NEWS
Road to the Triple Crown: The Factor brings Baffert back to Oaklawn
Posted: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 6:37 PM
THE FACTOR
Benoit & Associates photo
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by Jeff Lowe and Ed DeRosa
In just two races, The Factor has blazed his way to a place among the most exciting three-year-olds in the nation. The Rebel Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Oaklawn Park will be a crucial step in determining how far his talent will take him in horse racing.
The War Front colt’s trainer, Bob Baffert, will look to Oaklawn for the second straight year as a proving ground for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). Last February, Baffert sent a horse to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for the first time since 2001, and he may have wondered what took him so long.
With six Oaklawn starters in 2010, Baffert posted five wins, including an outrageous four wins in as many stakes races. Two came in the competitive fire of Oaklawn’s Triple Crown prep series, first with Conveyance in the Southwest Stakes (G3) and then with Lookin At Lucky in the Rebel.
The eventual champion three-year-old male and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner, Lookin At Lucky tested dirt for the first time at Oaklawn, and Baffert said he knew the Smart Strike colt was legit when he battled back from trouble to score a head victory in the Rebel over Grade 1 winner Noble’s Promise.
Baffert’s home track, Santa Anita Park, since has switched back to a dirt main track, but he opted for the Rebel again to get a good gauge on The Factor, who sizzled through his first stakes appearance with seven furlongs in 1:20.34 on February 20 in the San Vicente Stakes (G2).
The victory by three quarters of a length looks even better after the third-place finisher, Premier Pegasus, romped by 7 ¼ lengths in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) on March 12 at Santa Anita, rallying past speed-weary Runflatout and Albergatti after they dueled through the first half-mile.
“We didn’t want to run [The Factor] back at Santa Anita because you can’t teach him anything there,” Baffert said this week. “Everyone just wants to fight for the lead, and you saw what happened [in the San Felipe]. Oaklawn is a deeper, sandier surface, and I think [The Factor] will get more out of it.”
Baffert considered sending The Factor to the 1 1/8-mile Sunland Derby (G3) on March 27 before settling on the 1 1/16-mile Rebel, which will be drawn on Thursday with an expected large field.
“I don’t think [The Factor] will be lone speed but he should be the best speed, and Oaklawn has a shorter stretch,” Baffert said. “Plus, it’s a mile and a sixteenth, and the mile and an eighth at Sunland with the higher altitude might be more demanding. If he’s a Derby horse, then we’ll know more after [the Rebel].”
Baffert is not the only California trainer trying to recreate a successful trip to Oaklawn. San Vicente runner-up Sway Away will head in the same direction for trainer Jeff Bonde, who captured the Rebel three years ago with Sierra Sunset.
Since then, California horses have been nearly unstoppable in the Oaklawn series, with Baffert’s two wins joining a sweep of the last three editions of the Arkansas Derby (G2) from Gayego in 2008, Papa Clem in 2009, and Line of David in 2010.
Sway Away so far has flashed glimpses of his potential. He finished second in the Best Pal Stakes (G2) at Del Mar last August in his second career start and did not race again until the San Vicente.
A son of 2005 Arkansas Derby winner Afleet Alex, Sway Away made an eye-catching rally after trailing the San Vicente early. Garrett Gomez retains the mount. He guided Lookin At Lucky in the Rebel last year.
“Traditionally, the Rebel has been a good vehicle to the Derby, and that’s our hope; that’s why we’re going to be there,” Bonde said. “It’s the best chance I’ve had in my lifetime, I can tell you that.
“The horse just trains like Superman. That’s all I can say.”
Gomez’s agent, Ron Anderson, said he would not trade places with The Factor’s jockey, Martin Garcia.
“That horse is not going to outrun [Sway Away] unless I’m badly mistaken,” Anderson said. “If it had been some sort of normal track last time at Santa Anita, instead of a souped-up fast track, [Sway Away] would have beat him. He came on and breezed unbelievable with Garrett the other day.”
Gomez has picked up the mount on multiple graded stakes winner To Honor and Serve for the Florida Derby (G1) on April 3 at Gulfstream Park. He replaces John Velazquez, with whom he finished third in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on February 26.
Velazquez is the regular rider of champion Uncle Mo.
“I know [trainer Bill Mott] is still very, very excited about the horse,” Anderson said. “I can hear it in his voice, and I’ve dealt with him for so long that I kind of know.”
Anderson said he expects Gomez to land on El Camino Real Derby (G3) winner Silver Medallion for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9. Russell Baze piloted the colt in the El Camino Real Derby, after Gomez rode him to a victory in the Eddie Logan Stakes on turf at Santa Anita.
Baffert probably will stay home for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9 with Jaycito, who finished second as the favorite in the San Felipe.
The Victory Gallop colt raced without blinkers for the first time in the San Felipe, and Baffert will put them back on for a likely rematch with Premier Pegasus.
“He just never took off in the stretch and inhaled horses like he does when he works, but he got a lot out of it and we’re in a good position,” Baffert said. “He needs a mile and an eighth, a mile and a quarter.”
The Factor’s co-owner George Bolton also is a partner with Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables in Astrology, a Grade 3 winner at two who still is awaiting his first start at three.
That will come in the Sunland Derby, according to Caroline Shaw, a spokesperson for Jackson.
The A.P. Indy colt, most recently second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) on November 27, drilled seven furlongs in 1:25.20 on Tuesday at Santa Anita.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
Ed DeRosa is news editor for Thoroughbred Times
