NEW ORLEANS — Riding the past eight years in Puerto Rico, Javier Santiago said the only thing he knew about trainer Bob Baffert is that he kept seeing him on television winning the Kentucky Derby.
Now having ridden in California for only a month, the 26-year-old Santiago is witnessing first-hand Baffert's knack with 3-year-old horses in the spring.
In a winter where Baffert — winner of three Derbys and eight Triple Crown races since 1997 — had been unusually quiet, he again burst into the limelight as Wimbledon, who was coming off only a maiden victory, shipped in from California to win the $600,000, Grade II Louisiana Derby by 21/4 lengths yesterday at the Fair Grounds.
"He had to do something today to earn his way to the Derby," said Baffert. "And he really earned his way, so I feel good about that. I've got to work on some other ones I've got in the barn."
Borrego, another California ship-in, finished second, a head before Florida-based Pollard's Vision as out-of-state horses came in 1-2-3 in the stakes for the second straight year. Wimbledon paid $16.40 as the fifth choice in a field of 11. The three stakes winners going in — Gradepoint, Fire Slam and Stolen Time — failed to hit the board.
The biggest disappointment was Gradepoint, a stretch-runner who should have benefited from a record pace. Instead the 2-1 favorite (coupled with Breakaway) never was a factor, finishing eighth. The much better race was turned in by Breakaway, who came from last and squeezed through on the rail to finish fourth, three-quarters of a length behind Pollard's Vision.
"I'm sure he's capable of better, but it just wasn't going to be today," said Gradepoint's trainer, Neil Howard.
Wimbledon got a textbook trip under Santiago, staying on the rail throughout until tipping to the outside at the top of the stretch and taking the lead just inside the eighth pole. Borrego, meanwhile, had to come eight-wide under Victor Espinoza after being next-to-last early.
"Like I thought, a little more distance will benefit him," said Kentucky native Beau Greely, trainer of Borrego. "I'm very pleased."
Wimbledon, owned by Houston furniture and mattress magnate Jim McIngvale, was the "buzz" 2-year-old at Del Mar last summer, with Baffert openly calling him his Derby horse. But when the son of Wild Rush finished fifth in his debut, then was second in his next three starts, Baffert became decidedly mum.
Wimbledon finally aced a one-mile maiden race at Santa Anita Feb. 8 by eight lengths in his first race with Santiago. Baffert said Wimbledon had battled minor shin problems and "mentally was a little slow to come around."
"He's a big horse, and he's just learning how to run," he said. "When he broke his maiden, his whole attitude changed, like he finally figured out he was supposed to win. When he got out there (in the lead) by himself, I was worried that maybe he'd wait on horses, which he's done before. But he just kept on going.
"I was hoping he'd come up with a performance like that. I told (wife) Jill, `If he doesn't run 1-2-3, he's not the horse I thought he was.' It was time to see him do that."
Wimbledon covered 11/16 miles in 1:42.71, just off Crypto Star's 1997 stakes record of 1:42.60. He picked up $360,000 to bring his earnings to $415,980.
Baffert said he's doesn't know where the colt will race next. "All I know is he's earned his way there," he said.
Louisville-based trainer David Carroll said he knew fifth-place finisher Fire Slam's chances were doomed with the fast pace set by Indian War Dance, who faced serious pressure as Fire Slam and Nightlifeatbigblue sought to clear the field from their outside posts. The first quarter-mile in 22.48 and half-mile in 45.27 were the fastest ever in the race.
"It was a suicidal pace," Carroll said. "Does he fit with these horses? Does he like the distance? We don't know. You'd have to say there are a lot of unanswered questions."
Wimbledon, a $425,000 purchase last year, gave McIngvale his biggest triumph in racing.
"I think the reason the horse won the race was because (Baffert) was so patient with him," he said.
McIngvale, known as Mattress Mac for his zany ads in which he dons a mattress, has a promotion going where if his horse During wins the $6 million Dubai World Cup later this month, those who purchase mattresses during a certain period will get a gift certificate for an equal amount.
"Hopefully if Wimbledon gets to the Kentucky Derby, we can do the same thing," said McIngvale, who owns the Westside Tennis Club in Houston, hence the horse's name.
http://www.courier-journal.com
