Latest news with #AmericanPharoah
Forbes
5 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Baffert Continues To Cultivate Talent At Del Mar
How does a coach continuously produce winners? Is it luck, hard work, talent levels in the ranks, execution of the gameplan, or a combination of the previously listed? Most familiar with competition understand it is usually some of all of the above. For one Thoroughbred trainer it has been all of the aforementioned plus a great garden spot that has been excellent for cultivating young horses. Bob Baffert has long been considered one of the best in the Thoroughbred racing game. Rightfully so we must add as he has had more horses cross the finish line first in the world's most famous race (7), the Kentucky Derby, trained more Preakness winners than anyone (8), has three wins in the Belmont Stakes, and has conditioned nineteen Breeders' Cup race winners. For good measure, 'Big Race Bob' also has more Grade 1 race wins (the highest level of competition) than any trainer in the game. How has this Arizona native remained at the pinnacle of the sport since beginning his Thoroughbred conditioning career in 1991? It all begins with developing his younger talent where the surf meets the turf down at old Del Mar. Nestled just north of San Diego, this piece of Thoroughbred racing heaven has been a prime location for the Baffert barn over the years. 'There are lots of things that make Del Mar a great place for our young horses', says Baffert, who has conditioned two Triple Crown winners (American Pharoah 2015, Justify 2018). 'The weather is always good and there is very little rain which is very important. You don't miss training time and that can be a big key in development. The track is always in great shape, the atmosphere is good, and it's just a great environment to be in.' Success has been synonymous with this Hall of Fame conditioner at the Seaside Oval as he has far more Stakes wins (177) at Del Mar than any other trainer. Among those are an incredible nineteen wins in the Del Mar Futurity and eleven in the Best Pal Stakes, two of the biggest races for two-year-old males at the track founded by Bing Crosby in 1937. 'Our program puts a lot of emphasis on developing young horses', says Baffert. 'We believe in doing it the right way. Some come around quicker than others. Each horse has to be handled a little differently because like any athlete, some develop quicker mentally and physically than others. Being patient is very important with all of them. Authentic is a good example of a horse we didn't run at Del Mar in the summer of his two-year-old year because he just was not ready. At three he won the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic.' Developing young talent with works and races at Del Mar every summer has long been a staple of his team's success throughout the last three plus decades. Even though he is the man with the lineup card and pencil, Baffert points to other components as mainstays for his team's success. 'I am very fortunate to have clients that want to run in and win stakes races', says Baffert. 'They give me the freedom to pick the horses we purchase and buying the right horses is where it all begins. Our goal is always to run in the biggest races across the entire country and go in with a real chance to win. Having great people around me and backing me is most important. And it also is fantastic to get those young horses going at a great place like Del Mar.' The Bob Baffert barn will send two runners to post in the grade 3 Best Pal Stakes on Saturday, August 9. St. Petersburg will break from gate 3 and Desert Gate breaks from the 5 hole in the six furlong race over the Del Mar dirt.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘There Are More Opportunities': Hall Of Fame Jockey Victor Espinoza Looking Forward To Saratoga Meet
'There Are More Opportunities': Hall Of Fame Jockey Victor Espinoza Looking Forward To Saratoga Meet originally appeared on Paulick Report. After what could be called a friendly scolding by trainer Wesley Ward, 53-year-old Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza has moved his tack to Saratoga Racecourse in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for the summer in an attempt to rejuvenate his career. Espinoza recounted to the Daily Racing Form that he had called Ward to tell him he'd be vacationing in Saratoga. 'Wesley was like, 'What's wrong with you? You need to go and ride,'' Espinoza said. 'I said 'What do you mean?' He said, 'It's got to be like old times – come back strong and ride. You won everywhere, you won in Ascot for me, you got to come back and ride.' I said, 'You got to put me on good horses,' and he said he would. He was kind to help me out.' Advertisement Best known as the rider of Hall of Fame racehorses American Pharoah and California Chrome, Espinoza's career has stagnated after fracturing a neck vertebra in a fall in 2018. He has ridden in just 26 races this year. 'I feel like there are more opportunities on this circuit because there are many trainers,' Espinoza said. 'I'd never been on the backside in Saratoga and this year I went there and went around the stables and it was amazing. There are many, many trainers here and they have a lot of horses and I was impressed. California, I feel if you don't ride for three or four trainers who dominate everything, there's not much to do.' Represented by agent Jose Santos Jr., Espinoza is entered in four races on opening day, July 10, and two on the second day of the meet. He rides for trainers Ward, Robert Johnston, Wayne Potts, and Marcelo Aerenas. Read more at This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Kembla preview: Wild Thoughts set to shine despite draw
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Local trainer Kerry Parker is optimistic of a good days racing, not just about the chances of his home track quartet but also his lone city runner. Parker has a good opinion of lightly-raced three-year-old Wild Thoughts who made his debut at Kembla back in January when third behind Modella. Put away, the Proven Thoroughbreds-owned son of So You Think has returned in very good order with an all-the-way trial win on his home track last month. 'That was a terrific preparation for him last time in,' said Parker. 'He trialled nicely at Warwick Farm and then ran well on debut before going for a spell. 'It was good education for him and this is now the start of his first real preparation.' Parker's confidence was dented a little when Wild Thoughts drew barrier 11 in the Midway Maiden Handicap (1200m). 'Unfortunately, he has drawn a bad gate so he is going to need some luck. 'We will just have to ride him conservatively early with cover. 'If the race is run at a suitable tempo, I expect him to finishing strongly and make his presence felt.' Parker was tickled pink with the first-up run of Tom Cruising when runner-up behind Miss Stalwart at the Sapphire Coast over an unsuitable distance. He feels the son of American Pharoah is in with a great chance when he steps up to his ideal distance in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m) where he has drawn barrier 3. 'It was the first time I have ever run him over 1200 metres and it was a sensational run,' he said. 'I only took him there because it looked a nice race to start him off in on soft ground on a big track. 'He zipped up the inside really well in the straight. 'He has come back this time in a good frame of mind and is feeling well so I have no problem stepping him out to a mile which is more to his liking. 'I expect him to run really well again.' Why Why Why ran well on debut when third to Jared at Goulburn and followed up with a two-and-a-quarter length sixth to Shalaa Jet at Wyong. With a big drop in weight thanks to the 4kg claim of stable apprentice Ryan Bradley, the three-year-old gelding should be very competitive in the Maiden Plate (1600m). 'He is still learning his trade. He's only a little fella so getting the four kilo apprentice on will definitely help him,' Parker said. 'I was really pleased with his first run at Goulburn. 'We probably tried to ride him a bit cute and make use of the inside barrier at Wyong last start. 'They ran along the first half of the race pretty slick and he was under pressure a fair way out. I think they ran something like nine lengths faster than the other mile race for the first half (mile). 'He kept grinding away and wasn't beat that fare so he still went alright.' Bradley will also partner the stayer Cosmos Factory who resumes in the Class 1 Handicap (1400m). 'Naturally he will be better as he gets out over more ground but it looks a nice enough race for him,' said Parker. 'With that weight off his back, he could run a place in a race like this with no surprise.' Parker's day starts off at Randwick with consistent mare Callistemon in the Midway Handicap (1600m). 'Callistemon and Let's Go Again have been running on alternate weeks and placed in the last four (Midways) between them. 'It would be nice if the luck turns our way and we can knock one off.'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'We All Believed Again': Looking Back At American Pharoah's Triple Crown
'We All Believed Again': Looking Back At American Pharoah's Triple Crown originally appeared on Paulick Report. Ten years ago, in late April, American Pharoah had achieved plenty in life, but the name didn't carry nearly the weight it does today. At the time, he had the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male on his mantle, and he shipped into Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby. A few weeks later, he became a household name as the 12th winner of the Triple Crown, ending a 37-year drought. Advertisement FanDuel TV takes a look at the magical 2015 Triple Crown season compiled by the Bob Baffert-trained colt, narrated by renowned racecaller Larry Collmus (see video above). To cement his place in the annals of racing history, American Pharoah locked down Horse of the Year honors after capping his season with a win in the Breeders' Cup Classic. A few years later, he entered the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Associated Press
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Belmont Stakes Winners
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