Horse Racing: Baffert's $3.2 million colt wins debut at Churchill; Laurel, Churchill and Gulfstream Park's opener with late morning posts on Thanksgiving

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday at Aqueduct (NY):

• Manny Franco won five times in six mounts. He hit the board with all five rides in Friday though winless. He gets some of the top mounts in NY but an 11 5-3-3 two-day mark will pay some bills.

Woodbine jockeys injuries from the spill late last week:

• Edgar Zenteno suffered a broken shoulder and neck bone.
• Justin Stein suffered three fractured vertebrae (mid-spine) and ribs.
• De-Sean Gaskin was also examined but specific injuries weren't mentioned.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Gulfstream Park (FL):

• Opening Day: Thanksgiving Day is Thursday and also opening day to the annually anticipated Championship Meet in south Florida. Gulf's card starts at 11:15 am ET and ends with a final post scheduled at 2:40 pm ET. The Sunshine Meet ended Sunday (yesterday).
• Dylan Davis, as discussed a few days ago, has been exceptional in New York the last few months but now he has opted to ride in Gulf for the first three months of 2025. He has verbal commitments from top trainers such as Saffie Joseph, Chad Brown, Christopher Clement, Michael Maker and others.
• Edwin Gonzalez was top jockey at the now-closed Sunshine Meet which ended yesterday. His first title at Gulf was won by one victory over Edgard Zayas.
• Saffie Joseph won his 11th straight Sunshine title as top trainer.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The state of Wyoming will introduce its first mile-long race track in August 2025 with everything from breeding to simulcast facilities involved. The Stronach Group (Gulfstream, Santa Anita, etc.) is involved. The signal will be shipped as well. That part of the country lacks significant racing parimutuel interests. Hopefully it succeeds.

Per Bloodhore:
The track, located 10 miles east of Cheyenne at Thunder Plains Park, will host its inaugural race day on Friday, August 1, 2025, with additional race days to follow on August 2, 3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31 and September 1. Dates are subject to change per the Wyoming Gaming Commission.

Per WyomingNewsNow.cvm:

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The next Kentucky Derby prep race in North America is Saturday at Churchill Downs. A reminder that only one Ohio bred has won the Kentucky Derby and that was Wintergreen in 1909. Jonathan's Way has an early following.

Race 11 Kentucky Jockey Club S. (Grade II) POST Time - 5:48 PM ET​

Churchill Downs STAKES

Purse $400,000. One And One Sixteenth Miles. (Includes $75,000 – KTDF - Kentucky TB Devt Fund). For Two Year Olds.

PP	Horse	A/S	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer
1	He's Not Joking (KY)	2/C	F Geroux	122	J Carroll
2	Jonathan's Way (OH)	2/C	J Rosario	122	P A Bauer
3	Tiztastic (KY)	2/C	C A Torres	122	S M Asmussen
4	Dapper Moon (LA)	2/C	R Santana, Jr.	122	D Stewart
5	Filoso (KY)	2/C	J R Velazquez	122	C Summers
6	Clock Tower (KY)	2/G	G Corrales	122	W A Ward
7	Sonic Skidaddle (KY)	2/C	T Gaffalione	122	B P Walsh
8	First Resort (KY)	2/C	L Saez	122	E G Harty
9	Render Judgment (KY)	2/C	B J Hernandez, Jr.	122	K G McPeek
10	Redacted (KY)	2/C	E Morales	122	D Stewart

Owners: 1 - Di Scola Boys Stable (John Di Scola) ; 2 - Rigney Racing, LLC (Richard Rigney) ; 3 - Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC (Ron Winchell), Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith ; 4 - Valene Farms, LLC (Murray Valene) ; 5 - Gold Square, LLC (Al Gold) ; 6 - Mrs. Fitri Hay ; 7 - Calumet Farm (Brad Kelley) ; 8 - Godolphin, LLC (Mohammed Al Maktoum, et al.) ; 9 - Baccari Racing Stable, LLC (Chris Baccari), Dream Walkin Farms, Inc. (Tonni Covel, et al.), MJM Racing (Michael J. Mackin) and Rocket Ship Racing (Brook T. Smith) ; 10 - Briland Farm (Stacy and Rob Mitchell)
Breeders: 1 - James Wasserson; 2 - Susan L. Anderson Racing LLC; 3 - Capital Bloodstock; 4 - Coteau Grove Farms, LLC; 5 - Hunter Valley Farm & Oisin Murphy; 6 - Clarkland Farm, LLC; 7 - Calumet Farm; 8 - Godolphin; 9 - Green Lantern Stables; 10 - Briland Farm, Robert Mitchell &Stacy Mitchell
Pedigrees (Sire - Dam, by Dam Sire): 1 - Practical Joke - Collegeville Girl , by Central Banker ; 2 - Vekoma - Female Drama , by Indian Charlie ; 3 - Tiz the Law - Keesha , by Tapit ; 4 - Malibu Moon - Fashioned Gem , by Old Fashioned ; 5 - City of Light - Kenda , by Bodemeister ; 6 - Not This Time - Hot Stones , by Bustin Stones ; 7 - City of Light - Chica Boom Chic , by Tapit ; 8 - Uncle Mo - Fair Maiden , by Street Boss ; 9 - Blame - Barbara Gordon , by Commissioner ; 10 - Honor Code - Delicatus , by Distorted Humor ;

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Monday, November 25

• Jose Ortiz, one of the nation's top riders, is scheduled to ride in Louisiana, Ohio and New Mexico in three straight days. He won two stakes at Mahoning Valley (OH) today. He has won eight of his past 18 rides.
• Flavien Prat-Tim Hamm made a rare formation, and the result was a sweep of three races at Mahoning Valley (OH).
• Jay Bernardini won twice at Mahoning (OH) and the victories propelled him to a career-best 90 wins in one year. He excelled mostly at the shuttered New England tracks in New Hampshire and Massachusetts but has moved onto successful journeys in mostly Ohio and West Virginia.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Zia Park (NM) has a gigantic card Tuesday (tomorrow).

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 F	Dirt	6	12:05 PM MT
2	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 F	Dirt	8	12:33 PM MT
3	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 F	Dirt	9	1:01 PM MT
4	$100,000	Zia Park Distaff S.	6 F	Dirt	6	1:29 PM MT
5	$100,000	Zia Park Sprint S.	6 F	Dirt	6	1:57 PM MT
6	$125,000	Zia Park Championship S.	1 1/16 M	Dirt	6	2:25 PM MT
7	$100,000	Zia Park Juvenile S.	6 F	Dirt	7	2:53 PM MT
8	$100,000	Zia Park Princess S.	6 F	Dirt	10	3:21 PM MT
9	$300,000	Zia Park Oaks	1 1/16 M	Dirt	11	3:49 PM MT
10	$300,000	Zia Park Derby	1 1/16 M	Dirt	10	4:17 PM MT

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

For meets that begin in December 2024, Southern California racing dates confirmed at meeting:

Los Alamitos will run a brief T-bred meet followed by an extensive quarter horse schedule.

• December 6 - December 15 for T-breds.
• December 28 - December 21, 2025 for QHs.

Santa Anita:

• December 26 - June 15, 2025.

North and South regions will continue to have dialogue as to racing schedules next year. The north has been struggling as a replacement for Golden Gate Fields. The South has been struggling with small fields. Eventually money distribution through simulcast feeds as host tracks and how purses are constructed will have to be discussed.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Tuesday. November 26

Zia Park (NM)

• Jose Ortiz won three stakes at Zia (NM) on Tuesday. He was 7 3-0-2 riding for Steve Asmussen. He is 25 11-4-4 his last five racing days with rare visits to Ohio and New Mexico among his stops that included his base in Louisiana. Coupled with two wins for Asmussen at Mahoning, the pair concluded two days as a team going 9 5-0-2.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Bob Baffert returns to Churchill Downs next Wednesday with Barnes, a $3.2 million colt by Into Mischief who is making his debut. The 2-year-old colt is named after Baffert's longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes.

Baffert had a horse listed at Churchill a few days ago but that was as an also eligible who didn't enter. Baffert has not officially run at CD since 2021.

Win.



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https://paulickreport.com/news/triple-crown/hopefully-we-are-here-the-first-saturday-in-may-bob-baffert-back-in-winners-circle-at-churchill-downs

Zedan Racing Stables’ $3.2 million 2-year-old colt, Barnes, made his debut a winning on at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, winning a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight by a nose. The 2-year-old Into Mischief colt marked Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's first starter beneath the Twin Spires since the end of his three-year suspension by Churchill Downs Incorporated in 2021.

Named in honor of Baffert’s longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes, the highly regarded colt broke from post No. 3 under jockey Martin Garcia. Innovator took the early lead, and Barnes had to work hard to run down that rival in the shadow of the wire. Grinding down the center of the stretch, Barnes got his nose down ahead of Innovator to complete the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.97.

Innovator is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who waited with Baffert in the paddock to see which of them won the photo finish.