Trainer found a surprising sweet spot with Richard’s Kid this summer that has launched him into the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Saturday at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park meet.
The Classic was far off the radar for Richard’s Kid when Baffert began looking to see where the four-year-old Lemon Drop Kid colt would fit in this summer at Del Mar, after bought him privately and sent him West from trainer Dickie Small’s barn in Maryland.
Baffert tried Richard’s Kid on the grass in the Eddie Read Stakes (G1) (seventh-place finish) and at 1½ miles on Polytrack surface in the Cougar II Handicap (second by a nose), before deciding to take a shot in the $1-million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), where he was sent off at 24.40-to-1 odds.
“I bought him for the turf or synthetic,” Baffert said. “I ran him on the turf and he didn’t run that well, so I brought him back ten days later going a mile-and-a-half. He almost won, and that sort of woke him up. He worked well, and I thought, ‘I’m going to take a chance in the Pacific Classic.’ ”
Baffert also ran Swaps Stakes (G2) winner in the Pacific Classic for his wife, Jill. He said he offered jockey his choice of the two, and Espinoza picked Misremembered.
“I remember watching the race with my wife and I could tell at the top of the stretch [that Misremembered was out of it], and I said, ‘Sorry, honey,’ ” Baffert said. “I thought to myself, ‘Where’s that other son-of-a-gun I’ve got? Where are the pink silks?’ All of the sudden, I saw him on the outside coming and I hit her in the back and I said, ‘We’ve got a shot, pink silks!’ I blew my voice out cheering. I never had a $50 horse in a $1-million race.”
Richard’s Kid followed with a third-place finish in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) on October 10 at Santa Anita, closing well into a slow pace to check in a length behind upset winner (GB).
“I liked his race in the Goodwood,” Baffert said. “I didn’t train him too hard up to that race. … He’s been a surprise. He likes the synthetics. It’s been a big help for him. He’s got to have things shake loose for him, maybe a horse doesn’t fire, and he needs a good trip. But he’ll be coming at the end.”
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