Bob Baffert continued his domination of the Oaklawn Derby preps with his sixth victory in the GII Rebel S. since 2010 courtesy of Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's Cupid (Tapit). Off to a slow start from the three-hole in this loaded 14-horse affair, the slight 5-2 second-choice was hard-ridden by Martin Garcia to take control entering the first turn. Clocking a swift opening quarter in :22.96 with 20-1 shot Siding Spring (Warrior's Reward) breathing down his neck, the gray slowed it down just a bit, hitting the half in :46.82, and had yet to be asked by Garcia as he showed the way into the stretch. With Siding Spring calling it quits on the backstretch, it was D. Wayne Lukas trainee Gray Sky (Tapit) who took up the chase. As that runner stalled in mid-stretch, GIII Southwest S. runner-up Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) came flying with a three-wide and looked like he would put away the pacesetter, but Cupid kept on finding to hold that runner at bay for an impressive first stakes victory. Recent maiden winner Creator (Tapit) ran on well for third ahead of “TDN Rising Star” Cherry Wine (Paddy O'Prado), who closed strongly from well back to be fourth, and favored Southwest winner Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft) checked in fifth. “We'll bring him back here [for the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 16], as long as he doesn't get light on us,” Baffert said. “He likes a little time in between his races. I'm just really happy.”
“I was sweating at the break when he didn't break [well],” Baffert commented. “I was worried they were going to close up on him like that they did with Collected (City Zip) last time [in the Southwest]. But once he got him rolling….When [Whitmore] came rolling down the middle of the stretch I thought we'll see hat he's made of. That's when we realized what he's made of. He started to kick back in. That what you want to see this time of year, them showing some grits and some guts. He looked fantastic in the paddock and the post parade. He was ready to run and he ran like he looked.”
Baffert won his first edition of the Rebel in 2010 with Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike) and followed suit in 2011 with The Factor (War Front) and 2012 with Secret Circle (Eddington). Lukas broke his streak when winning the 2013 renewal with Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), who went on to win that year's Eclipse for top 3-year-old male. Baffert renewed his Rebel hot streak with Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) and won last year's renewal with a comebacking American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), who went on to take the GI Arkansas Derby, Triple Crown and GI Breeders' Cup Classic en route to Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old honors. All of Baffert's Rebel winners went on to become Grade I winners, but American Pharoah was the only one to follow that win with a victory in the Arkansas Derby or Kentucky Derby. However, Baffert have the exacta in the 2012 Arkansas Derby with Bodemeister (Empire Maker) beating out Rebel winner Secret Circle.
Purchased by the Coolmore contingent for $900,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September sale, Cupid checked in fourth when unveiled in a six-furlong test at Los Alamitos Dec. 20 and improved to second behind subsequent GIII San Vicente S. third Denman's Call (Northern Afleet) sprinting at Santa Anita Jan. 9. Hammered down to even-money favoritism when stretched out to 1 1/16 miles last time in Arcadia Feb. 7, the sophomore bobbled at the break before tugging his way up to stalk from fourth. Launching a four-wide bid turning for home, he powered past the leaders in the lane and strode home a 5 1/4-length winner. Cupid signaled his readiness for this test with a best-of-23 six furlongs at his home track in 1:11 3/5 Mar. 11.
Out of GSP Pretty 'n Smart, who sold for $525,000 while in foal to Harlan's Holiday at the 2008 Keeneland November sale, Cupid is a half to MGSW Heart Ashley (Lion Heart); GSW Ashley's Kitty (Tale of the Cat); and SW Indianapolis (Medaglia d'Oro), who sold for $1 million at the 2013 Keeneland September sale. Pretty 'n Smart produced a 2-year-old full-sister to the winner, who brought $500,000 at last year's renewal of that sale, and she was bred back to Tapit.
Saturday, Oaklawn Park
REBEL S.-GII, $900,000, OP, 3-19, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.84, ft.
1–#@CUPID, 115, c, 3, by Tapit
1st Dam: Pretty 'n Smart (GSP), by Beau Genius
2nd Dam: Charge d'Affaires, by Vice Regent
3rd Dam: Office Affair, by Secretariat
($900,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John
Magnier & Derrick Smith; B-JKG Thoroughbreds LLC (KY);
T-Bob Baffert; J-Martin Garcia. $540,000. Lifetime Record:
4-2-1-0, $587,500. *1/2 to Ashley's Kitty (Tale of the Cat),
GSW, $349,268; Heart Ashley (Lion Heart), MGSW, $395,896;
and Indianapolis (Medaglia d'Oro), SW, $132,038. Werk Nick
Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”niall-brennan-nbs-graduate”][bullet ad=”vanmeter-hell-yeah”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Whitmore, 117, g, 3, Pleasantly Perfect–Melody's Spirit, by
Scat Daddy. O-Robert V. LaPenta, Harry T. Rosenblum &
Southern Springs Stables; B-John Liviakis (KY); T-Ron Moquett.
$180,000.[bullet ad=”warhorseplace-bornandraised”]3–Creator, 115, c, 3, Tapit–Morena (Per), by Privately Held.
($440,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-WinStar Farm LLC; B-Mt. Brilliant
Broodmares I LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $90,000.[bullet ad=”gainesway-consigned-by”]Margins: 1 1/4, 1 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.90, 4.30, 8.20.
Also Ran: Cherry Wine, Suddenbreakingnews, Gray Sky, Discreetness, Cutacorner, Spikes Shirl, Ralis, Z Royal, Madtap, American Dubai, Siding Spring.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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