Baffert works with 'small window' on Breeders' Cup prospects

In Louisville this week to celebrate his induction to the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, trainer Bob Baffert called the state a “second home.” And he plans to be well represented Nov. 2-3 when the Breeders’ Cup returns to Churchill Downs.

Both of Baffert’s top older horses -- West Coast (last ran in the March 31 Dubai World Cup) and Collected (off since the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup) -- are back in training at Del Mar.

“I have a small window, and we’re working on it,” Baffert said of making the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Classic.

Of course, that comment came only months after he managed to take Justify from un-raced to Triple Crown winner in a span of 112 days.

The 2017 champion 3-year-old West Coast “looks fantastic” but hasn’t yet recorded a workout. Baffert said that if the son of Flatter is to make the Classic, he would do so without a prep race beforehand, citing the horse’s foundation and a limited training schedule.

“If they’re good enough, it’s do-able,” he said.

As for Collected, the 5-year-old by City Zip is “further along” with two recorded works, the most-recent a five-furlong drill Tuesday in 1:01.80. He would need a race before going in the Classic.

Baffert could have a potential third Classic contender, or perhaps a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile runner, in McKinzie, the 3-year-old thought of as his best Triple Crown threat until Justify’s late emergence. Back to working consistently after missing the spring and summer due to a muscle pull, the son of Street Sense is targeting the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 22 at Parx.

“That’s another one where he’s coming right along, and I think the Pennsylvania Derby will be his prep whether I want to run him a mile or a mile and a quarter in the Breeders’ Cup,” Baffert said.

In the Distaff division, Baffert sends Abel Tasman this weekend in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on the Travers Stakes undercard, while Dream Tree is 4-for-4 and working toward her comeback from injury. Marley’s Freedom has also graduated from allowance to Grade 3 and then Grade 2 winner since entering Baffert's barn this year. The possible Filly & Mare Sprint prospect steps up to the Grade 1 level in the Ballerina, also Saturday at Saratoga.

As he often is, Baffert could be loaded as well in the Breeders’ Cup’s showcases for 2-year-olds on dirt.

“Right now we’re looking at Roadster,” Baffert said of a steppingstone race, the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 3, of a promising debut winner.

The barn also saw an impressive first-out effort from Game Winner, a Candy Ride colt who on Saturday won by an easy 5 3/4 lengths at Del Mar.

“Game Winner, if we’re bringing him back in two weeks or stretching him out, I don’t know yet,” Baffert said. “I won’t know for another week.”

The Hall of Famer also has a trio of top juvenile fillies in his care: Mother Mother, Der Lu and Chasing Yesterday, a half sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Each of them are 1-for-1.

“I’m going to split some of them up,” Baffert said. “One might go to New York. One might run here (at Churchill Downs). This is the time of year when you just nominate everywhere, and whoever’s doing well that week gets on the plane.”

The cycle never seems to stop, either. Baffert's already attending sales and purchasing horses for his barn’s next generation of runners.

“A lot of people think you win the Kentucky Derby and you’re set for life — you can retire,” Baffert said. “It doesn’t work that way financially. I enjoy what I do. When I get sour — if I get sour — I’ll do whatever.

“But I really — it’s like being a coach. I like the competition. I’m a competitive person. I think going in tonight, we’re in the (Hall) of Fame because we’re very successful at what we do, but we’re also competitive. So long as I have that, I’ll keep going.”