Lord Simba starts over in strong optional claimer

DEL MAR, Calif. – Lord Simba was kept out of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on July 29 after his trainer, Bob Baffert, opted to start Drefong, the champion sprinter of 2016.

“I didn’t think I would need him,” Baffert said of Lord Simba.

Drefong was less than a furlong into the six-furlong race when he veered to the inside and unseated Mike Smith. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

For the second half of August, Baffert is starting over with his sprinters. Lord Simba runs in a strong optional claimer at six furlongs at Del Mar on Saturday. Drefong is bound for Saratoga and the Grade 1 Forego Stakes on Aug. 26.

The optional claimer will be the first start for Lord Simba since a third as the 8-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on May 20. Lord Simba won the Grade 3 Los Angeles Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita on April 15 in his stakes debut.

From Baffert’s perspective, Lord Simba has room for improvement.

“I think he might be below the good ones,” Baffert said. “He works with Drefong and works well with him.”

Owned by Susan and Charles Chu, Lord Simba is part of a field of six and is the only 2017 stakes winner in the field.

Trainer Peter Miller has two speedy runners in Distinctive B and Prime Issue.

Distinctive B was second in an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs here on July 21, his first start since January. Prime Issue has won his last two starts – a $35,000 claimer at Santa Anita on July 2 and an optional claimer here on July 23, when he was eligible to be claimed for $40,000.