Derby News

NEW YORK (April 9, 2006) - A quick visit to New York from California produced a perfect day on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The white-haired trainer sent out Bob and John to a 1½-length victory over Jazil in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G1) and, an hour later, just before boarding a flight home to California, he caught Point Determined closing strong to finish second in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) behind Brother Derek.

And just like that, the three-time Derby winning trainer had himself a pair of top contenders for the Run for the Roses on May 6.

"Bob and John is improving by leaps and bounds," Baffert said of his young colt, a May 18 foal. "After he made the lead, he was gawking around a lot. "

Baffert especially liked the way Bob and John - in his first race outside California - battled the speedy Keyed Entry in the stretch of the 1 1/8-mile race contested over a sloppy track.

"I liked the fact that he looked that horses in the eye and got by him," Baffert said. "He showed heart and guts and it looked like he enjoyed himself."

Bob and John, coming off a third-place effort in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) on March 18, won for the fourth time in nine starts. The son of Seeking the Gold earned $450,000 and boosted his bankroll to $680,070.

Baffert was 2-for-2 at the Big A. A race earlier, 3-year-old Too Much Bling staked his claim as one of the nation's top sprinters with a victory in the $150,000 Bay Shore Stakes (G3). Baffert said Too Much Bling would stick to sprints for now, meaning the 1 ¼-mile Derby is not under consideration.

Baffert has used the Wood Memorial in the past to prep one of his Derby hopefuls. In 2001, he won the Wood with Congaree, who went on to finish third in the Derby behind Monarchos, who had finished second in the Wood.

Congaree, like Bob and John, is owned by Bob and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable.

"I feel happy to punch a ticket to the Derby for the McNairs," Baffert said, adding, "I'm happy to punch a ticket to the Derby for the Lewis family."

Point Determined, a son of 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given, is owned by the estate of Bob Lewis.

Jazil, who finished a fast-closing second, also is headed to the Derby, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said after the race. It may be a few days before a Derby decision is made on third-place finisher Keyed Entry, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

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