Baffert Completes Weekend Sweep

Favored Love That Red rallied along the rail approaching the stretch and went on to win the $150,000 Pat O’Brien Handicap Sunday and give trainer Bob Baffert a sweep of the weekend stakes.

Love That Red was second to Kona Gold, arguably the top sprinter in the country, in the Bing Crosby Breeders’ Cup Handicap three weeks earlier. But this time Love That Red took advantage of Kona Gold’s absence and a horrible start for Elaborate to win for the eighth time in 17 starts for owner Terry Wells.

In the process, he gave Baffert his first victory in the Grade II race and remained unbeaten in three races at seven furlongs. When trained by Leonard Duncan, whom Baffert replaced, Love That Red had won the Malibu at Santa Anita and the Laz Barrera at Hollywood Park at the distance.

Love That Red stayed close to a moderate pace set by Cliquot, the 19-10 second choice, and took over with about a quarter of a mile to run under jockey Corey Nakatani. He won by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:22 4/5.

Cliquot finished second, a neck in front of Son Of A Pistol; then came Grady and Elaborate, the 2-1 third choice who was eliminated when he went in the air at the break and nearly unseated jockey Victor Espinoza.

“He’s all heart,” said Baffert, who had won the La Jolla Handicap the previous day with Purely Cozzene. “He’s a very competitive horse who got a perfect trip today. I’m pretty excited. This is the first time I’ve ever won this race.”

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Dream Supreme became a two-time Grade I winner at Saratoga with a come-from-behind score in the $250,000 Ballerina Handicap.

Three weeks after winning the Test against her own age group, the 3-year-old Seeking The Gold filly beat her elders.

Dream Supreme, the 9-2 third choice, won by nearly three lengths in completing the seven furlongs in 1:22 4/5. She is owned by George Steinbrenner’s Kinsman Stable and trained by Bill Mott.

Before the race was official, Dream Supreme had to survive a foul claim by Wayne Lukas, the trainer of also-ran Cash Run, for alleged interference in the stretch. The claim was dismissed by the stewards.

Affected in the bumping between Dream Supreme and Cash Run was 11-10 favorite Honest Lady, who was severely impeded while trying to rally along the rail. Honest Lady, trained by Bobby Frankel, had to settle for fourth.

Horse Racing Notes

Edneator, a 41-1 shot who had lost 10 of his previous 11 starts, tied the track record and won the $250,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash. Edneator, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell for Homestretch Farm and trainer Jim Penney, completed the distance in 1:33 1/5. Big Ten, ridden by Alex Solis for trainer Richard Mandella, was second and Crafty Boy third. . . . Jockey Matt Garcia begins a 10-day suspension today after being cited for “willfully impeding another horse” while finishing next-to-last on Diabolique Dancer in Thursday’s fifth race at Del Mar. Garcia elbowed jockey Robby Albarado, who was riding Anstar, on the far turn, and that was the second time it happened that day, according to Albarado.