It was business as usual for Bob Baffert Sept. 27 after the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer savored the previous day's victories at Santa Anita Park by Improbable in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) and the undefeated juvenile filly Princess Noor in the Chandelier Stakes (G2).
WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International, and SF Racing's Improbable rallied from last to capture the Awesome Again, vanquishing stablemate and odds-on favorite Maximum Security in the process.
KING: Improbable Upsets Maximum Security in Awesome Again
"Improbable and 'Max' came out really well. I knew there was going to be a lot of pace, and we were going to sit off of it and then let 'Max' run," Baffert said, "but he was in between Midcourt and they were just bumping the whole way down the backside.
"They were in a full drive from the half-mile pole, but (Maximum Security) didn't bring his 'A' game, and Improbable is getting really good. He's got a lot of grade 1s on his résumé, he's filled out, matured, and Drayden (Van Dyke) rode a great race, just sat back there early on.
"He saw what was happening up front and let them go."
Both Improbable and Maximum Security, campaigned by Gary and Mary West, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, will prepare for the Nov. 7 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland.
Zedan Racing Stables' Princess Noor proved convincingly she can handle two turns, giving Baffert a record 12th win in the Chandelier at 1 1/16 miles. The filly earned herself a berth in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at the same distance.
"You're never sure about going two turns, and she was stuck behind horses coming out of the 1 hole, but she came out of the race really well," Baffert said. "She's still doing her thing, and it looks like two turns is not going to be a problem for her."
The next major event for Baffert is the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, where he'll saddle Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Authentic and Thousand Words . Authentic is expected to have his final breeze Monday at Churchill Downs.
"As long as Authentic works good, both horses will ship to Maryland on Tuesday," Baffert said.
United Proves Versatile on Lead
A cursory glance at the past performances revealed there was zero speed in Saturday's 1 1/4-mile John Henry Turf Championship (G2T), save for that of versatile favorite United, who has preferred to stalk and pounce or close from well back in most of his races.
Not so in the John Henry under regular rider Flavien Prat, who has ridden the 5-year-old Giant's Causeway gelding in 11 races, the past 10 in a row, winning five.
"We planned on being on the lead," trainer Richard Mandella revealed Sunday morning. "Flavien and I decided that was the best thing to do, so that's kind of how we went about it.
"The plan now is to train him up to the Breeders' Cup."
United is being pointed for the Nov. 7 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), in which he finished second last year.
Stablemate Jolie Olimpica has recovered from a fever and is back galloping but won't have a work for a few more days before Mandella decides on whether to point to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).
"She seems OK, but it's one step at a time and we'll see what happens," he said.
