Classier gives Baffert fifth consecutive Los Alamitos Derby triumph
CYPRESS, Calif. - The last horse entered for Sunday’s Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby was the first horse past the wire.
Barely.
Classier led throughout the $150,000 race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles, finishing a nose in front of stablemate Defunded, the 3-5 favorite. Classier ($4.60) was timed in 1:49.15 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 89.
The win gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his fifth consecutive win in the Los Alamitos Derby, the track’s leading race for 3-year-olds.
The running of the Los Alamitos Derby was in jeopardy in the middle of the week. The race drew only four runners when entries were taken Wednesday, leading track officials to postpone the race from Saturday to Sunday with the hope additional runners would enter. On Thursday, Baffert worked Classier a half-mile in 47.20 seconds at Santa Anita and decided later that morning to enter the colt.
“The extra day helped him,” Baffert said.
Mike Smith rode Classier for the first time in the Los Alamitos Derby. Starting from the rail against four rivals, Classier led through an opening quarter-mile in 22.98 seconds and 47.01 for a half-mile. Classier led by a length over It’s My House on the turn, with Defunded closing well from third.
Defunded launched a threat against Classier when the field turned into the stretch with a quarter-mile remaining, but could not get past the leader. Smith said he was not concerned about Classier’s chances when Defunded moved into a challenging position.
“He was loving the lead so much,” Smith said. “I thought it might be better if he had a little company going through the lane. He did. He jumped back on the bridle and really got busy.”
Defunded finished 14 lengths clear of 11-1 Ingest, who was followed by It’s My House and Back Ring Luck.
“It was pretty exciting to watch them come for home,” Baffert said of the stretch run. “They are two nice horses. I’m grateful they used the race. It wasn’t looking well. We need these races to go here in Southern California.
“I was hoping for a dead heat.”
Classier joins Gimme Da Lute (2015), West Coast (2017), Once On Whiskey (2018), Game Winner (2019) and Uncle Chuck (2020) as recent winners of the Los Alamitos Derby for Baffert.
Classier, a colt by Empire Maker, races for the partnership SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson.
Classier has won 2 of 4 starts and has earned $155,000. He was purchased for $775,000 as a yearling.
The Los Alamitos Derby was Classier’s first stakes win. After winning his debut in a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita last October, Classier was ambitiously placed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on Nov. 6, when he finished eighth of 14 at 19-1.
In his first start this year, Classier was a well-beaten third as the 7-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on June 13, stumbling at the start. Classier never reached the front and was beaten 12 1/4 lengths by The Chosen Vron.