Prime Timber Stuns Exploit in San Felipe

Trainer Bob Baffert, as expected, won a stakes race for 3-year-olds in New Orleans and another at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Form followed in the $372,900 Fair Grounds Oaks in New Orleans, where heavily favored Silverbulletday did her thing against six overmatched opponents.

But there was a surprise in the $250,000 San Felipe in Arcadia, where the Baffert-trained Prime Timber was a winner over 7-10 favorite Exploit, also trained by Baffert.

Exploit, the future book favorite for the Kentucky Derby, lost for the first time in six career starts.

Prime Timber, also trained by Baffert, responded to the addition of blinkers and won the San Felipe, beating Exploit by two lengths in 1:42 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Owned by Aaron and Marie Jones, the Sultry Song colt and 5-2 second choice won for the third time in five starts and was ridden to perfection by jockey David Flores.

Content to lay several lengths off the pace set by High Wire Act, the 3-1 third choice, Prime Timber swung to the outside at the top of the stretch, collared Exploit with about a sixteenth of a mile to go and drew away.

“I was patient until the last turn, then I asked him to pick it up a little bit and it took a little while for him to do it,” said Flores, who was aboard the winner for the first time. “But, once he changed leads, he really took off and the farther he went, the better he got.”

Exploit, who finished half a length in front of High Wire Act, had no excuses and Saturday’s performance raised some serious doubts about his ability to go 1 1/4 miles, the distance of the Kentucky Derby.

With Baffert in Louisiana, assistant trainer Eoin Harty saddled Prime Timber and Exploit, as well as Finder’s Gold, who ran fourth. Harty said both Prime Timber and Exploit probably will return in the Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

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In New Orleans, Silverbulletday was in the clear throughout under jockey Gary Stevens, took the lead without much encouragement into the stretch and won by three lengths in 1:44 4/5 over a sloppy track. She paid $2.60 as the 3-10 choice for owner Mike Pegram. It was Silverbulletday’s eighth win in nine starts.

Horse Racing Notes

Excellent Meeting is the overwhelming 1-5 favorite to beat five opponents in the $250,000 Santa Anita Oaks today. She has won four of her last five for trainer Bob Baffert and owners John and Betty Mabee. . . . Trainer Randy Bradshaw, who had Abacus Andy test positive for a prohibited substance last Nov. 13 at Hollywood Park, has been suspended for 15 days by the Santa Anita stewards. The suspension runs from March 16-30 and Bradshaw will begin his new position as Wayne Lukas’ chief assistant in California on April 1. . . . General Challenge is the 9-5 favorite against seven other 3-year-olds in the $600,000-added Louisiana Derby today at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Gary Stevens will be aboard the unbeaten son of General Meeting and his main opposition will come from Ecton Park, the upset winner of the Risen Star over the track on Feb. 21, and 1998 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Answer Lively. . . . Jockey Corey Nakatani had three victories Saturday at Santa Anita. He won the third with Virginie, who remained unbeaten in eight starts as she overcame a nightmarish trip, the eighth with Scattergun and the ninth with 6-1 shot Power Game.