This post was originally published on this site
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert made a triumphant return to Los Alamitos, winning both of the races in which he had starters, including the $125,000 Los Alamitos Derby with 17-10 second choice High Connection.
Six days after his recent suspension ended, Baffert won a maiden contest with heavily-favored Rhetoric two hours before High Connection disposed of 1-1 choice Slow Down Andy and three other 3-year-olds in the Derby.
The win in the race was the fifth in a row for Baffert and his seventh since daytime thoroughbred racing returned to Los Alamitos in 2014.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, who also aboard Rhetoric, High Connection took it to Slow Down Andy, who had upset the Baffert-trained Messier in the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity the last time he raced at Los Alamitos, and ultimately got the best of that one inside the final eighth of a mile, winning by 1 ¾ lengths.
Owned by HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud, the Connect colt out of the Forest Camp mare Forest Legend completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.98. Now 2-for-4, High Connection has banked $149,000. He returned $5.40, $2.60 and $2.20.
Slow Down Andy, who was trying to become the first horse to complete a Los Alamitos Futurity and Los Alamitos Derby double, wound up four lengths clear of 19-1 shot – and stablemate – Win the Day. He paid $2.80 and $2.10 while Win the Day’s show price was $2.80.
Doppelganger, Baffert’s other entrant and 3-1 third choice, and Got Thunder completed the order of finish.
“I’m glad to be back and what a way to come back,’’ said Baffert. “I love this place. The first time I came to Los Alamitos was when I was 14. Quarter horses were my life and I knew if I could make it at Los Alamitos I knew this was it.
“(High Connection) kind of fell back after he broke his maiden (by 10 lengths March 26) and we weren’t really sure how far he wanted to go. The first two horses I worked when I came back where these two and they worked really well.
“Doppelganger works so well in the morning and I don’t know why he doesn’t show more in the afternoon. I could tell in the paddock High Connection was ready and Juan said he really brought his A game today. He needed it because Slow Down Andy was relentless.’’
The victory completed a sweep of the Los Angeles County Fair meet stakes for Hernandez. He won the Bertrando June 25 with Desmond Doss and the Grade II Great Lady M. July 4 with Becca Taylor prior to Saturday.
“Bob told me to keep him close because he can get a little lazy,’’ said Hernandez. “He was sharp in the post parade, came out running and very comfortable all the way.’’
Heading into the final day of the LACF season, Ramon Vazquez has all but clinched the riding title as he holds a 12-6 advantage over Tyler Baze while John Sadler holds a 5-4 edge over Lorenzo Ruiz and Doug O’Neill in the trainer’s race. Sadler doesn’t have any entrants Sunday while Ruiz has Divine Feminine in the seventh and O’Neill has entrants in the first (River Tiber), second (Verragio) and first time starters We Want Another and Forest Acclamation in the fourth.
Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 2 p.m
