Baffert mulling Medina Spirit’s next step after Derby win

Molly AronsonAugust 30, 2022

0 0 2 minutes read

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Medina Spirit’s surprising Kentucky Derby victory gave Bob Baffert a good problem – figuring out where to hang another sign on his barn’s already crowded wall of glory. As Baffert digests a record seventh Derby win that even caught him off guard, the Hall of Fame trainer and the horse’s connections must determine whether the dark brown colt will turn around quickly for the 146th Preakness on May 15 in Baltimore, where a collection of rested horses and revenge-minded competitors await. “He came out of it well,” Baffert said

Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. “It takes about a week to determine, so I will come back next weekend and see. I don’t see anything that would discourage me right now.” Similar wait-and-see decisions loomed on the backside a day after the 147th Derby returned to its traditional first Saturday in May date.

Shorter than the Derby at 1 3/16 miles.

The Preakness sets up well for horses that skipped Churchill Downs for the sprint at Pimlico Race Course. Not to mention a chance for redemption for competitors that fell short of Medina Spirit. Trainer Doug O’Neill said third-place finisher Rock Your World would not be among them, looking instead to run the one 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes on June 5 in New York. Todd Pletcher, whose quartet of entrants finished no higher than ninth (Known Agenda), planned to return to New York to regroup and “think about some major decisions with those horses.”

Meanwhile, Brad Cox planned to talk with connections for runner-up Mandaloun and 5-2 Derby favorite Essential Quality, who finished fourth. Though disappointed with falling short in his first Derby, the Louisville-born trainer was encouraged by both finishing in the top four of the 19-horse field.

After a head-scratching sixth in the Louisiana Derby, Mandaloun provided a pleasant surprise on Saturday by chasing Medina Spirit down the stretch before falling half a length short. Cox insisted that Essential Quality was the Derby’s best horse and created extra distance for himself in the turns trying to contend.

“He ran a huge race, very proud of his effort, he and Mandaloun,” Cox said. “He was fourth-best at a mile and a quarter. He lost a lot of ground around both turns.” Cox asked if he wanted to run the Preakness, “I have a desire if I feel like my horses are doing well. I really have to base it off of them.”

Summary show

Baffert might throw another one of his pupils into the Preakness mix.

He preceded his availability with reporters by working for Concert Tour, which finished third in the Arkansas Derby. A decision by owners Gary and Mary West looms for the colt with three wins.

In the meantime, Baffert basked in the afterglow of Medina Spirit’s most significant victory.

His lone Derby entrant was somewhat under the radar at 12-1 odds following consecutive second-place finishes, including one against Rock Your World in the Santa Anita Derby. Medina Spirit quickly set the line behind him, covering the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.02.

The two-time Triple Crown winner was careful not to make any projections about his latest Derby champ, whom he briefly paraded in front of a gathering outside his barn. Baffert then led him inside for a well-deserved rest before his next chapter.

“It was just a thrill to watch him do it and fight on,” Baffert said. “He came back; he’s handling it quite well. He wasn’t as tired as I thought he might be. A big race like that, but he handled it quite well.”

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports