Quiet Scene at Baffert's Del Mar Barn

Where there had been a flurry of activity a week earlier, with American Pharoah being put through his final work for the Travers, there was a quiet scene Sunday morning at Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s barn in the Del Mar stable area.

 

Baffert assistant Pascual Rivera said that Gimme Da Lute and Fame and Power, the 1-2 finishers in Saturday’s $100,000 El Cajon Stakes, both came out of the race well. Gimme Da Lute recorded his fourth straight stakes victory, holding off stablemate Fame and Power by a half-length while running the mile in 1:35.79. The $60,000 winner’s share of the purse increased the son of Midnight Lute’s career earnings to $627,560 for owners-breeders Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.

 

Baffert, top assistant Jim Barnes and American Pharoah all stayed in Saratoga overnight after the 3-year-old colt’s three-quarter length loss to Keen Ice in the Travers.

 

A twitter post by owner Ahmed Zayat and his son Justin Sunday morning said that American Pharoah came out of the race sound but tired and the colt would be shipping back to Del Mar on Monday.

 

As for the Del Mar crew, Rivera said the loss of American Pharoah was taken without a great outpouring of emotion.

 

“We’ve been in the business a long time and we know that even great horses can get beat,” Rivera said.

 

Optimism and Hope, a 2-year-old Irish-bred filly trained by Tommy Stack, arrived here Saturday, Cindy Niemetz of the International Racing Bureau reports.