Saucey Evening in the California Cup Juvenile Fillies at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 5.

The California Cup Juvenile was Ten Churros's first start around two turns. "She's speed and she'll be out there winging it," Baffert said. "I think this is a good spot."

Toro Bonito is a closer. Fifth in the Grade 1 Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 27, she was third in the six-furlong Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 19. Toro Bonito was away slowly, but closed steadily to finish third behind Mi Chiamino Mimi, who was timed in 1:07.93.

"I wasn't going to run Toro Bonito, but I thought I'd take a shot," Baffert said. "She ran in a very fast race."

Toro Bonito and Ten Churros have drawn the inside posts in a field of five that includes Pamona Ball, Magic Roberta, and Oro Blanco.

Oro Blanco, still a maiden after three races, was third in the Oak Leaf.

Pamona Ball won a maiden race at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 10 after finishing fourth and seventh at Del Mar.

"She was unlucky in both starts at Del Mar," trainer Eoin Harty said. "She seemed to put it all together when she broke her maiden."

Magic Roberta was eighth in the Oak Leaf and is still a maiden after three races.

"She didn't like the track at Santa Anita," trainer Paulo Lobo said. "I was expecting a much better race."