Baffert qualifies two – Horse Race Insider

Santa Anita Staff Release – A less than ideal start after a dismissal of six plus month turned out to be no problem for Cavalieri in the degree of Sunday, $ 200,000 Zenyatta Stakes that went 1 1/16 miles in Santa Anita.

After jumping at the beginning and chased the field, Cavalieri (3-5) gradually walked a road to a stalking position just behind Stablemate Richi (6-5) along the rear stretch and carried that rival down to prevalence 1 ¾ lengths under Juan Hernandez. With the victory, Cavalieri improved to 5-out-5 for trainer Bob Baffert and owner Speedway Stables, while also earning a reimbursement berth from the $ 2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff November 1 in del Mar.

Richi, driven by Antonio Fresu, postponed a third by the Baffert Stablemate, Howin (18-1), for the early lead and proceeded to a moderate pace of 23.67 and 48.0 seconds for the Half Mile opening. In the meantime, after the bad start, Cavalieri had protected a position to the outside of Richi.

“She traded, she was nervous,” said Hernandez about the bad start of Cavalieri. “It was a while since she had run away, so she was excited. Even in the post parade she danced a bit.

“But she recovered in three jumps,” he added.

Richi completed six Furlongs in 1: 11.60 and continued to lead on the eighth post, but in the last Furlong Cavalieri rose forward and won comfortably with 1 ¾ lengths. The last time was 1: 42.64.

“When she missed the break, I thought:” Well, well, “said Baffert” but we knew she was very talented. “

Richi finished 2 ¼ lengths for Howin in third place with another 4 ¼ lengths back the Zenyatta winner of last year, Sugar Fish (11-1).

“They went easily the first half, so I think that helped a lot,” said Baffert about the performance of Cavalieri. “I knew she would be a bit rusty today. I didn’t think she would be so rusty in the gate, but that was them. This will perfectly set her up for the Breeders” Cup. “

This was the first start of Cavalieri since winning the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beolder Mile on 8 March in Santa Anita. A 4-year-old daughter of Nyquist, Cavalieri won her debut last August in del Mar, knew her first allowance in Santa Anita in October and then won the GIII la Canada in January prior to the spectator Mile.

Cavalieri was purchased by Peter Fluor’s Speedway Stables for $ 900,000 at the 2023 OBS April Sale. This last victory pushed her income to $ 438,000.

“I was scared,” Fluor said about the bad start. “She usually comes out straight. She jumped in the air, but I thought it was a brave effort not to run for six months. Bob had her conditioned beautifully. At the back I started to feel better and at the top of the piece I felt even better.”

Cavalieri paid $ 3.40, $ 2.20 and $ 2.10. Richi, driven by Antonio Fresu, returned $ 2.20 and $ 2.10. Howin, with Kazushi Kimura, paid $ 2.80.

Grade II, $ 200,000 Zenyatta Stakes quotes

Jockey quotes

Juan Hernandez, Cavalieri, winner: ‘She traded, she was nervous. It had been a while since she had run away, so she was excited. Even in the post parade she danced a bit. She moved a little in the gate and then she was okay, but then she moved when they opened the gate. It made sure she missed the break, but she recovered in three jumps and she recovered really well. She followed the horse the whole race for me. She knew she was in the right place because she didn’t pull or tried to pass by. She ran the entire race very comfortably. While I turned home on the quarter pole, I asked her to pick it up, she changed heads, she left and passed the horse in front of me. She’s back. “

Trainer quotes

Bob Baffered, Cavalieri, winner: ‘When she missed the break, I thought: “Well, well.” But we knew she is very talented. He has her up there. Juan, he didn’t panic. He was patient with her and brought her to a nice place along the back. When I saw the mares go together, I knew they had to sprint home. They went easily the first half, so I think that helped a lot. She is just so talented, the further for her. Now she has had the free time. I knew she would be a bit rusty today. I didn’t think she would be so rusty in the gate, but she was. This will set it perfectly for the Breeders’ Cup. ”

Owner quotes

Peter Fluor, Cavalieri, winner: “I was scared. She usually came straight out. She jumped in the air, but I thought it was a brave attempt not to run for six months. Bob had her conditioning beautifully. At the rear stretch I started to feel better and at the top of the piece I felt even better.”

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Arcadia, CA (28 September 2025)-making his first start since the end of January, the imagination shocked the on-track crowd on Sunday in Santa Anita when he was no Chaser in deep rack and the Grade II, $ 200,000 Santa Sprint Championship won. With the victory, Imagination earned a reimbursements for paid berth for the $ 2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint November 1 in Del Mar.

Straight No Chaser (3-5), the ruling champion Sprinter of North America, hung to the early lead with John Velazquez on board and completed an opening quarter in 22.02 seconds. The imagination (5-1), with Juan Hernandez up, broke in the middle of the field, but then soon fell back to the second to in favor.

Straight No Chaser reported half a mile in 44.71 seconds and then reached the eighth pool in 56.71 seconds with a clear advantage of 2 ½ length. But the disposal of a rally at the extreme outside was the imagination, which did not put a hunter in the last sixteenth of a mile and won with 1 ¾ lengths.

“When I asked him to pick it up, he waved outside and passed everyone,” said Hernandez, who previously worked on the map with Baffert to win the Gii Zenyatta with Cavalieri. “This horse has talent. Bob said that I had to ride this horse with great faith. He worked really well and he was right. He did it very easily.”

Dr. Venkman (4-1), winner of the Gii Pat O’Brien previous time-out for trainer Mark Glatt, also went straight ahead no Chaser in the lately under Umberto Rispoli.

Imagination, trained by Bob Baffert, won in a time of 1: 09.00.

“We gave him a lot of time,” Baffert said about the dismissal of Imagination. “He looks beautiful. He has filled it up and his work was just sensational recently. I thought, you know what, I’m just going to lead him in the sprint. There is less than three weeks a race for him. But this will put him on. He has always been a good horse. He’s a bit quirky but that’s his thing.”

Regarding the Straight No Chaser, which is being trained by Dan Blacker for owner My Renpaard, he made his first start since April 5 in Dubai.

“I thought he was going well,” said Velazquez. “It was a long time ago. Hopefully he will be ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

The imagination had not started since January 25 when he finished fourth in the Gii San Pasqual who went 1 1/8 miles in Santa Anita. His only earlier effort last year had the Gii San Felipe from last year 1 1/16 miles in Santa Anita.

Imagination is a 4-year-old foal through in disaster from the magical feeling of the Mare Mare from the Empire maker. He was purchased for $ 1,050,000 at the yearling sale of September September September September. Imagination is campaigned by an extensive partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket stables. With the victory, he improved to 13: 3-5-2 with $ 600,700 in income.

Imagination paid $ 13.20, $ 5.00 and $ 2.80. Dr. Venkman returned $ 4.20 and $ 2.40. Straight No Chaser paid $ 2.40.

Live racing resumes on Friday in Santa Anita with a map of nine races from 1 p.m. The program has a robust transfer of $ 104,929 in the $ 1 superhigh offered on the ninth and last race.

Grade II, $ 200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship quotes

Jockey quotes

Juan Hernandez, imagination, winner: “He broke really well, I tried to grab him and come in. As soon as I tried to put him down, he got out of the bridge. Horse with great confidence. He worked really well and he was right.

John Velazquez, no hunter, third: “I thought he was well run. It was a long time ago. Hopefully he will be ready for the Breeders’ Cup.

Trainer quotes

Bob Baffert, imagination, winner: “We refreshed him. He needed a refresher. We gave him a lot of time. He looks beautiful, he filled it in and his work was just sensational the other day. I just thought, you just know what, I will just go in the sprint. Know what happened to him.

Comments: THCing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan and Tom J. Ryan.

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