Garth debuts to high hopes for future

DEL MAR, Calif. - A series of quick workouts and a brilliant pedigree have led to heightened expectations for the career debut of Garth, who starts in a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Saturday.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Garth will start from the rail in a field of six and is expected to be a strong favorite. Thursday morning, Baffert was optimistic that Garth will perform well, judging from the colt’s recent workouts.

“He’s been working heads up with Eight Rings,” he said.

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Last Sunday, Eight Rings won his debut in a maiden special weight race by 6 1/4 lengths. Eight Rings is a candidate for the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 2.

Garth, by Into Mischief, is out of Country Star, the winner of two Grade 1 races for 2-year-old fillies in 2007 for the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel – the Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland and the Hollywood Starlet Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, Garth has had quick workouts in the last month, notably five furlongs from the gate in 59.60 seconds on July 31, and a half-mile in 47.20 seconds on Monday.

The rail draw was not ideal, Baffert said.

“I don’t like the rail, but what will do you?” he said. “I had a feeling we’d get the rail.

“He’s always shown the natural ability. They have to show it in a race.”

Garth is part of a field of six, all first-time starters. Veteran, a colt by Quality Road trained by Richard Mandella, has worked well, as has Storm the Court, a colt by Court Vision trained by Peter Eurton.

Garth’s greatest threat may be Convex, a colt by Conveyance trained by Michael McCarthy. Convex drew the outside post and has had fast workouts, including a half-mile in a quick 46.40 seconds from the gate on Aug. 3.