Baffert wins 1st race back with Rhetoric at Los Alamitos

Cypress, Calif.

For the first time in 99 days, Bob Baffert was back in a winner’s circle Saturday after second-time starter Rhetoric rolled to victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Los Alamitos.

Rhetoric and first-time starter Western Cape in the fifth race were Baffert’s first starters since returning from a 90-day suspension on Sunday.

“This is where I got my start,” noted Baffert, who decades ago was a quarter-horse trainer at Los Alamitos. “It feels great to be back. I still have that passion.”

Rhetoric, who was a $600,000 auction purchase as a yearling, was making his first start since August at Del Mar, when he was beaten just a half-length by subsequent graded-stakes winner Forbidden Kingdom in his debut.

Sent off the heavy 2-5 favorite on Saturday, Rhetoric was hustled by Juan Hernandez to be part of a four-horse scramble for the early lead. Rhetoric and Western Cape emerged from the scrum in front after an opening quarter mile in 22.25 seconds. Rhetoric seized control on the turn and after an opening half mile in 45.29 seconds, proved too strong down the lengthy Los Alamitos stretch to win by six lengths.

The final time on a “fast” track was 1:09.12. Still On the Books, a second-time starter for Doug O’Neill, was second. Western Cape, who drifted up off his morning-line odds, checked in third.

Rhetoric returned $2.80 for the popular win. He is by Quality Road out of Hard Not to Like, a multiple Grade 1 winner on the turf for trainer Christophe Clement.

“We were high on him last year and he had a little issue so we backed off him. But he’s always trained great,” Baffert said. “He missed all the big (3-year-old) races obviously, but he’s bred to go long and comes from a great family.”

Baffert’s last win before beginning his suspension came on April 2 when Shaaz won an allowance/optional claiming event at Santa Anita. In his first afternoon back at the races, Baffert received a warm welcome from the on-track crowd.

“After what’s gone on, I’ve never felt like they were against me,” Baffert said of the crowd. “But it happened and right now it’s behind us.”

Baffert also has two colts entered in the $125,000 Los Alamitos Derby later on Saturday's card: Doppelganger and High Connection.