Rapport wires Victory Ride

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Had things worked out a little better, trainer Bob Baffert would have been at Saratoga on Saturday trying to win the main event, the Travers, with Lookin At Lucky. Instead, he had to settle for one of the minor prizes after sending out Rapport to a wire-to-wire victory under jockey Martin Garcia in the $100,000 Victory Ride Stakes.

“It’s nice to get a stakes win on Travers day,” Baffert said after Rapport pulled away to a 3 1/2-length decision over My Jen in the Grade 3 Victory Ride. “When you win a stakes on a big day like this, it feels like you won a Grade 1.”

Rapport had never won a race on dirt but obviously took to the surface with little problem. Sprinting right to the lead under Garcia, Rapport set fractions of 22.05 and 44.54 seconds while chased by Beyondallboundarys around the turn and into the stretch then had plenty in reserve to edge away from her early pursuer and fend off a mild challenge from My Jen.

My Jen eased out for her rally leaving the turn but proved no match for the winner while finishing 1 3/4 lengths clear of the tiring Beyondallboundarys, finishing second in a field of eight 3-year-old fillies.

Katy Now, the tepid 2-1 favorite bore out wide around the turn and was never a serious factor, finishing a well beaten fourth.

Rapport, a daughter of Songandaprayer, is owned by the Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable. She completed six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.66 and returned $6.90.

“She set ridiculous fractions and went way too fast in her last race at Calder, ” said Baffert. “She’s trained really well since she’s been here, and I really didn’t worry about her handling the dirt. She won a race at Hollywood Park, and that’s the closest thing to regular dirt we have in California.”

Baffert said he had no definite plans for Rapport’s next start.

“The Breeders’ Cup is something to think about but it’s seven furlongs,” said Baffert. “Right now we’ll just enjoy this one for today.”