Baffert delighted after The Factor drew the outside post for the Malibu Stakes
Bob Baffert trained, The Factor, in his last two starts drew the rail and got bogged down for space after powering into the lead in the initial stages of the race, but for the Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu Stakes, the Kentucky bred 3-year-old colt drew the outside
post much to his conditioner’s delight.
The Malibu Stakes will be held on the opening day of the Santa Anita meet at Santa Anita Park on 26 December, 2011, and the race has reeled in 11, 2-year-old colts and gelding to run over a distance of seven furlongs on dirt.
“The outside is a much better spot for The Factor,” said Baffert. The son of War Front, out of mare Greyciousness by Miswaki, The Factor drew the rail in the Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes at Santa Anita on 8 October, 2011.
He gave way badly after setting a hot pace in the beginning as Amazombie and Irrefutable passed The Factor like he was an ordinary long shot pace setter, and it cost him the race as he finished 4th in the six furlong event on dirt.
The Factor drew the rail again in his most important race of the season, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on 5 November, 2011, where the sprinter was asked to run over a mile for the first time in his career.
However, the colt bolted out of the gate and looked ominous, but the rail was his downfall yet again as he gave way to Caleb’s Posse and wilted badly to finish eighth on the day.
For the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, The Factor is sent off as the 7 to 2 lukewarm favourite to win the race, and his chances have drastically improved after drawing the outside post.
Baffert was asked if The Factor would be tried once again from the outside post if given the chance, Baffert said “I don’t know. I just let Martin ride his race. There’s a lot of speed in there, so I just let my jockeys ride their race and see what happens.
I quit giving instructions. If you have to give instructions (to jockeys), you shouldn’t use them.”
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