Bob Baffert Cleans Up At Del Mar

Trainer Bob Baffert, the winning trainer of the Preakness Stakes and the Haskell Invitational, captured two major Grade I stakes races at Del Mar on Saturday afternoon. Richard's Kid, ridden by Mike Smith, captured the Grade I Pacific Classic Stakes presented by TVG and El Brujo, ridden by Joel Rosairo, took the Grade I Pat O'Brien Stakes. Woodbine fans will be familiar with El Brujo who ran in the 150^th edition of the Queen's Plate back in 2009. In total, Baffert trained horses won three races on Saturday's program.

Richard's Kid won his second Pacific Classic in a row, defeating 12-1 shot Crowded House by three quarters of a length at the finish. Isle of Giants led the first half the race, carrying a slow pace, while the eventual winner, Richard's Kid, sat off the lead before making his move from the outside at the start of the turn. The field came five wide down the stretch with Richard's Kid, The Usual Q.T. and Crowded House all looking like they might win it. The Usual Q.T. ran out of gas shortly afterwards, leaving Crowded House and Richard's Kid to battle it out, with Richard's Kid finishing first. Dakota Phone came on with a furious rally for third, just a little too late to win it.

El Brujo dominated the Pat O'Brien Stakes, wiring the field from the outside post 10. El Brujo broke the best and jumped out to an early lead all the way through the backstretch. Smiling Tiger looked to challenge El Brujo in the turn but El Brujo kicked on, while Smiling Tiger faded. A final challenge was mounted by Crown of Thorns but El Brujo had just enough to hold on for the win. Crown of Thorns probably would have taken the race had it been one furlong longer, but it's good to see a horse who raced previously at Woodbine continue his success down in Southern California.

Posted in: US Tracks