Speaking of Baffert, his Saturday horses in the BC Races:

Splendora: Last raced Sept. 1
Hope Road: Last raced Aug. 23. 2nd race off a layoff since May, 2025.
Richi: Last raced Sept. 28. 3RD OFF A LAYOFF.
Imagination: Last raced Sept. 28. 2nd off a layoff since Jan, 2025.
Seismic Beauty: Last raced Aug. 2. That was her first race since May, 2025. Near 90 days since her last.
Nevada Beach: Last raced Sept. 27. 2nd off a layoff since June, 2025. 5th career start facing older as the "Other, Other, Other 3yo" of the Classic group.
Goal Oriented: Last Raced Sept. 20. 2nd off a layoff since July, 2025.
Nysos: Last raced July 26.
Citizen Bull: Last raced Aug.31. Prior race was June 7th.

Mandella:

Tamara: Last raced Oct.4, 2nd off layoff since Nov, 2024
Kopion: Last raced Aug. 2nd
Big City Lights: Last raced Jan 18. Has only lost to 4 horses in his career. The Chosen Vron, Raging Torrent, Happy Jack and Dr. Venkman who is in the race. Not a bad list for a Cal bred.

Blacker:

Straight No Chaser: Last raced Sept. 28, 2nd off a layoff since April, 2025 (lame in front leg after that April race)

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California trainers bringing in their Dirt horses FRESH except for Richi. I am making the assumption this is by design and that these horses are fit, ready, and dangerous b/c of whatever the current rules of the game are these days. I am not allowing the layoffs to influence my decisions.