High Velocity takes on Strongconstitution in Bob Hope; Thousand Words will be scratched

DEL MAR, Calif. – Since last fall when he was purchased as a yearling for $1 million, to last month when he scored an impressive debut victory, Thousand Words was considered special.

While his reputation remains intact, the second start for the highly regarded 2-year-old has been postponed. He entered the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar and is the morning-line favorite, but Thousand Words will not start. Trainer Bob Baffert also entered High Velocity, and said he will start.

“I didn’t really prep [Thousand Words] for it,” Baffert said. “He’s a horse that’s going to be better going longer.”

Thousand Words worked just once, a slow half-mile, after his Oct. 26 debut. Baffert said the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 7 was “a possibility” for Thousand Words, but the main focus is the 2020 Derby trail.

In the meantime, Baffert will aim for his 10th victory in the seven-furlong Bob Hope, previously run as the Hollywood Prevue. High Velocity is primed to fire against four others, including stakes-placed Strongconstitution and longshots Rager, Howbeit, and Zimba Warrior.

High Velocity won his debut at 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 13 and has not missed a beat since. His four subsequent workouts include a sharp half-mile gate move Monday at Santa Anita.

“The timing’s right for him,” Baffert said. “He’s got a good pedigree, he’s fast. He’s doing well and he worked well the other day.”

High Velocity, sired by Quality Road, is drawn near the outside with Drayden Van Dyke riding. The outside post belongs to the Doug O’Neill trainee Strongconstitution, expected to inherit favoritism.

Strongconstitution “has been a horse we’ve been excited about before his debut,” O’Neill said. “He just seems like he’s getting better and better.”

By the sizzling first-crop sire Constitution, Strongconstitution was purchased at a 2-year-old sale in spring for $220,000. His value has increased since. Strongconstitution won his debut on turf in front-running fashion, and in his second start he showed class.

Racing inside and behind horses in a minor stakes race, Strongconstitution cut the corner into the lane, rallied on a tight spot along the rail, fought with multiple stakes winner Fore Left the length the of the lane, and missed by a neck.

“He was down on the inside. He never gave up; he kept fighting,” O’Neill said.

Strongconstitution moves to the outside post Saturday under Abel Cedillo, and figures for an in-the-clear trip.

O’Neill also entered Howbeit, seeking his third straight win. He’s a hard-knocking horse in good form,” the trainer said.

“He’ll keep coming,” O’Neill said. “He’s got a lot of stamina.”