Baffert, Point Given among Hall of Fame finalists

[Kasept]

Baffert among Hall of Fame finalists
By Jay Privman

http://www.drf.com/news/article/101886.html

Trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, is on the ballot for the first time as a finalist for the Hall of Fame, it was announced Tuesday by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Baffert is one of just two finalists for trainer along with the late Bob Wheeler, mirroring last year's ballot, when Wheeler was a finalist with Carl Nafzger, who was elected.

A minimum of two and maximum of four finalists can be named in four categories, according to rules currently in place by the Hall of Fame. In the other three categories, there were three finalists each. According to the Hall's current rules, only one can get in from each category, unless there is a tie for first.

Eddie Maple, Randy Romero, and Alex Solis - all of whom have been finalists before - are the jockeys up for election.

Best Pal, Point Given, and Tiznow are the finalists in the contemporary male category.

The contemporary female category numbers Open Mind, Silverbulletday, and Sky Beauty.

Baffert trained Point Given and Silverbulletday.

The 11 finalists were chosen from a pool of 91 nominees by the Hall's 16-member nominating committee. A total of 180 people will receive ballots. The winners will be inducted in Saratoga Springs on Aug. 14.

[slotdirt]

I think Baffert is deserving at this point, and if forced to choose between Best Pal, Point Given, and Tiznow, I'd go with Tiznow without hesitation.

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Baffert among Hall of Fame finalists
By Jay Privman

Trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, is on the ballot for the first time as a finalist for the Hall of Fame, it was announced Tuesday by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Baffert is one of just two finalists for trainer along with the late Bob Wheeler, mirroring last year's ballot, when Wheeler was a finalist with Carl Nafzger, who was elected.

A minimum of two and maximum of four finalists can be named in four categories, according to rules currently in place by the Hall of Fame. In the other three categories, there were three finalists each. According to the Hall's current rules, only one can get in from each category, unless there is a tie for first.

Eddie Maple, Randy Romero, and Alex Solis - all of whom have been finalists before - are the jockeys up for election.

Best Pal, Point Given, and Tiznow are the finalists in the contemporary male category.

The contemporary female category numbers Open Mind, Silverbulletday, and Sky Beauty.

Baffert trained Point Given and Silverbulletday.

The 11 finalists were chosen from a pool of 91 nominees by the Hall's 16-member nominating committee. A total of 180 people will receive ballots. The winners will be inducted in Saratoga Springs on Aug. 14.

steve - i was a fan of steady edidie but are any of these 3 really hall of famer?

i think of cordero , vasquez, day , mccaron , bailey to name a few but i don't know about these 3 - any thoughts if any of the 3 will make it?

[Kasept]

Compared to some in there, like Smith and Kent D., Romero and Maple were certainly HOF worthy..

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Compared to some in there, like Smith and Kent D., Romero and Maple were certainly HOF worthy..

agreed -

[sumitas]

What is Baffert's record insofar as suspensions for drug abuse of his horses ?

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Compared to some in there, like Smith and Kent D., Romero and Maple were certainly HOF worthy..

How about Earlie Fires? Isn't he in there?

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by sumitas

What is Baffert's record insofar as suspensions for drug abuse of his horses ?

There was the morphine suspension in 2001 that eventually got thrown out in court. Don't know if there were any others.

[KirisClown]

It's time for Sky Beauty to finally get in...

[Danzig]

here's hoping for randy romero!! but then, i've said that a few times before.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

There was the morphine suspension in 2001 that eventually got thrown out in court. Don't know if there were any others.

Wasn't there a controversy regarding War Emblem after Baffert took over for Reavis, a drug to help out his joints?

[slotdirt]

War Emblem was always rumored to have been nerve blocked in the Belmont, but what do I know?

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Compared to some in there, like Smith and Kent D., Romero and Maple were certainly HOF worthy..

I beg to differ. At least Kent can ride when he wants to and actually has a strong sense of pace/race dynamics. Maple was a wide riding, clueless clown whose best attribute was that he was WHITE, and how Romero ever got in the mix (and Solis) is just flat out ridiculous. Romero? Solis? Maple? What is this the SPECIAL, the CHALLENGED Hall of Fame for jocks? Who's next, Luzzi and Potts?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

if forced to choose between Best Pal, Point Given, and Tiznow, I'd go with Tiznow without hesitation.

I'd give a razor thin edge to Best Pal - but he doesn't have a shot because he's paired with two other West Coast horses.

In BP's career - he was just 1-for-9 when he ran at a track outside of the Southern Cal circuit. He might edge out Tiznow and Point Given slightly as far as West Coast voters go ... but I doubt he gets a single vote outside of the West.

Tiznow was 3-for-4 and Point Given 5-for-8 outside of So Cal.

All of these three horses each had a run where they strung together four outstanding race.

For Best Pal it was '91:

* Won the Gr 2 San Fernando by 3.5 lengths over Olympio with a 121 Beyer

* Won the Grade 1 Strub by 1.25 lengths over Dinard with a 119.

* Won the Grade 1 Big Cap by 5.50 lengths over Twighlight Agenda with a 123

* Won the Grade 1 Oaklawn Park Cap by 1.25 lengths over Sea Cadet with a 121

For Tiznow it was '00:

* 2nd in Pacific Classic to Skimming with 115 Beyer

* Won the Super Derby by 6 with a 114 Beyer

* Won the Goodwood by a half length with a 119

* Won the Breeders Cup Classic over Giant's Causeway with a 117


For Point Given it was '01:

Winning the Preakness, Belmont (by 12+), Haskell, and Travers with 111, 114, 106, 117.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by CSC

Wasn't there a controversy regarding War Emblem after Baffert took over for Reavis, a drug to help out his joints?

He took over from Frank Springer. War Emblem dusted my future book bet Repent by 6+ lengths and got a 112 Beyer in his final Derby prep.

Considering the pokey pace in that years Derby - and WE's candy trip - I doubt Baffert moved him up a yard.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I beg to differ. At least Kent can ride when he wants to and actually has a strong sense of pace/race dynamics. Maple was a wide riding, clueless clown whose best attribute was that he was WHITE, and how Romero ever got in the mix (and Solis) is just flat out ridiculous. Romero? Solis? Maple? What is this the SPECIAL, the CHALLENGED Hall of Fame for jocks? Who's next, Luzzi and Potts?

I agree.

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I agree.

hall of fame s/b tough tough tough to get into , even above avg riders should not get in , but once 1 gets in , then u can make a point for many other above avg riders

[philcski]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I think Baffert is deserving at this point, and if forced to choose between Best Pal, Point Given, and Tiznow, I'd go with Tiznow without hesitation.

At first instinct that's what I thought too, but after thinking about it more I'm not so sure. I still think so but it's closer than I originally thought. Best Pal was pretty awesome for a long time, and thoroughly dominated the Cal racing scene for 5 years. I always think of him as a great older horse but he swept the important Cal 2yo races, and ran 2nd in the Derby. Point Given, I was never a huge fan but it's hard to argue against his massive ability- his Belmont was one of the best performances I've ever seen live.

Gun to my head I still say Tiznow.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Tiznow is 1/5 to take it in my opinion.

The filly and mare three are actually much harder to split. Sky Beauty has the same problem Best Pal has ... all of her success came on one circuit and her record was not impressive at all away from it.

I think Silverbulletday should win it ... but I'd make her just 13/10 to get it.

[KirisClown]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Tiznow is 1/5 to take it in my opinion.

The filly and mare three are actually much harder to split. Sky Beauty has the same problem Best Pal has ... all of her success came on one circuit and her record was not impressive at all away from it.

I think Silverbulletday should win it ... but I'd make her just 13/10 to get it.

Out of curiosity.. how did Silverbulletday do outside of age restricted races?