Stakes wins by Midnight Interlude and Irish Gypsy highlighted a five-win June 17-19 weekend for Bob Baffert at Hollywood Park. With 17 days remaining in the Spring/Summer meet at the southern California track, Baffert holds a 24-23 advantage over Mike Mitchell in the trainer’s race.

Midnight Interlude's start in the $72,050 Tsunami Slew S. on Friday night, his turf debut, was probably the most anticipated race of the weekend. The Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner ran uncharacteristically poor in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1), which motivated Baffert to try the grass with the son of War Chant, winner of the 2000 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

Midnight Interlude stalked the pace for the better part of the mile contest before surging to the front with powerful strides about a furlong from the wire, holding on to win by a neck in 1:35.12.

“This is so important when you have the clientele like I have, who will let you do a crazy thing like this,” said Baffert.

“So it worked out. They (owners Mr. and Mrs. Zetcher) flew all the way in from Boston just for this. He loves the turf, but I also think he needs a firmer dirt., He worked terrific at Santa Anita. I think it was just the deeper, sandier tracks he was having trouble with. I was really disappointed because he had trained so well for the (Kentucky) Derby and Preakness.

“I took the blinkers off because we’re trying to teach him something. We rushed him right along, rushed him right into the Santa Anita Derby, but now we can sit back and start teaching him a little bit how to rate and finish up like he did tonight.”

Baffert said the 3-year-old turf races at Del Mar are on the radar for Midnight Interlude.

Baffert's other victory on Friday came with the 3-year-old colt Dubber, who scored a front-running one-length win in a six furlong maiden special weight race on the main track. Dubber is owned by Donver Stable and was a $160,000 OBS April 2010 sale purchase at age 2.

Baffert won three races on Sunday's card, led by Irish Gypsy's win in the $76,050 Desert Stormer S.

Never too far off the pace set by All the Love and Warren’s Blossom, Irish Gypsy moved outside into the stretch, ultimately gaining the lead with about a sixteenth of a mile to run. She completed the six furlongs over Cushion Track in 1:09.67.

The victory was the second in a row for Irish Gypsy, who was bred in Kentucky by Jerry and Ann Moss. She had captured the Valid Expectations May 30 at Lone Star Park.

Owned by Mike Pegram and John G. Sikura, Irish Gypsy won for the fifth time in 12 starts and pushed her earnings to $239,420.

“She’s been running really well and improving so much,’’ said Martin Garcia, who rode Baffert's other two winners as well: 2-year-old first timer Night Tide in the second race and Toro Bonito in the third.

Baffert said Irish Gypsy would be pointed for the Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap over seven furlongs on July 16.