General Challenge Is Third at 1-5 Odds

Not winning the Santa Anita Derby for the first time in three years was far from the worst thing that happened to trainer Bob Baffert over the weekend.

A day after his Captain Steve had to settle for third behind the Jenine Sahadi-trained The Deputy and War Chant, General Challenge--supposedly the best horse in the country and the 1-5 favorite against four seemingly outclassed rivals in the $159,150 San Bernardino Handicap at Santa Anita--was defeated.

Early Pioneer, the longest shot in the field at nearly 27-1, was the upset winner of the Grade II race, outrunning New York-based David in the final furlong to win by a head in 1:49 for the 1 1/8 miles.

General Challenge, who had won the Strub Stakes and Santa Anita Handicap earlier in the meet and theoretically using the San Bernardino as a prep for next month’s Pimlico Special, trailed by at least 10 lengths most of the way while David set a very slow pace. Although he was only defeated about 2 1/2 lengths, he was never a serious threat and finished third.

It was the biggest victory of a 28-race career for the five-year-old Early Pioneer, trained by Vladimir Cerin for owners David and Holly Wilson and ridden by Matt Garcia. Minutes after the San Bernardino was official, Tuzla--also trained by Baffert--finished fourth in a five-horse field at 1-2 odds in the $100,000 Miss America Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. Penny Marie, at 7-2 odds, won the race.