Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Baffert, Abel Tasman streak into Coaching Club Oaks
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – All trainer Bob Baffert has done the last eight times he’s run a horse in New York is win Grade 1 staples such as the Metropolitan Handicap, Acorn, Travers, King’s Bishop, and Jockey Club Gold Cup as well as the Grade 2 Woody Stephens and the listed Easy Goer. Pretty N Cool’s second in the Grade 2 Vagrancy at Belmont in May is Baffert’s lone “blemish” in New York over the last nine months.
Baffert is back in New York on Sunday with Abel Tasman, the leading 3-year-old filly in the country, who heads a seven-horse field in the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.
Abel Tasman, the Kentucky Oaks winner, won the Acorn as part of a 4-for-4 performance for Baffert on the Belmont Stakes undercard on June 10. The following day, Baffert said that Abel Tasman would train up to the Grade 1 Alabama here on Aug. 19. But recent workouts suggest that Abel Tasman doesn’t want to wait that long, so Baffert shipped her here this week for the 1 1/8-mile Coaching Club.
Abel Tasman put in three workouts at Santa Anita in a 15-day span, including a sharp five furlongs in 59.20 seconds last Saturday, besting Met Mile winner Mor Spirit.
“Mor Spirit, he’s not a great work horse, but [Abel Tasman] did it the right way,” Baffert said. “She really worked well. I was very encouraged by her work. She’s ready to run, hopefully. It’s a Grade 1; it’s an important race.”
Baffert won’t be attending the Coaching Club. He will remain in Southern California, where on Saturday he was scheduled to run Arrogate in the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.
Mike Smith, who was to ride Arrogate, will be in town to ride Abel Tasman. He rode the filly magnificently in the Acorn. Abel Tasman dove to an opening on the inside approaching the quarter pole and outkicked Salty in the lane to beat her by a length.
Salty will again be the major danger to Abel Tasman in the Coaching Club. She got caught wide turning into the stretch in the Acorn but was running at Abel Tasman in the lane.
“I think both fillies are great fillies,” said Mark Casse, the trainer of Salty. “Bob’s done a wonderful job with Abel Tasman. She’s going to be tough to beat. I don’t see us letting Abel Tasman get away from us, and I don’t see Abel Tasman letting Salty get away from her.”
Abel Tasman and Salty prefer to come from off the pace, and the Coaching Club lacks speed.
Completing the field are Elate, the winner of a minor stakes at Delaware Park; Daddys Lil
Darling, second in the Kentucky Oaks; and Corporate Queen, Summer Luck, and Berned.
KEY CONTENDERS
Abel Tasman, by Quality Road Last 3 Beyers: 99-92-88
◗ She has won the Kentucky Oaks and Acorn since Baffert added blinkers to her equipment. Baffert made the change after Abel Tasman ran second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks, her first start for him.
“Martin Garcia worked her before I ever ran her and said she needs blinkers,” Baffert said. “I said, ‘Let’s get a run into her first.’ When I ran her, she broke bad and still ran second. I put blinkers on her, and I could see the difference.”
Salty, by Quality Road Last 3 Beyers: 98-85-88
◗ Had some traffic trouble when finishing fifth, beaten four lengths by Abel Tasman, in the Kentucky Oaks. Ran a solid second in the Acorn, where Abel Tasman shot through an opening on the inside and Salty had to go four wide.
◗ Could be compromised by a lack of pace.
Elate, by Medaglia d’Oro Last 3 Beyers: 88-83-80
◗ Showed much promise in winning her career debut last November by 12 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct going a one-turn mile. Returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since then in the Light Hearted at Delaware Park on June 15.