Blazing Sunset Sets Pace in Alydar Stakes

When Bob Baffert sent Wanna Runner out to win the $300,000 Lone Star Derby on Saturday, it gave the 53-year-old trainer 11 stakes victories with six 3-year-olds this year.

Baffert could have made that 12 at Hollywood Park on Sunday had previously unbeaten Neko Bay prevailed, but Blazing Sunset had other ideas.

Tyler Baze rode the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred to an impressive wire-to-wire victory in the $65,000-added Alydar Stakes, crossing the finish line in 1:49.01 for the 1 1/8 miles and beating Neko Bay by 1 3/4 lengths.

Greedy Way finished third, another 5 1/2 lengths back, under jockey Victor Espinoza.

Blazing Sunset got out fast and never relinquished the lead. Greedy Way and Three Points chased him most of the way around, with Neko Bay and jockey Corey Nakatani trailing in the field of six before making their move on the turn.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said Baze rode exactly the right race.

“Tyler did a great job,” he said. “The other couple of speed horses weren’t sure if they should chase him or sit. They gave us a breather and he ran great.”

Baze was not concerned about being caught by Neko Bay in the stretch.

“There wasn’t a worry at the five-sixteenths pole,” he said. “When he took a nice deep breath and I asked him to go, he really accelerated. He had a nice turn of foot. I knew when we opened up by four or five lengths right there that he’d be tough to catch.”

Nakatani said Neko Bay’s uncertain start out of the gate had not caused the horse’s first defeat in three races.

“He didn’t get away that great, but that wasn’t going to change his style,” Nakatani said. “As souped up as they had the racetrack all day, speed won every race. Go watch it. That’s just the way they have it today.

“My horse ran a great race and finished second.”

Neko Bay had edged Blazing Sunset in a three-horse photo finish last time out. Blazing Sunset was a clear winner Sunday.

“He’s a real nice horse,” Baze said. “He’s got talent. He kind of disappointed me the first time I rode him. I really thought he’d win, or run a lot better than he did.

“Today, he just showed what he can do.”

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At Belmont Park on Sunday, jockey Javier Castellano brought Dave home a winner in the $114,100 Kingston Handicap, rallying down the stretch to beat Golden Communicator by a length in the race for New York-breds. Pa Pa Da finished third.

The 5-year-old gelding covered the 1 1/8 miles on the turf in 1:49.13 in his first start for trainer Barclay Tagg. It was Dave’s sixth victory in 24 starts, all but one of the wins coming on the turf. The gelding is owned by Three Colleens Stable.