Gardenia favorite Gingham following Baffert's pattern

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert long has shipped horses from his Southern California base for major stakes at Oaklawn Park.

But this meet his participation has extended to the overnight ranks as the coronavirus pandemic has led to the suspension of racing at Santa Anita. Baffert has had more starts at this Oaklawn meet than any other, his latest set for Friday with Gingham in the $80,000 Gardenia.

The racing action, he said, has been a blessing.

“It’s kept me from going completely crazy,” Baffert said. “The Cella Family, they should get an Eclipse Award for what they’ve done – going far and beyond to keep things going.”

The Gardenia is an overnight stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. It shares the meet’s penultimate card with the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy for the same division, and the $165,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship.

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Baffert is 6 for 11 this meet, a 54 percent win rate. Gingham will attempt to add to the barn’s numbers when she starts as a top contender in the 14-horse Gardenia. The deep field includes Grade 3 winner Comical; stakes winners Antoinette, Shanghai Keeley, and Ice Princess, who is cross-entered in the Fantasy; plus sharp allowance winners His Glory, Piece of My Heart, Daphne Moon, and Quick Decision.

“Oaklawn, it’s really tough there,” Baffert said Monday from Santa Anita. “You’ve got to bring a really good horse there.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Gingham, by Quality Road

Last 3 Beyers: 76-71-68

◗ She comes off a runner-up finish to Venetian Harbor – who could go favored in the Fantasy – in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes on Feb. 8 at Santa Anita. Following that race, Gingham was entered in the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks, but the March 22 race was canceled due to the pandemic.

“She would have been so tough in there,” Baffert said.

◗ Gingham instead has been working regularly at Santa Anita, among her moves six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.20 on March 28 and five furlongs in 1:00 on April 16.

“She’s doing really well,” Baffert said. “We put blinkers back on her. She’s been working extremely well.”

◗ Martin Garcia has the mount on Gingham from post 3.

“Lately, she’s been showing more speed in the mornings, which she’d never shown before,” Baffert said.

“She’s improving, getting better with age.”

◗ Gingham races for Sarah Kelly and Jane Wiltz.

Piece of My Heart, by Flat Out

Last 3 Beyers: 85-67-67

◗ She owns the field’s best career Beyer Speed Figure, an 85 for a length win in an optional $80,000 claiming route at a mile in her last start April 10 at Oaklawn.

“She ran a good number,” trainer Mac Robertson said.

“We’ve always been really high on her. It took a while for her to round into form. She’s a good horse. She’s a filly that obviously is improving.”

◗ Joe Talamo has the mount from post 2 for Wolfe Racing and Hugh Robertson.

Antoinette, by Hard Spun

Last 3 Beyers: 79-67-71

◗ She exits a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 21. The start was her first since December, when she won the $100,000 Tepin at Aqueduct.

◗ John Velazquez has the mount from post 10 for Godolphin and trainer Bill Mott.