Hypo Race - Baffert 3yos

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by RHT2004

Good stuff.
A bit off topic but with Baffert, what did you think of Roadster?

Looks like its going to be a battle of nature versus nurture with him.

He's by probably one the better sources of stamina right now (next to Tapit and Curlin) in Quality Road. He's also a half brother to Ascend, who is a Grade 1 winner at 10f (on the grass) and there is plenty of more stamina further along (his 3rd dam won at 10 furlongs and his kin includes Family Tree and recent Queen's Plate runner-up Telekenesis).

The horse himself seemed to switch off down the backstretch after being hustled along from the inside post to get a forward position, but rallied sharply into the far turn and won comfortably from there. Looks like he wants to settle and make one run.

The problem will be Baffert and Mike Smith. Baffert will want him up close and Smith will ride him like he's his "next big thing" which means you can expect stupid early moves and breakneck paces.

None of that nuture stuff will do him any favors, particularly with soundness concerns. The sire line is not noted for durability.