Baffert’s Brigade

By Ron Correll
Senior columnist
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We learned two things from the split divisions of the Rebel Stakes on March 16 at Oaklawn Park; it looked like both Game Winner and Improbable needed a race and Long Range Toddy will be over bet going into future races.

Improbable may have been a little rusty but I would wonder about the City Zip pedigree going longer. We’ll see how he handles a mile-and-an-eighth race.

Trainer Bob Baffert called an audible and it looks like he’ll send Mucho Gusto to the Sunland Derby on March 24 in New Mexico. I’m dropping him from the Top 10 until he races again.I was impressed with Omaha Beach the way he dug back in after it looked like Game Winner was going to go right by him. I will give Galilean (third in the Rebel) another chance since this was his first try in open company and he was in an early speed duel.

War of Will, a son of War Front, will face 11 foes in the Louisiana Derby on March 23. He sits comfortably atop the points list with 60.

Code of Honor won the Fountain of Youth on March 2 at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. The son of Noble Mission has 54 points and probably will come back on March 30 in the Florida Derby.

Game Winner, a son of Candy Ride, drops one spot after the Rebel. He has 45 points.

Omaha Beach looks like a tough colt that will put up a fight. The son of War Front has 37.5 points.

Improbable couldn’t hold off Long Range Toddy in the Rebel. This son of City Zip has 25 points.

Long Range Toddy has the pedigree (Take Charge Indy) for the Classic distances. He has 53.5 points.

Haikal was the surprise winner in the Gotham on March 9 at Aqueduct. Is he really that good or did he benefit from fractions of 22.36, 44.42 and 1:09.23 for six furlong? The colts that were setting those fractions ran second, third and fourth and all within a neck of each other. The son of Daaher has 50 points.

Tacitus, an offspring of Tapit, surprised everybody in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs. He picked up 50 points in the process and that should give him a place in the Kentucky Derby starting gate, but I think he’ll run one more time before the big race.

Country House, a son of Lookin at Lucky, was second in the Risen Star and comes back in Louisiana Derby. He has 20 points and probably needs more.

Bourbon War was second in the Fountain of Youth. The son of Tapit has 21 points.