Baffert on Medina Spirit: 'He’s always going to be tough'

Medina Spirit, a game second as the 9-10 favorite behind Rock Your World in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, came out of the race in good order and will attempt to give Bob Baffert his seventh victory in the Kentucky Derby on May 1.

“He ran a game race like he always does,” Baffert said of the $35,000 bargain son of Protonico. “The winner was very impressive, but our horse showed up, he ran his race, he came out of it well and we’ve got four weeks to sharpen him up.

“He’ll be right there. He’s always going to be tough; he tries hard all the time.”

Baffert also sent out maiden sprint winner Defunded in the race and the gelded son of Dialed In rallied to finish fourth.

“He got real tired towards the end,” Baffert said. “He wasn’t ready for something like that, but we had to take a chance at it. I don’t know where I’ll run him next.”

Meanwhile, Baffert has Rebel winner Concert Tour and runner-up Hozier set for this Saturday’s Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.