Baffert’s Day Doesn’t Go as Planned

Things didn’t go quite as planned for trainer Bob Baffert and owners John and Betty Mabee on Sunday.

Excellent Meeting was supposed to romp in the $250,000 Santa Anita Oaks at Santa Anita but was extended by stablemate Tout Charmant before prevailing by a neck as the 1-10 favorite.

At least the 3-year-old General Meeting filly won. It was a different story for Baffert and the Mabees at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where the previously-unbeaten General Challenge finished fifth as the 9-10 choice in the $640,000 Louisiana Derby.

Kimberlite Pipe, a 21-1 shot, won a three-horse photo over 9-5 second choice and 4-1 third choice Ecton Park in New Orleans, surviving a stewards’ inquiry. Ridden by Robby Albarado for owners Prairie Star Racing and John Gunther and trained by Dallas Stewart, Kimberlite Pipe won in 1:43 2/5 for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track.

In Arcadia, Excellent Meeting, a winner of her last two starts by a combined 12 lengths, looked like she was going to win clear when she opened up a length after six furlongs. But Tout Charmant, who finished second to her in the Las Virgenes last month, didn’t give up and made it extremely interesting near the wire. They were 6 1/2 lengths clear of Gleefully, the longest shot in the field at 57-1.

In the end, Excellent Meeting got her sixth win in 10 starts by running the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 1/5. It remains to be seen if the four-time Grade I winner will return to take on males in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

“She didn’t run as well as I thought she would today,” said Mabee. “It might just have been an off day for her. “I have no idea [whether she’ll run in the Santa Anita Derby]. That’s up to [Baffert].”

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Wally Dollase, who signed a three-year contract in December 1997 to be the private trainer for Prince Ahmed bin Salman’s Thoroughbred Corp. has been fired. Dollase, 61, was told of the decision Saturday night by Richard Mulhall, the Thoroughbred Corp.’s racing manager, and several of the 39 horses at Santa Anita were moved or will soon be moved to other stables.

“We had a difference in philosophy and that’s all I want to say,” said Mulhall, not wishing to get into specifics.

According to Mulhall, four of the horses were turned over to trainer Richard Mandella. One was San Rafael Stakes winner and Santa Anita Derby probable Desert Hero. Another was Lazy Lode, who won the Hollywood Turf Cup last December and is probable for Sunday’s San Luis Rey Stakes.

Another four horses will go to Neil Drysdale and four more are expected to join Baffert’s ever-increasing stable.

The balance will be trained by Alex Hassinger, who will return to California after spending several years based in Kentucky and Florida. Hassinger once worked as a private trainer for Allen Paulson and was the original trainer of two-time Horse of the Year and all-time earnings leader Cigar.

Horse Racing Notes

Native Desert rallied from off the pace to beat Navel Academy by 2 1/2 lengths and win the $136,000 Crystal Water Handicap at Santa Anita. Ridden by David Flores for owner Miguel Rubio and trainer Juan Garcia, Native Desert paid $9.40 as the 7-2 third choice and covered the mile on turf in 1:34 3/5. Cavonnier, the 3-2 favorite making his first start on the turf, was sixth.

Staff writer Bill Christine contributed to this story.