Paynter aimed for the Grade 3, $200,000 Derby Trial at Churchill Downs on 28th April
Trainer Bob Baffert is taking the career of his three-year-old Paynter, Awesome Again’s colt out of mare, Tizso, very seriously and wants the lightly raced colt to gradually improve and retain the consistency that he has delivered in the first two career
starts.
“I don’t know if we’d think about going back in the [May 19] Preakness if he won because right now we’re just taking it one race at a time,” he said.
He is a serious contender for the Grade 3, $200,000 Derby Trial that is to be raced over a mile on dirt at Churchill Downs. The line-up for the opening of the spring meet comprises of eleven contenders.
It did not take the three-year-old beyond the first try to claim the maiden special weight on 18th February at Santa Anita over five and a half furlongs. He led the field and dominated the track in a minute and :02.98 seconds, leading the runner
up by 4 ¼ lengths.
Galloping right behind were Gophari and El Bronco.
Paynter’s fourth position in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita over 1 1/8 miles on 7th April is a cherished memory for Bob Baffert as Awesome Again’s colt performed and ended decently in the stakes debut. He was adrift by 3 ¾ lengths
behind the Kentucky Derby candidate, I’ll Have Another.
He crossed the wire after I’ll Have Another, Creative Cause and Blueskiesnrainbows.
The Derby Trial was won by Machen last year who went through the mile’s distance in a minute and :35.47 seconds while riding with Edgar Prado.
The meeting that extends over the period of thirty-nine days will spark off with the 88th racing of the Trial and the feature for the meet stands out to be the 138th running of the Grade 1, $200,000 Kentucky Derby which is scheduled
for 5th May.
The other significant races throughout the meet include the Grade 1, $ 1 million Kentucky Oaks that will be held on 4th May while 16th of June will bring the 31st running of the Grade 1 $400,000 Stephen Foster Handicap.
If Paynter gets to shoot off the meet with a victory, there will be nothing more joyous for the trainer, Bob Baffert.
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