Mourinho

MOURINHO (c, Super Saver-Sandi's Ready, by More Than Ready)
'TDN Rising Star' O-Phoenix Thoroughbred III. B-WinStar Farm (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $30,000 yrl KEESEP '16; $625,000 2yo OBSMAR '17. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $154,360.
Jan. 9 TDN Top 12 Rank: NA
Last Start: 1st, Smarty Jones S., OP, Jan. 15
Next Start: Uncommited
Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Mourinho
KY Derby Points: 10

Trainer Bob Baffert is well aware that 'TDN Rising Star' Mourinho isn't going to be freewheeling on the front end cutting fast fractions as the distances get longer and the competition gets tougher. This $625,000 OBSMAR (pinhooked for $30,000 KEESEP) colt won as he pleased against four overmatched rivals in the Jan. 15 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn. The only time in that race that Mourinho faced a tactical challenge (getting position into the first turn), he was easily able to out-hoof that sent-for-the-lead rival. In two Santa Anita workouts since, Baffert has trained Mourinho without blinkers going a non-taxing three-eighths, then last Thursday with blinkers back on he tracked $400,000 OBSAPR maiden stablemate Show Time Rocket (Into Mischief) from several lengths behind for five-eighths before pulsing past at the wire and continuing solo for another furlong to register a bullet 1:12.60 (1/4) for six furlongs. The son of Super Saver (Maria's Mon) could return to Hot Springs for the GIII Southwest S. Feb. 19, but considering Baffert's affinity for biding his time with stakes decisions, that's only an educated guess at this point.

VIDEO PPS