Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Trainer Bob Baffert already has one
three- year-old with a derby win this year. On Sunday he may have
established another of his colts as the favorite for next month's Santa
Anita Derby.
Preachinatthebar, ridden by Javier Santiago, held off St. Averil to capture
the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park. The time for the
1 1/16 miles was 1:42 4/5.
Santiago is the rider for Baffert's Wimbledon, the winner of the recently
run Louisiana Derby. Preachinatthebar was ridden for the first time by
Santiago in the San Felipe.
Preachinatthebar is owned by Mike Pegram, whose Real Quiet won the 1998
Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The three-year-old posted his first
stakes victory and won $150,000. The gray colt won for only the second time
in seven career starts.
St. Averil was beaten by a nose after making a big move through the
stretch. Finshing third was Harvard Avenue, followed by Cheiron, Last Minute
Detail, Odds On, Action This Day, and Toasted. Laditude unseated jockey
Mike Smith at the start after crashing into the starting gate.
Eclipse Award winner Action This Day has now lost both of his 2004 starts.
He was fourth in the Sham Stakes in which Preachinatthebar was third.
Preachinatthebar returned $19.20, $6.60 and $4.60. St. Averil paid $3.20
and $2.80, and Harvard Avenue paid $5.20 for show.
