Bob Baffert
There is not a name in modern day training more synonymous with the Kentucky Derby than Bob Baffert. A fan favorite with his trademark white hair, Baffert has won three of the last eight Kentucky Derbys, including back-to-back wins in '97 and '98 with Silver Charm and Real Quiet, respectively, before capturing the '02 running with War Emblem. The native of Nogales, Arizona has been a staple in the Derby the past decade, starting a total of 13 horses in the past nine runnings. The late defection of Wimbledon from last year's Kentucky Derby field marked the first year since '96 that Baffert was not represented with a starter in the Run for the Roses. Baffert, who grew up grooming and galloping quarter horses, began training quarter horses before converting to Thoroughbreds in 1988 with the support of primary owners Hal Earnhardt and Mike Pegram - both of whom still remain prominent clients. Baffert is a 3-time Eclipse Award winning trainer, and has conditioned seven Eclipse Award champions. He is one of only three trainers ("Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons and Max Hirsch) to have won the Derby three times. Only Wayne Lukas and Dick Thompson (4 wins) and Ben A. Jones (6) have more Derby wins than Baffert.
Brice Blanc
Bio Coming Soon
Stonerside Stable and Preferred Pals Stable
Stonerside is the farm and racing stable name of husband and wife Robert and Janice McNair; Houston, TX residents who own the NFL's Houston Texans. Their 1500 acre farm, which they established in 1994, is located in Paris, KY. Eight Stonerside owned or co-owned runners have topped the $1-million mark in earnings, and they have bred over 30 stakes placed horses in to date. They have raced over 40 stakes winners, including the homebred Congaree, who finished third in the 2001 Derby, and finished in the top 20 owners nationally by race earnings from 1999 through 2003. They also bred The Cliff's Edge, fifth in the 2004 Derby and winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (GI). They have approximately 70 horses in training with over a dozen trainers.
Thomas/Lakin (NY)
Lifelong horseman Becky Thomas and entreprenuer Lewis Lakin partnered in 1998 to form Lakland Farms, one of the state of New York's premier breeding farms that houses five stallions. Thomas began her career as a barrel racing trainer before putting her expertise to work as a 2-year-old Thoroughbred pinhooker under the banner of Sequel Bloodstock in 1986. Lakin, who owns Lakin General, LLC - a major rubber and tire recycling company, has been involved in Thoroughbred racing with his wife and sons since 1990. The Lakins have raced graded runners including Buffalo Berry, Listen Here and No Kings. Lakin and Thomas are ranked near the top of the nation's pinhookers. The two and Lakin's wife, Brenda, also own farms in Florida and Kentucky, on which they have about 150 broodmares. In addition, Lakin is the breeder and owner of Greater Good, another contender expected to run in this year's Kentucky Derby.
Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert returns to the "Run for the Roses" after a one-year absence with a colt that is one of the longest shots in the field of contenders for Derby 131. Stonerside Stable, which is owned by Houston Texans owners Robert and Janice McNair, purchased majority interest in the New York-bred son of Out of Place from Preferred Pals stable when Sort It Out won the Whirlaway at Aqueduct in early February. His best effort in three races for Baffert was a runner-up finish to Derby 131 rival Coin Silver in the Coolmore Lexington (GII) on April 23. Baffert and Stonerside finished second in the 2001 Kentucky Derby with Congaree. French-born jockey Brice Blanc will ride in his first Kentucky Derby.
Sort It Out is by Churchill Downs graded stakes winner Out of Place, who excelled around two-turns during his racing career and possesses a stamina-based pedigree being by Cox's Ridge out of a Damascus mare. The New York-bred's female family is very strong and oozes with class and stamina, with his dam, Vex, being by the great Kris S. out of Abrade, who is a full sister to sire of sires and top racehorse Forty Niner. The nick from crossing Out of Place with Kris S. broodmares has been proven to be a solid combination, producing five other of Out of Place's stakes winners and leading earners, which includes graded stakes winners Royal Place and Meetyouathebrig - both of whom excelled at distances of one mile or further.
Dosage Index: 1.67
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