Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Four ex-Baffert runners face off
ARCADIA, Calif. – Among the many horses shuffled from trainer to trainer at Santa Anita this season are several from one prominent category – 3-year-olds initially trained by Bob Baffert.
The group includes four entered in the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes on Saturday and also the top 3-year-old in California. He is Taiba, a budding star gradually making his way back to his original stable. Baffert returns from suspension in early July.
Taiba scored a smashing debut victory for Baffert in March, then was transferred to Tim Yakteen and won the Santa Anita Derby before he finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby. Taiba showed no ill effects from the ambitious campaign, and after returning home changed trainers again when trainer-transfer paperwork was finalized.
Sean McCarthy is Taiba’s third trainer. The colt worked three furlongs for McCarthy on June 3, followed by a half-mile work June 8.
“Just kind of building him back up,” McCarthy said, acknowledging his position is temporary.
Tabia “is looking at a summer campaign,” McCarthy said. “He won’t run under my name.”
But two former Baffert trainees will run for McCarthy, again, in the 1 1/16-mile Affirmed on Saturday. High Connection and Hopper already ran well for McCarthy, allowance runner-up and maiden winner, respectively. A one-two finish in the $100,000 Affirmed would not be surprising.
In their way are former Baffert trainees trained by Yakteen. Newgrange is a twotime Grade 3 winner making his first start since February; Doppelganger misfired recently in tougher spots. The others in the six-runner Affirmed field are California-bred stakes winner Fast Draw Munnings and Pioneering Papa.
Newgrange and graded-placed Doppelganger are more accomplished, but lightly raced High Connection and Hopper are fast and the Affirmed is just the third start for each.
“High Connection has already been two turns, so he’s got a little bit of an edge and he’ll probably settle a little easier,” McCarthy said.
After a smashing debut, High Connection stumbled and finished second in an allowance route. With a clean break Saturday, High Connection and Juan Hernandez could be positioned second behind his stablemate Hopper, to be ridden by Abel Cedillo.
“Hopper’s coming off a seven-eighths race,” McCarthy noted. “If he jumps away from there and is more aggressive, I don’t think Abel is going to fight it.”
From the inside post, Cedillo probably must let him roll. Based on his 87 Beyer Speed Figure maiden sprint win, Hopper could wire the field first time long and first against winners.
Doppelganger wore blinkers June 4 when he outworked Newgrange in a team drill. The equipment was only for the work; Doppelganger will not wear blinkers Saturday. If he runs as well as he trains, Doppelganger could return to top form.
“He trains exceptionally well at Santa Anita,” Yakteen said. “Excited to see him run on a track he excels on in the mornings.”
Doppelganger earned his career-high speed figures at Santa Anita. Drayden Van Dyke rides. Edwin Maldonado rides Newgrange, a two-time Grade 3 winner who is the most accomplished in the field.