Kentucky Derby 2019 Daily: Baffert duo Rebel Stakes-bound

Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 4 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space

A week that saw the San Felipe Stakes (G2) canceled and a move from Santa Anita Park to Los Alamitos for Bob Baffert’s top 2019 Kentucky Derby hopefuls ended successfully for the Hall of Fame trainer.

Baffert on Sunday confirmed Game Winner and Improbable will ship for next weekend’s Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park following successful final breezes at Los Al.

“They can always come up with something, but today I’m really happy with both of them,” Baffert said. “Really didn’t want to ship them, but didn’t have a choice.”

First out, Improbable, breezing solo went five furlongs in 59.20 seconds. Later in the morning, Game Winner traveled the same distance in company with Dubai World Cup-bound Dabster in 59.80 seconds.

“They bounce over it,” Baffert said. “The track has always been a safe, fast track. It has to be, because when they run quarter horses, they can’t scramble. At Santa Anita, it’s a heavier track. When they come over here, they get over the top. It’s like they kick their boots off.

“I just feel really good about my two horses. They worked really well. They worked the way I wanted them to work.”

Given two entries by Baffert, the Rebel is still on pace to split into a pair of $750,000 flights that award 75 percent of the race’s original Derby qualifying points to the Top 4 finishers of both division.

Jennifer Hoyt, Oaklawn’s head of media relations, said Sunday that “it looks like we’re pretty much getting the entire San Felipe field” with others coming from California on a Wednesday flight. Jerry Hollendorfer will ship Gunmetal Gray and Galilean; Richard Mandella should have on a plane Omaha Beach and Extra Hope; and Keith Desormeaux is sending Easy Shot.

“Obviously, at this point should we have one or two more defections it won’t split,” Hoyt said. “But if we keep the horses who I’ve said are coming right now, we have enough to split.”

"We never dreamed the day would come they would close down Santa Anita, but we’re getting through it," Baffert added. "The main thing is that the 3-year-olds, they worked well. They’re coming up there. I think it’s very nice of them to want to split that race. That’s the key thing.”

Baffert has won the Rebel a record six times, all since 2010 and most recently with Cupid in 2016.

Derby links

• Exiting a trio of Saturday preps, Bryan Brinkmeyer looks at who’s in, out and on the Kentucky Derby points bubble.

• Handicapper Reinier Macatangay shares his takeaways from the day, including what Tacitus’ Tampa Bay Derby score means for stablemate Hidden Scroll.

• It’s on to a final prep for Gotham Stakes winner Haikal, with Kiaran McLaughlin saying the colt is “improving all the time.”

• Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Somelikeithotbrown has options, among them the new Turf Triple Series, later this year. First, connections want to see if he’ll take to dirt.

In case you missed it…

Saturday’s Derby Daily report featured a conversation with trainer Jason Servis, who has Maximum Security and Final Jeopardy targeting final preps.