General Challenge, Kafwain Are Retired

Trainer Bob Baffert, who will try to win the Hollywood Gold Cup for a second time when he saddles Congaree on Sunday, lost two horses in his barn to retirement this week.

Kafwain, a 3-year-old son of Cherokee Run, and General Challenge, a 7-year-old gelding, won’t be competing anymore.

Owned by the Thoroughbred Corp., Kafwain suffered a tendon injury while preparing for the Kentucky Derby in late April and the decision was made earlier this week not to bring him back to the races.

He finished with four victories in 11 starts, including stakes victories in the Norfolk and Best Pal as a 2-year-old and the San Vicente last winter at Santa Anita.

After a layoff of about 2 1/2 years, General Challenge returned to racing earlier this year but was beaten badly in his three starts, including a 29-length defeat in an allowance race Saturday.

Owned by Betty Mabee, General Challenge finished with nine victories from 21 starts and earnings of nearly $2.9 million.

He won the Santa Anita Derby and Pacific Classic in 1999, and the Strub and Santa Anita Handicap the next year.

Race of the day: Native Desert, the 10-year-old gelding who has earned more than $1.8 million, will try for his 22nd career victory in today’s second at Hollywood Park.

The $58,000 optional claimer at a mile on the turf also attracted Doc Holiday, Trompolino, Soud and Bayou The Moon.

Owned by Miguel Rubio and trained by Juan Garcia, Native Desert has six victories on the Hollywood Park turf.

One for the road: Shadow Play makes her first start since Oct. 3 for trainer Christophe Clement in today’s sixth at Belmont Park.

The 1 1/4-mile race for maiden fillies and mares has a field of eight and Shadow Play should relish the distance being by Theatrical out of a Jade Hunter mare. She also adds Lasix and gets a jockey upgrade to Edgar Prado.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Thundermann, Shadow Of Illinois and Sporting Lad in the sixth, singling Dhamma in the seventh and using Valmer, Flying Heart and Musical Review in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/152. Money: Previous day/meet total: $12.80/$806.40. Total money bet: $966.