Baffert gets victory with High Connection

Trainer Bob Baffert won his first stakes race since returning from his 90-day suspension, sending out High Connection for a 1 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s $125,000 Los Alamitos Derby.

High Connection, a son of Connect who raced under the care of Sean Mccarthy during Baffert’s suspension, sat second off the pace set by 3-5 favorite Slow Down Andy most of the way until the stretch, when he pulled even and then drew off in the final stages.

The winner, the 8-5 second choice in the wagering, ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.98 after Slow Down Andy, trying to become the first horse to win the Los Alamitos Futurity and Derby, carved out fractions of 22.46, 46.48 and 1:10:58.

“(Baffert) told me to keep him close because he can get a little lazy,” winning jockey Juan Hernandez said. “He was sharp in the post parade, came out running and very comfortable all the way. I thought we were going to be in a fight when he hit the stretch, but the other horse (Slow Down Andy) seemed to shy from the track marks and my horse went on very professionally.”

High Connection went into the race off a secondplace effort behind Hopper in the Grade III Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita on June 11 while conditioned by Mccarthy. He’s won two of four with two seconds for earnings of $149,000 with Saturday’s winner’s share of $75,000.

“What a way to come back,” Baffert said. “I love this place. The first time I came to Los Alamitos was when I was 14. Quarter horses were my life and I knew if I could make it at Los Alamitos, I knew this is it.”

High Connection broke his maiden by 10 lengths in his career debut at Santa Anita in a 6 ½-furlong sprint on March 26 and had finished second in his past two route races before breaking through in the ninth running of the Los Al Derby. Baffert said at first they weren’t sure how far he wanted to run.

“The first two horses I worked when I came back Sunday were these two (High Connection and fourth-place finisher Doppelganger),” Baffert said. “They really worked well. Doppelganger works so well in the morning and I don’t know why he doesn’t show more in the afternoon.”

Baffert said he felt good minutes before the race.

“I could tell in the paddock High Connection was ready, and Juan said he really brought his ‘A’ game today. He needed it because Slow Down Andy was relentless. I’m glad to be back.”

Baffert added blinkers to Doppelganger, third in the Affirmed Stakes, in an effort to wake him up, but he’s still won only one of seven starts.