Baffert's cup runneth over with talented juveniles

CYPRESS, Calif. – Mucho Gusto is the latest in a remarkable string of 2-year-old winners for trainer Bob Baffert in the last 60 days.

On Thursday at Los Alamitos, Mucho Gusto led throughout a maiden special weight race at six furlongs to post a four-length victory in his career debut. Since the beginning of the Del Mar summer meeting on July 18 and through Thursday at Los Alamitos, Baffert has won 12 maiden special weight races with 2-year-olds and one stakes –the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity with Game Winner.

“It’s all I do is break maidens,” Baffert said in the winner’s circle on Thursday.

Mucho Gusto, owned by Michael Petersen, was purchased for $625,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training in Maryland in May.

“We took our time with him,” Baffert said. “You hope they run like that.”

Joe Talamo rode Mucho Gusto on Thursday and had been aboard the colt in recent workouts.

“Joe told me he wouldn’t lose,” Baffert said. “That’s why I showed up.”

Predictably, Baffert will have a strong group in the Grade 1 races for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita on Sept. 29, the opening Saturday of the track’s autumn meeting.

In the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, Baffert plans to run Mother Mother and Der Lu. Both won a maiden race at Del Mar. Mother Mother was second to Bellafina in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 1. Bellafina is the leading contender for the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. The Chandelier will be the stakes debut for Der Lu.

Game Winner and the maiden-race winner Tale of the Union are expected to start for Baffert in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 29.

There are two other Grade 1 races at Santa Anita on Sept. 29, and all four Grade 1 races are preps for Breeders’ Cup races at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2-3.

Accelerate, the leading older male in California, will be a short-priced favorite in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. Vasilika, who won her graded stakes debut in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 1, will start in a Grade 1 stakes for the first time in the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

The Rodeo Drive field will not include the 3-year-old filly Ollie’s Candy, second as the favorite in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 18. Trainer Bill Morey said on Thursday that Ollie’s Candy has been turned out for a rest.

“She’s going to get some time off,” he said. “We’ve already sent her out.”

Ollie’s Candy won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks on dirt for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in June.

The Santa Anita autumn meeting begins Friday.