Debut win by Tapit colt exceeds Baffert's expectations

DEL MAR, Calif. - The debut win by the 2-year-old Tapit colt Coliseum in race 1 Saturday at Del Mar exceeded even the high expectations trainer Bob Baffert had for him. Coliseum, who had shown some immaturity along with brilliance in his morning workouts, was professional as could be, breaking well and drawing away through the lane for a 6 3/4-length victory in 1:23.13 for seven furlongs as the 1-2 favorite.

"We haven't been hustling him from the gate, because he'll run off in his works," Baffert said after the race. "We're excited about him. He ran to his odds, his looks, and his breeding."

Joe Talamo has been working Coliseum, and was up for today's race.

"When Joe asked him he just took off," Baffert said. "He was a little rambunctious leaving the barn but he walked right into the gate."

Baffert said Coliseum will be sent two turns in his next race.

"Oh yeah," he said. "He's been two turns since Day One."

Coliseum is a homebred for Godolphin Racing. Godolphin USA's Jimmy Bell flew in for the race.

"Quick in and out, but worth it," Bell said.

Bell said Godolphin has five 2-year-olds with Baffert.

Baffert provided an update on two other of his top 2-year-old males.

Game Winner, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and a cinch to win the Eclipse Award as champion male 2-year-old, is at Santa Anita, awaiting his 3-year-old campaign.

"He looks great. He could run in the Futurity," Baffert said, referring to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 9, "but I'm not going to do that."

Baffert said he will run Improbable, an unbeaten colt by City Zip, in the Futurity. He won the Street Sense at Churchill Downs two weeks ago.