Baffert surpasses Mitchell in career wins at Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bob Baffert on Saturday overtook the late Mike Mitchell for the most career wins at Del Mar among trainers, although the feat was not announced to the crowd at Del Mar until Sunday.

Baffert began the meet 10 wins behind Mitchell, who won 476 races at Del Mar over 37 seasons. Baffert won three races on Saturday to first tie and then surpass Mitchell, then captured his 12th race of the meet on Sunday – giving him 478 career wins – with the first-time starter Alluring Star. Baffert’s achievement was announced to the crowd after that race.

“When I first came here, I never imagined that,” Baffert said Monday morning. “Mike Mitchell was a great trainer. He won a lot of races. You look at that top 10 list and see names like Charlie Whittingham, Ron McAnally. It’s an honor to be able to break the record. Some of the best horsemen in the world are here.”

Baffert first ran a horse at Del Mar in 1986, when he was beginning to leave the Quarter Horse world and move to Thoroughbreds. He long ago became the all-time stakes leader at Del Mar. Going into Monday’s card, he had won 123 stakes. McAnally is second with 77.

“For someone who came over from the Quarters, I never expected that,” Baffert said.

Alluring Star will be a future stakes performer. Baffert said the 2-year-old filly would make her next start in the Grade 1, $300,000 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 30.

“She’s a runner,” Baffert said of the daughter of Exchange Rate. “She had been working really well. They went pretty fast. It’s hard to win first time out going 6 1/2 furlongs on this track. It’s so demanding.”