Roadster returns in Affirmed Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – For a high-profile runner, Roadster did not have much of a Kentucky Derby performance last month.

“By the half-mile pole, he was empty,” trainer Bob Baffert recalled on Friday.

Roadster finished 16th, and was placed 15th after Maximum Security was disqualified from first and placed 17th. Roadster did not start in the remaining Triple Crown races. The second half of his 3-year-old season starts in Sunday’s Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.

The $100,000 Affirmed Stakes will give Baffert and the colt’s owners – Speedway Stable – an indication of where to race Roadster among several choices in coming months.

“He’s come back to work nice,” Baffert said. “We’re using it as a prep for the summer.”

The Affirmed Stakes drew six and Baffert trains half of the field. He starts Mucho Gusto, who has won two Grade 3 stakes this year, and Kingly, who won the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on April 27. Kingly was third in the Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on May 19 behind Visitant, who will have his graded stakes debut in the Affirmed Stakes.

Manhattan Up, second to Mucho Gusto in the Grade 3 Laz Barrera Stakes at seven furlongs on May 18, and Always Forgiven, the winner of a maiden special weight race at a mile on May 11, will be longshots.

KEY CONTENDERS

Roadster, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 79-98-93

◗ Roadster won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6 and was the 11-1 fifth choice in the Kentucky Derby. Roadster, who typically races as a stalker, was at the back of the field throughout and finished 16 1/2 lengths behind Maximum Security.

“After the Derby, he was really light,” Baffert said. “We got some weight back on him. I guess we’ll see where we stand.”

Mucho Gusto, by Mucho Macho Man
Last 3 Beyers: 90-85-90

◗ Mucho Gusto won the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here in February, but was a well-beaten third in the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby on March 24. In the Laz Barrera, Mucho Gusto led throughout and pulled clear in the stretch to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

Baffert said a start in the Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8 was considered.

“If it were another week, I would have done it,” he said.

Visitant, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 91-87-70

◗ Visitant closed from fifth in a field of seven to win the Alcatraz Stakes at a mile by 1 1/4 lengths for his first stakes win in his fourth start. The Affirmed Stakes will be Visitant’s first start away from Golden Gate Fields, which has a synthetic main track.

“We’re going to try him against a little bit tougher,” trainer John Martin said. “We do like the horse. We’re trying to gauge where we’re at. He seems like a monster right now. He’s never run on the dirt, and that’s a change.”