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Baffert still teaching Midnight Interlude as Derby approaches (w/video)

Posted: Monday, May 02, 2011 11:12 AM

MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE WORKOUT AT CHURCHILL, 5/2/11

PhotosByZ.com/Thoroughbred Times

by Ed DeRosa

Bob Baffert is famous around the stable area for wearing his heart on his sleeve when he thinks he is coming to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) with a good horse.

That effusiveness was noticeably absent when the Racing Hall of Fame trainer addressed the media on Monday morning following Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Midnight Interlude’s final Derby work.

“He’s still green, and when he gets in front of a horse he wants to shut it down, so we’re working on that,” Baffert said. “He needs a target or he’ll get lost. When Comma at the Top sort of got away in the Santa Anita Derby, [jockey] Victor [Espinoza] really had to get into him to stay on. At least in the [Kentucky] Derby he’ll have plenty of targets.”

Midnight Interlude breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 under Martin Garcia in company with multiple Grade 3 winner Mythical Power on a track rated as sloppy. He was timed in splits of :12.40, :24.40, :36.40, :48.20, out six furlongs in 1:14.00, and seven furlongs in 1:28.80.

“You need a horse to move forward and get the distance,” said Baffert, a three-time Derby-winning trainer. “He should get the 1 1/4 [miles]. He seemed to want more ground in the Santa Anita Derby. I’m happy to be here with a horse like him who’s doing well.”

Still, Baffert talked about Midnight Interlude in a manner not consistent with his feelings about eventual three-year-old male champions Point Given and Lookin At Lucky. Of course, both those colts lost the Derby as the favorite, so maybe the trainer is just keeping things closer to the vest this year.

Midnight Interlude did not make his career debut until January 29, and no horse has won the Derby without racing as a two-year-old since Apollo won the eighth Derby in 1882.

“Hopefully we’ll break that, but I don’t have time to worry or think about it much,” Baffert said.

Ed DeRosa is internet news editor for Thoroughbred Times

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