Drefong wires field in stakes debut
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> Although Drefong came into Saturday’s Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes on a three-race win streak, the 3-yearold was making his stakes debut.
The lack of stakes experience didn’t matter for the Bob Bafferttrained colt. He was ready for the spotlight.
Drefong stepped toe-to-toe with the likes of Mohaymen, Fish Trappe Road and Economic Model and came away on top.
Mike Smith got the colt into the lead almost immediately, set the pace and never looked back. Dominating the field, Drefong took the 7-furlong race on the main track by 3 ¼ lengths, finishing in just 1:21.25.
Economic Model finished second and Noholdingback Bear took third.
“(Drefong) has always been incredibly fast,” Baffert said. “We freshened him up and this was the race that we were looking forward to, so I was happy when I saw the post. He’s a quiet horse. He’s a beautiful horse. When he
left there, I saw that first quarter in 23 (seconds). I thought that was a good pace, wasn’t too taxing on him. He’s just an incredibly fast horse, so we’re happy. I’m proud of him that he ran so well.”
After running in nothing more than an allowance race previously, Baffert had seen enough from
Drefong’s recent workouts at Del Mar and his performance in a July 4 6 ½-furlong allowance at Santa Anita — a race he won by 5 ¼ lengths — to step up in class. The King’s Bishop was the perfect opportunity to step toward for the 3-year-old’s ultimate goal — the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.
Smith’s only concern with Drefong coming into the race was how the colt would handle the dirt at Saratoga Race Course compared
to Santa Anita. But the Charles Chu-owned horse quickly silenced the doubt.
“He’s a good horse,” Smith said. “My main concern was the surface switch. You just never know when you come from tighter surfaces to here, where it’s a bit more sandy, because he’s so strong and he pushes so hard. He gets a hold of it really good at San Anita, but I didn’t know about the sand. He might have
handled (Saratoga) a little bit better.
“No, I didn’t even hit him,” Smith added about the ease of the ride. “I just rode with my hands. I put my whip down and that was it. He ran big today, and he recovered really quick. He was well within himself.”
Smith has found success in his short stint at the Spa this summer. His victory in the King’s Bishop was the veteran’s third in six mounts, all
coming in stakes races.
“I should have rented to place here and flew to Del Mar on the weekdays and come back here for the weekends,” Smith said. “I spend more time here and I’m doing much better here. I should come next year.”
Travers Day has been a bit different for Baffert this year, compared to last. Without American Pharoah running in the Mid-Summer Derby, Travers Day 2016 has provided
a different type of atmosphere for the famed trainer.
“A year ago it was different. It was the Pharoah Tour,” Baffert said. “We were coming up here, everybody was expecting so much. Now we’re sort of sneaking in here with some really good horses, so it’s more fun when you do win. All eyes are on everybody else, but I’m just proud of my team. They work so hard to get all of these horses ready.”