WESTS, BAFFERT HAVE ANOTHER DERBY HOPEFUL

Another Saturday, another Bob Baffert 3-year-old winning a Kentucky Derby prep.

The Hall of Fame trainer continued his dominance in Oaklawn Park’s 3-year-old stakes program when Concert Tour, owned by Gary and Mary West of Rancho Santa Fe, gave Baffert his eighth victory in the $1 million, Grade II Rebel Stakes at Hot Springs, Ark. The win earned the homebred 50 points towards eligibility in the Kentucky Derby and he is now ranked fourth among the top 20 possible starters.

The Wests also bred, and Baffert trains, Life is Good, another top Derby contender.

Concert Tour ($5.40) took control early and never looked back under jockey Joel Rosario. He toyed with 6-5 favorite Caddo River through early fractions of :23.42 and :47.53 seconds before shaking clear entering the stretch and drawing clear to win impressively by 4¼ lengths over his stablemate Hozier, who closed from nearly last to secure the place spot and 20 points toward Kentucky Derby eligibility. The Baffert exacta paid $66.80 for each $2 bet.

The undefeated Concert Tour completed the 11⁄16 miles in 1:43.18 over a fast track.

“That was nice, impressive,” Baffert told Oaklawn Park officials by cell phone from Santa Anita. “I’m just happy to run 1-2. That’s pretty huge. I’m just glad they showed up. I just told (Joel) Rosario he’s fast. I know Caddo River’s fast. This horse going two turns first out, just play the break and do what you think is right. He’s a very, very fast horse.

“He looked like he was doing it pretty easily, though. They slowed up a little bit down the backside. Joel, you could really tell he was controlling the race.

“This is a really top horse. I was going to be disappointed if he didn’t do what he did today.”

One race earlier CZ Rocket ($7.20), trained by Peter Miller, denied heavy favorite Whitmore his fifth victory in the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes when he got up in the final jump to prevail by a neck in a final time of 1:09.04 for 6 furlongs.

Swiss Skydiver sharp in return

Idle since a disappointing run in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Distaff Nov. 7, trainer Ken Mcpeek’s reigning Eclipse champion filly Swiss Skydiver ($4.80) saved ground early and went on to register a 2¾-length victory in the Grade I, $300,000 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Ridden by Robby Albarado, the 4-year-old filly by Daredevil got the distance in 1:36.18 as she cruised to the wire with her ears pricked.

Earlier on the card, trainer Phil D’amato’s 5-year-old Gregorian Chant ($9.80) has found a home sprinting on turf at Santa Anita, as he rallied from last to take the Grade III, $100,000 San Simeon Stakes by a neck while getting 6 furlongs on turf in 1:08.79 under Juan Hernandez — his second consecutive turf stakes win at the distance.