GOLDEN GLIMPSES #136

October 13, 1998

By ED GOLDEN

In 124 runnings of the Kentucky Derby, no trainer has won the race three straight years. But the clandestine sale of Bob Baffert’s most promising 1999 Derby prospect, Worldly Manner, has led to mention of a possible conspiracy that could keep Baffert from becoming the first to accomplish that feat on May 1 of next year.

But for a matter of inches in 1996, and the recent cloak and dagger sale of Worldly Manner--the future book Derby favorite and the pre-race choice to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile--the white-haired trainer could be gunning for No. 4 in a row.

Baffert saddled Cavonnier in the 1996 Derby. The California-bred son of Batonnier had the race won but was nailed on the money by Grindstone and missed by a nose.

Baffert won the world’s most famous race with Silver Charm in 1997 and again with Real Quiet this year, missing the Triple Crown on both occasions by less than a length.

As late as last week, there still was no official public word on who bought Worldly Manner from Golden Eagle Farm for a reported $5 million, only rumors and suppositions.

"It’s very quiet," said Baffert, who trained the colt before the transaction. "I know as much about it as you do. I do not know (who the new owner or trainer is). It’s a very quiet deal."

There was speculation that Worldly Manner was sold to Sheikh Mohammad. There was further speculation that he would ready the colt in Dubai for the Kentucky Derby.

The intrigue builds.

Consider this:

Whoever bought Worldly Manner, this much is known:

The sale took place on or around Oct. 1.

The 2-year-old Riverman colt was shipped on Oct. 4 to trainer Niall O’Callaghan’s barn in Kentucky before leaving there for an unknown locale in Lexington.

With each passing day, there is less chance Worldly Manner will make the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 7.

His workout schedule is gone with the wind. Now it would take a training regimen straight out of a Barry Fitzgerald movie to have him ready. No horse enters the starting gate for a Breeders’ Cup race without a steady string of workouts. And at this writing, Worldly Charm’s last workout was a five-furlong drill at Santa Anita on Sept. 21, when Baffert still trained him.

And farfetched or not, therein lies Baffert’s conspiracy theory.

"Whoever bought him, I don’t think they have any intention of running him in the Breeders’ Cup," said Baffert, strumming softly on his Gibson guitar in his tack room.

And if Worldly Manner does not run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, even as good as he is, he certainly can’t win it.

Perhaps the new owner wants to intentionally avoid that race, focusing instead on the 125th Kentucky Derby. Perhaps the new owner is well aware that since the inception of the Breeders’ Cup in 1984, no Juvenile winner has ever won the Derby.

"I think there’s a conspiracy out there to keep us from winning the Derby again, that’s all I can think of," Baffert said. "That’s all I can talk of right now--conspiracy."

With the sale of Worldly Manner, Baffert would have to win his third Derby in a row with one of his less-heralded 3-year-olds.

"Worldly Manner was my ace," Baffert said of the colt who has won three of four starts, including a smashing five-length victory in the Del Mar Futurity.

"I didn’t think I’d have to go to my bullpen. I still have a few good 2-year-old colts. I’ll take my time. Most of these horses, I’m a little behind with and I don’t want to rush them because they’re nice horses."

But they’re not Worldly Manner.

BEGUILING--Two-year-old had worst trip since Touch Gold in the 1997 Preakness. Daughter of Kris S. was 2-1 in her debut but will be odds-on next time.

GINGERBOY--Bottom-rung claimer is in top form and just missed on rail after encountering traffic. Next time, but you won’t get 12-1.

THE HOMESTRETCH: Add Baffert: "We’re trying to get Silver Charm back to his championship form, and I plan to run him in the Goodwood (on Saturday), then take him to Kentucky. If it looks like he’s training super, then we’ll put up the money ($480,000 supplemental fee) to run in the (Breeders’ Cup) Classic." . . . Trainer Eddie Gregson: "I have some horses that were injured last year at Hollywood that were among the most promising 2-year-olds I’ve had in years. I only got to run one at Del Mar and he ran with a sore shin and finished in mid-pack running. He’s a Bertrando horse named Bensawsam. And I have a Cal-bred filly named Controlled who’s won two stakes Del and she’s three-for-three. She’ll make her next start in the Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31. I’ve got 20 head at Santa Anita, which is the most horses I’ve had in years. And I bought an A.P. Indy filly and Nureyev filly at the recent Keeneland sales. So things are looking up.". . . Artax, unraced since suffering a shin injury in the Kentucky Derby, had his first breeze at Santa Anita on Oct. 7, going three furlongs in :37 3/5. Trainer Randy Bradshaw hopes to have the Marquetry colt ready for the Dec. 26 Malibu Stakes . . . Dick Mandella says undefeated Event of the Year, whose earnings stand at $498,600, is also pointing for his comeback in the Malibu. The Seattle Slew colt has been sidelined since April 24 when he suffered a slab fracture to his right knee that forced him to miss the Kentucky Derby. He was trained at that time by Jerry Hollendorfer . . . Travers winner Coronado’s Quest, thrown to the wolves in the Woodward Stakes, could make his next start in either the Breeders’ Cup Classic or the Cigar Mile on Nov. 28 . . . Too much racing? After drawing 14,641 fans on-track on opening day, attendance at Santa Anita on day two dipped to a dismal 4,515 . . . Another one bites the dust: jockey Michael Hunter has packed his tack and returned to his native Maryland.

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