Baffert: Chrome 'Deserved' Horse of the Year
Understandably disappointed that Bayern didn’t win Horse of the Year or 3-year-
old male honors at last night’s Eclipse Award ceremonies, Bob Baffert took solace with American Pharoah being named two-year-old male champion of 2014.
“I’m happy with Pharoah,” said the Hall of Fame trainer, who turned 62 on Jan. 13. “Anytime you have a champion, it’s good. I don’t know how many I have now (12, including 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given), but I think I’m second to Wayne Lukas. I’m getting there, but he’s still going, too.
“There were no surprises (in the Eclipse results). It was entertaining to watch. The social media last year really followed California Chrome. Bayern (who was a finalist for Horse of the Year and three-year-old male) never really had that following . . . but at the end of the day, they gave it to the right horse. He deserved it. I don’t have any problem with it.”
Baffert said he hopes to have American Pharoah breezing by the end of the month.
PEDROZA STILL GOING STRONG NEARING MID-CENTURY MARK
Martin Pedroza is the Stealth Bomber of jockeys. He flies beneath the radar. The unsinkable Panamanian turns 50 this July 20, but he still has the fire of youth stoking his motivational and competitive engines.
Overcoming umpteen injuries that would have dampened the sprit of a less-determined athlete, Pedroza moves ever forward, undeterred. Through 15 racing days, there he is, tied for third in Santa Anita’s jockey standings with nine victories.
“The key to success is working hard, and that’s never been a problem for me,” said the Panamanian native, who has 3,656 wins in a career that began in 1982. “I get up every morning and hardly ever take a day off.”
He has been represented for the better part of 28 years by agent Richie Silverstein. Like any marriage, there have been bumps in the road, but they’re still together. Ain’t love grand?
“What drives me?,” Pedroza said. “I just want to win. I motivate myself, working to keep up with these young puppies. I just love what I do.”
FINISH LINES: Jerry Hollendorfer on Cross The Line, 9-2 winner of the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields Saturday: “He’s been coming along very well and he ran a huge race. I look for a lot from him.” Next up: the $200,000, Grade III El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 14 . . . Seduire, winner of the Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes on Jan. 3, runs in the Grade II, $200,000 Forward Gal at seven furlongs at Gulfstream on Saturday, Jerry Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward said . . . Congrats to Jon Hardoon on giving out Sr. Quisqueyano on the Roger Stein radio show to win Saturday’s Sunshine Millions Classic at a $43.20 payoff. Lucky that bettors don’t ask for the name of the horse when they go to the mutuel windows, like they do in the movies, because that one is nearly unpronounceable. All they had to do to buy a winning ticket was ask for the post position, “number one.” . . . Tyler Baze rides a steed named for him in today’s third race, a 5-year-old Affirmative horse called Warren’s T. Baze. A 6-1 morning line chance owned and bred by Benjamin C. Warren, the California-bred chestnut has been ridden by Baze twice before and is trained by Jorge Gutierrez . . . Santa Anita races through tomorrow, Monday, but will be dark Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week. First post time on Monday is 12:30 p.m. . . . Santa Anita will be open for simulcast racing on Thursday, however, with free admission and free parking.
Source: Ed Golden, Santa Anita Stable Notes