BAFFERT 2019 KENTUCKY DERBY

Baffert Holds Strong Hand for 2019 Kentucky Derby Trail


With five wins in the Kentucky Derby (and two sweeps of the Triple Crown) since 1997, it's safe to say that no trainer in recent memory has dominated the spring classics quite as thoroughly as Bob Baffert.

Nor does it appear that Baffert's string of success will end anytime soon. In fact, Baffert has enjoyed nothing less than extraordinary success with his two-year-olds this year, going 31-for-56 (55%) thus far while winning five Grade 1 races.

All told, Baffert has sent out 13 two-year-old colts and geldings to break their maidens in 2018, giving the Hall of Fame trainer a powerful contingent of potential contenders for the 2019 Kentucky Derby. Some, such as Game Winner and Improbable, have already emerged as top contenders on the Road to the Derby, while others are still lingering out of the spotlight, waiting for the right time to shine.

In anticipation of 2019, let's take a quick look at all thirteen of these runners....

Coliseum

This much-hyped Godolphin homebred crushed a seven-furlong maiden race at Del Mar last month by 6 ¾ lengths, racing to the lead through modest fractions before powering clear in the homestretch. A son of Tapit, Coliseum has shown some quirks in the morning but was perfectly professional in his debut and looks bound for a stakes race in the near future.

Count Di Luna

Count Di Luna showed a lot of determination in his debut going six furlongs at Santa Anita, dueling hard for the lead through fractions of :21.71 and :45.16 before edging clear to defeat the capable Stretford End by 1 ½ lengths. A son of Liaison bred and owned by Arnold Zetcher, Count Di Luna is bred to excel around two turns, so it's exciting that he's already shown a lot of potential sprinting.

Cruel Intention

An easy 5 ½-length debut win at Santa Anita signaled that Cruel Intention is a talented prospect, and he backed up that performance with a hard-fought victory in the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile Stakes, in which he and the runner-up pulled 16 lengths clear of the third-place finisher. Cruel Intention has run exclusively against California-breds so far, but he's run fast while doing so and should step into open company this winter.

Dark Prince

After Dark Prince lost his first four starts on dirt, Baffert switched to turf and dropped him in class for a one-mile maiden claiming race at Santa Anita. The result? Dark Prince went straight to the lead and cruised home an uncontested winner by 3 ¼ lengths. Maybe he won't wind up being a Derby contende, but his victory on turf was certainly a nice improvement off his previous form.

Game Winner

This son of Candy Ride is the early Kentucky Derby favorite after compiling a perfect 4-for-4 juvenile season that included Grade 1 wins in the Del Mar Futurity, American Pharoah Stakes, and Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He's bred to relish 1 ¼ miles and overcame a very wide trip to win the Juvenile, so at this point he has to be considered Baffert's top Triple Crown prospect.

Improbable

...But if there's a better two-year-old than Game Winner in Baffert's barn, it's likely Improbable, who is 3-for-3 so far with blowout victories in the Street Sense Stakes and the Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity (gr. I) on his record. Improbable's powerful finish in the latter race prompted Baffert to favorably compare the colt to his 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify—very high praise indeed!

Kingly

A well-bred son of Tapit out of the graded stakes-winning Dixie Union mare Justwhistledixie, Kingly survived a prolonged pace battle with three challengers to win his debut sprinting six furlongs at Del Mar, an especially impressive performance since Kingly was racing inside and never got an opportunity to relax. The runner-up that day? Stretford End, who had already been beaten by Baffert's Count Di Luna.

Magic On Tap

Magic On Tap hasn't breezed since the middle of September, which is a bit concerning, but if he resumes serious training soon he'll bear watching on the Derby trail. In his lone start to date, Magic On Tap scored by 2 ½ lengths in a 6 ½-furlong maiden race at Del Mar, easily defeating the future maiden winners Grey Magician and Extra Hope, with the latter going on to run third in the Los Alamitos Futurity.

Metropol

He missed an expected start in the Bob Hope Stakes (gr. III) due to an illness, which was unfortunate since he figured to be among the favorites based off his gritty victory in a 6 ½-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita. However, Metropol bounced back with a half-mile workout on December 8th and should be back in the entries before too long.

Much Better

After Much Better won his debut on dirt at Del Mar by an easy 3 ¼ lengths, Baffert switched him to turf with mixed results—the son of Pioneerof the Nile finished second in the one-mile Zuma Beach Stakes, but trailed home last of fourteen in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. I). Considering his dirt-oriented pedigree, I think we'll see Much Better back on the main track—and the Derby trail—in the near future

Mucho Gusto

After parlaying a decisive maiden victory at Los Alamitos into a pace-setting triumph in the Bob Hope Stakes (gr. III), this $625,000 auction purchase stretched out in distance for the Los Alamitos Futurity, where he set the pace and stayed on gamely to finish a clear second behind stablemate Improbable. A son of Mucho Macho Man out of a Giant's Causeway mare, Mucho Gusto is bred to improve with age and should make some noise on the Derby trail next year.

Roadster

Billed as one of Baffert's top prospects prior to his debut at Del Mar, Roadster lived up to expectations with a smooth 4 ¼-length victory over a quality field, but then disappointed when finishing a flat third behind Game Winner in the Del Mar Futurity. However, Roadster subsequently underwent minor surgery to correct a breathing issue, and if the surgery works its magic, I think we'll see Roadster reemerge as major player next year.

Tale of the Union

Like Magic On Tap, Tale of the Union has been sidelined since the middle of December, but if he gets back on the work tab soon it's not hard to think he'll be a force to reckon with in 2019. After all, this $925,000 auction purchase won his debut at Del Mar by eight lengths, pulling clear with authority to win in the manner of a very promising colt.