It was a whirlwind hour of emotions for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert on Thurby evening at Churchill Downs May 1.
Not too long after it was announced that his Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner, Rodriguez, was scratched from the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) with a foot issue, he took down the $199,740 St. Matthews Overnight Stakes with Fort Bragg.
The triumph from the 5-year-old son of Tapit was Baffert's first stakes win beneath the twin spires since he was suspended from the track for three years after Medina Spirit was disqualified from his 2021 Kentucky Derby victory following a failed postrace drug test.
"We brought some nice horses here to win on the undercard," Baffert said. "That's what I miss most about Churchill: I miss the undercard races. They're so great. It's good to start out with a win."
Jockey Juan Hernandez got Fort Bragg into a perfect stalking position in third behind Champlin and stablemate Speed Boat Beach. Champlin held strong in the stretch after quick fractions of :21.10 and :43.67, but Fort Bragg was able to wear him down by the wire for a 1 1/2-length win. Happy Is a Choice closed for third.
Fort Bragg completed six furlongs in 1:08.04 and paid $14.54 to win. Fort Bragg had run second, beaten just a neck, in his only other start at Churchill Downs, one of the reasons Baffert chose to ship him from California in search of a first stakes win since the 2023 Dwyer Stakes (G3).
"I thought he would like this," Baffert said. "He likes this track. I figured it was a good place to bring him back."
Baffert was also pleased to give the owners something to celebrate. SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan are all partners in Rodriguez and are joined in ownership of Fort Bragg by Jay Schoenfarber. He was bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock and Henry Field Bloodstock.
Speed Boat Beach, the 8-5 favorite, was vanned off after fading to last in the stretch. Baffert reported that the horse bled and was getting a courtesy ride home.
Video: St. Matthews Overnight S. (BT)
Brilliant Berti Gets Back on Track in Opening Verse
One of the top 3-year-olds on turf in 2024, Brilliant Berti bounced back in his second start as a 4-year-old with a gutsy win in the $346,250 Opening Verse Stakes.
The grade 3 winner ran a disappointing eighth off a five-month layoff in the 1 1/8-mile Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots March 22. He was cross-entered in both the Opening Verse and the Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) May 3, but trainer Cherie DeVaux ultimately decided for the one-mile spot to help boost his confidence for the remainder of the year.
"We had a lot of conversation about that," Devaux said of the decision. "We wanted to do what he was really successful at, which is the mile distance. We were just trying to get the year moving on the right foot. We'll definitely eye bigger targets from here, we just wanted, for his confidence, to make sure he's still the same and can move forward through the year."
He showed the customary turn of foot he had exhibited in his sophomore campaign after settling midpack behind fractions of :24.12, :48.40, and 1:11.87. With Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard, the Klein Racing homebred outdueled Lagynos in the stretch for a half-length win.
His performance in Louisiana did little to deter the gamblers, paying $5.74 as the favorite while completing the mile in 1:34.93.
"The race at Fair Grounds was just a little tricky across the board, it wasn't him," DeVaux said. "He's always run well here (at Churchill Downs). It's nice to get him back."
Video: Opening Verse S. (BT)
Ward Eyeing Breeders' Cup with Pinky Finger
While Fort Bragg and Brilliant Berti were getting back on track, Pinky Finger was staying consistent as she beat the colts in a gate-to-wire victory in the $246,500 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes. The victory had owner and trainer Wesley Ward dreaming of bigger targets down the road.
Breaking sharp, the Army Mule filly bred in Kentucky by SpearmaCo received plenty of pressure early through fractions of :21.61 and :45.08. Although she appeared to be slowing down at the close of the five-furlong event, she was able to hold off Maximus Prime's late charge for a half-length win in :58.32 under Joel Rosario. Ward-trained stablemate Double Talker was third.
"They went after her early on and Joel knows this filly very well," Ward said. "Right from the first jump he had a hold of her. As much as she got weakened early because that horse pressed us, he saved some for the finish."
Now 2-for-2 to start her career, Ward said he'd consider taking Pinky Finger to the Royal Ascot meeting in June. However, his ultimate goal is the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar Oct. 31.
"That's a track that favors speed, it's five-eighths right on the mark," Ward said. "I think if she goes into that race as sound and happy as she is here, that's really what I'm looking for."
While Pinky Finger is on target for the Breeders' Cup, Ward is already planning beyond the World Championships for some international travel of his own. He was joined in the winner's circle Thursday by Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse.
"Gai's been trying to get me down (to Australia) for about 15 years now," Ward said. "I promised her this year that I'm going to make a serious effort to get down after the Breeders' Cup."
