Medina Spirit Gives Baffert a Record-Breaking Seventh Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

Given a 12-1 chance some might have attributed to so-called 'Baffert money', Zedan Racing Stable's MEDINA SPIRIT (c, 3, Protonico–Mongolian Changa, by Brilliant Speed) found his way to the front–in large part because second favorite Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) found all sorts of trouble at the break–set a moderate pace and turned back a tenacious stretch bid from 'TDN Rising Star' Mandaloun (Into Mischief) to give Bob Baffert a record-breaking seventh victory in the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. John Velazquez seized the early initiative aboard the $1,000 OBS Winter Mixed Yearling turned $35,000 OBS July breezer and got the opening quarter in :23.09, as Mandaloun settled in the perfect spot in third. By the half in :46.70 with positions largely unchanged, Medina Spirit took them into the second turn as favored Essential Quality (Tapit) was launching a four-wide bid around a pushed-on Helium (Ironicus). Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), a forward factor throughout, came with a three-path bid between rivals and the stage was set for a four-way battle to the judge. Medina Spirit looked like he was there for the taking by Mandaloun, who shadowed his every move, but try as he might, the Juddmonte runner could not quite claw him back and Medina Spirit was home first, allowing Baffert to break the record of Ben Jones. Hot Rod Charlie fought bravely for third, just ahead of Essential Quality, who suffered his first career defeat. It was a second consecutive victory for John Velazquez, who won aboard Authentic (Into Mischief) last September. Sales history: $1,000 Ylg '19 OBSWIN; $35,000 2yo '20 OBSJUN. Lifetime Record: 6-3-3-0. O-Zedan Racing Stables; B-Gail Rice (FL); T-Bob Baffert.

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