As is the case in many important races in California, the biggest decision facing horseplayers is which Bob Baffert horse to bet on.
On Saturday, this scenario occurs in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, when Baffert sends out unbeaten Barnes as the even-money favorite and Rodriguez as the 9-5 second choice.
This time, though, Baffert’s boys will be going against a worthy opponent in 7-2 choice Journalism, who has already beaten three of Baffert’s promising 3-year-olds (Getaway Car, Gaming, and Mellencamp) in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism should savor the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe distance, while Barnes has won twice, but has run no further than 7 furlongs.
The San Felipe is a 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier, with points awarded on a sliding scale of 50-25-15-10-5 to the top five finishers.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, could be Baffert’s next top Derby contender. The Authentic colt broke his maiden at second asking going a mile, and finished second to stablemate and 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at a mile on Feb. 1. Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat has the call.
Baffert also sends out winless Mellencamp, who is 0-for-4 but will have Mike Smith aboard at 6-1 in a field of six.
Barnes has worked six times since winning the San Vicente Stakes (G2) by 5 ½ lengths on Jan. 4. The $3.2 million colt also is running in his first Derby points qualifier.
Baffert is a nine-time winner of the San Felipe, including last year with Imagination.
Post time for the San Felipe is 6:43 p.m. ET. Later on the card is the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) with a post of 7:47 p.m. ET.
For those who bet on horse racing ...
1 Mellencamp (Mike Smith, Bob Baffert), 6-1
2 Journalism (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy), 7-2
3 Barnes (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert), 1-1
4 Rodriguez (Flavien Prat, Bob Baffert), 9-5
5 Smooth Cruisein (Ricardo Gonzalez, Karen Headley), 30-1
6 Berlin Wall (Tiago Pereira, Steve Knapp), 30-1
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
