Baffert duo of Dream Tree, Marley’s Freedom look strong

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bob Baffert already has enjoyed a huge year at Churchill Downs. The Hall of Fame trainer won the Kentucky Derby for the fifth time, and Justify went on to sweep the Triple Crown while using Churchill as a primary training base. But wait, there could be more. Baffert will return to Churchill next month with a contingent for the Breeders’ Cup, and perhaps his best chances will come in the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint. Baffert might well have the two favorites in Marley’s Freedom and Dream Tree, and his quest at this early juncture is to bring both to the seven-furlong race in peak form.

Marley’s Freedom and Dream Tree were both part of Baffert’s big Saratoga meet, as they captured the most important races in their respective niches – Marley’s Freedom, a 4-yearold, dominated the Grade 1 Ballerina for fillies and mares; and Dream Tree remained undefeated in five career starts when she trounced fellow 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 2 Prioress.

Baffert said early this week from his home track of Santa Anita that he will train Dream Tree into the Filly and Mare Sprint. He said he might do the same with Marley’s Freedom but is thinking about prepping her in the L.A. Woman on Oct. 7 at Santa Anita.

With or without Marley’s Freedom, the 6 1/2-furlong L.A. Woman is expected to get Anonymity and Skye Diamonds, who is unlikely to proceed to the Breeders’ Cup, and possibly Yuvetsi, trained by John Sadler. Another California standout, Selcourt, who last raced in late March, won’t have time for a prep as Sadler tries to make the Filly and Mare Sprint with her.

The California filly Miss Sunset has been confirmed by trainer Jeff Bonde for the other remaining major prep toward the Filly and Mare Sprint, the Thoroughbred Club of America at six furlongs on Oct. 6 at Keeneland.

In New York, Union Strike emerged as a major player by winning the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom on Sunday at Belmont Park and is now assimilating into the Churchill string of trainer Steve Asmussen. Other Filly and Mare Sprint possibilities exiting the Gallant Bloom include the respective 2-3-4 finishers – Your Love, Kirby’s Penny, and Still There.

Your Love is trained by Chad Brown, who also has Test winner Separationofpowers as an interesting turnback prospect following her fourth-place finish last weekend in the Cotillion at Parx Racing. Brown also trains Lewis Bay, who finished last of seven as the Gallant Bloom favorite.

Asmussen already has two Filly and Mare Sprint prospects in his Churchill barn in Vertical Oak and Mia Mischief, with the trainer terming the latter “possible” for the TCA. Also stabled at Churchill are Finley’sluckycharm and Farrell. Bret Calhoun will train Finley’sluckycharm up to the race as the filly looks to rebound off a subpar effort in the Ballerina. Farrell, who has been racing at a mile or longer, is being considered for a turnback by trainer Wayne Catalano.

From Chicago, trainer Hugh Robertson said that Hotshot Anna, winner of the Presque Isle Masters over synthetic, will not contest the Filly and Mare Sprint.

“She’s run hard this year,” said Robertson, “and she’d probably be at a disadvantage on dirt.”

Remarkably, six of the last nine Filly and Mare Sprint winners have prepped in the Masters.

In Florida, both Curlin’s Approval and Stormy Embrace are being pointed to the Filly and Mare Sprint.