The Hopeful for 3yo colts at Sar today.

A few facts:

1. Bob Baffert scratched his $2 million horse Muth not long before the card started today.

2. The Hopeful has been set on the calendar at September 4th for a while. Last Grade 1 of the meet on Labor Day for many, many years and closing weekend probably forever I'd guess.

3. The Hopeful has been set at the 7 furlong distance for a while. (Since 1994).

4. This year's Hopeful was won by a 54-1 shot for Gary Contessa with a MSW Delaware win. The horse cost $12,000.

5. Bob Baffert stated that "It was coming back a little quick and I looked at that field and it's pretty salty." He is also quoted that he is going to run Muth in the American Pharaoh at 1 1/16 miles. "It's two turns. I think it's [Hopeful] coming back quick from the Best Pal and I want to re-route him - give him more time."

6. Bob Baffert shipped the horse all the way to Saratoga knowing the date of the Hopeful in relation to the Best Pal and knowing the distance in advance.

6. Last year's Hopeful winner Forte tested positive in the Hopeful Stakes but the results were not released or made public until it was leaked in early May in a story by the NY Times.

7. Contessa beat Cox, Pletcher, Pletcher, Baffert, Asmussen, Asmussen, and Lukas for the grade 1 win today.

Conclusion: I will let the intelligent minds that read the board put together their own conclusions from here.

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The Torrey Pines for 3yo at Del Mar on Sept. 2nd.

A few facts:

1. Bob Baffert scratched his horse Faiza who drew the 9 hole in the one mile dirt race (two turns with a short run into the first turn).

2. Bob Baffert essentially stated the 9 post position as the reason for the scratch. "Impossible to win from there" is the quote to Scott Hazelton cited in a bloodhorse article.

3. The 10 horse out of post position 8 after scratches won the race.

Conclusion: I'll let the great minds that read the board make any conclusions if they so choose.

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In 2021, Baffert scratched Medina Spirit and Private Mission from the Pennsylvania Derby and the Cotillion at Parx. He cited the post position for Medina Spirit as a reason for the scratch. "I don't like the way he drew" he told Tim Wilkin.

Post positions 6, 7, and 8 in the 8 horse field ran 1, 2, and 3 in that race. Hot Rod Charlie was in the 2-3 path in front almost all the way around and drifted out to at least the 5-6 path at the TOS and down the Str.

Baffert is a Hall of Fame trainer that didn't know that the outside post was favorable for Medina Spirit? It would be mind boggling if you actually believe that. And further that the 2 scratches listed above from this weekend for similarly flimsy and nonsensical reasons are actually why he scratched.

As for Medina Spirit, he died less than 3 months later (from date of Pa Derby) on December 6th following a workout.

I've always figured he just had bad luck with that horse.