Bob Baffert will be represented by half of the field of six sophomores entered for Sunday's GIII Affirmed S. at Santa Anita.
'TDN Rising Star' Roadster (Quality Road), an impressive winner of the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 6, looks to get back on track for the Hall of Famer after crossing the wire a very disappointing 16th–elevated to 15th via disqualification–in the GI Kentucky Derby. Mike Smith, aboard in his prior four career starts, gets back in the irons.
Fellow 'Rising Star' Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) followed a facile win in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 2 with a third-place finish as the 4-5 favorite in the GIII Sunland Park Derby Mar. 24. He turned back to seven furlongs for a win in the GIII Lazaro Barrera S. last time May 18.
California Derby winner and last out off-the-turf Alcatraz S. third Kingly (Tapit) rounds out the Baffert trifecta.
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