San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
BAFFERT HAS RIGHT GRAMMER IN DUBAI
No matter what happens, it seems as if it’s impossible to keep Bob Baffert out of the spotlight. The Hall of Fame trainer won the second richest race in the world Saturday when Country Grammer drove wide down the stretch to win the $12 million Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates. It was Baffert’s fourth win in the race.
Most had conceded the 11⁄4-mile race to Life Is Good, who was dominant in winning both the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Pegasus World Cup in his last two starts. But the distance may have been too much for the colt as he gave up the lead in the stretch and finished fourth. Hot Rod Charlie, trained by Doug O’neill and ridden by Flavien Prat, was second by 13⁄4 lengths. Japanese horse Chuwa Wizard was third. Midnight Bourbon was fifth in the 10-horse race with all four U.S. horses finishing in the top five.
There is no wagering in Dubai, but Country Grammer paid $20.10 to win in international betting pools.
The 5-year-old Country Grammer is owned by Amr Zedan and Winstar Farm. Zedan was also the owner of disqualified Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, after the colt tested positive for a medication not legal on race day.
Medina Spirit died of what was thought to be a heart attack in December while preparing to resume his racing career.
Prat has been riding both Country Grammer and Hot Rod Charlie and elected to go with Hot Rod Charlie. World accomplished Italian rider Frankie Dettori picked up the mount on Country Grammer, the first time the jockey had ever ridden for Baffert.
“Frankie Dettori was amazing,” Baffert said. “I told him he had to ride for me at least once before I retire. He’s one of the greatest of all time. What a great team. It was magical.”
Epicenter wins La. Derby
Favorite Epicenter took a big step toward the Kentucky Derby, surging past leader Zozos and Pioneer of Medina entering the stretch and pulling away for a 21⁄2-length victory in the $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.
The Steve Asmussentrained bay colt started the Grade II stakes race for 3year-olds from the No. 6 post at even money and tucked in behind Zozos with Pioneer of Medina to his right as the horses ran within a halflength of each other around to the final turn.
Epicenter ($4) quickly charged forward and was clear down the stretch, following up his 23⁄4-length win in the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 19 for his second consecutive win with a second this year.
“The progression of the races for us to a mile and an eighth and now a mile and 3/ 16ths, and the opportunity to tuck him in today, we feel like we’re as prepared as we could possibly be mentally and physically, with a great chance at the Kentucky Derby,” Asmussen said.
Jockey Joel Rosario, who won last year’s Louisiana Derby aboard Hot Rod Charlie, guided Epicenter over 13⁄16 miles in a track-record 1:54.38.