Kentucky Derby 2025: Baffert could run two in Saudi Derby
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Bob Baffert is contemplating the $1.5 million Saudi Derby on Feb. 22 for Getaway Car and Romanesque, though Baffert’s itinerary for 3-year-olds is subject to change.
“This is when I nominate everywhere, I even nominated to Sunland Park,” Baffert said.
His nominees to the $400,000 Sunland Derby on Feb. 16 include Barnes, Gaming, Getaway Car, Romanesque, and San Saba. Post positions for the Sunland Derby will be drawn Sunday.
A pair that might be better suited to distances shorter than 1 1/4 miles are tentatively scheduled to ship the Middle East.
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“I have Romanesque and Getaway Car for the Saudi Derby, they’re both in it right now,” Baffert said last week.
King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh has a “deep, long stretch,” Baffert said. But the one-turn, 1,600-meter distance and seven-figure purse of the Saudi Derby are tempting. Romanesque and Getaway Car both finished second last out in Grade 2 races – Romanesque in the seven-furlong San Vicente at Santa Anita, Getaway Car in the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity. Stay tuned, plans are fluid with Baffert 3-year-olds.
Time running out for maidens
Time is running out for two expensive, royally bred 3-year-old maidens based at Santa Anita. An unraced and unnamed colt sired by Curlin and produced by Beholder is working regularly, but not close to a start for Baffert. The $4 million yearling is the most expensive Triple Crown nominee.
Baeza is a $1.2 million yearling by McKinzie who is a sibling to Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Belmont winner Dornoch. Baeza was scheduled to run this coming Sunday at Santa Anita, but the maiden dirt route did not fill. John Shirreffs trains Baeza, who earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure finishing second to Rodriguez in a fast maiden mile Jan. 4. The race in which Baeza was expected to start Sunday was written back as an “extra” for Feb. 14.
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