Quote:
Originally Posted by Someday Silent
Several of these Baffert runners were in the San Vicente, so I doubt they come back this quickly. Do other trainers in So Cal literally not have any horses to pre-enter?
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The Robert Lewis ultimately drew 4 horses, all trained by Baffert.
The hilarious part is--and this was probably by design to maximize black type earnings--that all 4 horses are coming off defeats (one is even a maiden).
Going back to this past summer, all graded stakes races for males on the main track have the profile of 2+ Baffert horses, one O'Neill, & 1-2 others.
Most of O'Neill's entrants in those races (DM Futurity, American Pharoah, Bob Hope, Los Al Futurity) were maidens. In fact, they still are maidens (Odonata, Mixto, Tall Boy). John Shirreffs raced the maiden Skinner twice in graded stakes company. His nominee for the Robert Lewis (did not enter) is also a maiden.
One of only 2 non-Baffert runners was injured in the recent Sham Stakes.
Only 3 horses from CA showed up for the BC. The only non-Baffert horse just ran last for a claiming tag yesterday (Wound Up).
2 also-rans from some of these CA graded stakes are stakes winners on turf (Classical Cat, Packs a Wahlop).
The only 2yo/3yo major stakes winner in CA not trained by Baffert is Practical Move, trained by an ex-Baffert assistant.