US EditionBaffert Wins Three Graded Stakes on Santa Anita's Opening Day Program
Trainer Bob Baffert won three stakes including two Grade 1 races with top horses, in front of a crowd of 41,962, the largest opening day audience since 2016.
- On Sunday, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert swept three stakes at Santa Anita, taking the Malibu Stakes, La Brea Stakes and the Grade II Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes.
- After heavy rain postponed the opener, race officials and trainers reshuffled plans as Barnes was scratched after a minor setback and Cornucopian after a paddock incident.
- Nysos ran 1:42.36 and paid $2.40, while Goal Oriented won in 1:20.97 and paid $4.20 on a faster-than-usual main track, Baffert said.
- Their performances now point to the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 14, with Baffert saying he did not rule out sending both Nysos and Nevada Beach there instead of the $3 million Pegasus.
- The crowd of 41,962 made it the largest opening day since 2016, and two rained-out cards will be made up Monday and Wednesday with rain forecast beginning Wednesday.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Pasadena Star News
Bob Baffert’s Goal Oriented scratches out win in Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita
ARCADIA — Bob Baffert has now won the Malibu Stakes seven times, breaking a tie for the record by a trainer in Santa Anita’s traditional opening-day marquee race. He has never won it quite like he did Sunday. Two days earlier, Baffert had five horses in the $200,000, Grade I sprint for 3-year-olds and a real shot at being the first trainer to saddle the 1-2-3-4-5 finishers in a major North American race. Then, on Saturday, he had to scratch favo…
Goal Oriented wins Malibu after 2 other Bafferts are scratched
Even though his top two contenders had to be scratched, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert still maintained his dominance in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Sunday when Goal Oriented closed powerfully to win by one length. Baffert still got the exacta when Midland Money finished second in the traditional, seven-furlong feature for 3-year-olds racing on opening day at Santa Anita. Click here for Santa Anita entries and results. “I’m just happy that it…
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