Bob Baffert sent out The Factor to his first start in four months, and the 3-year-old colt responded with a stellar performance in the $250,000 Pat O'Brien S. (G1), defeating a very good group of older horse by 1 3/4-lengths in 1:21.56, just 2/5ths of a second off the seven furlong track record.

The Factor had been away from the races since April 16. After spending the first half of the year on the Triple Crown trail, which included wins in the San Vicente S. (G2) and Rebel S. (G2), Baffert and owners Fog City Stable and George Bolton decided to forgo a try in the Kentucky Derby.

Training beautiful up to the O'Brien, The Factor mixed it up from the outset, dueling with Grade 1 winner Smiling Tiger through a very quick half-mile in :44.28 seconds. The pair came into the stretch together, when The Factor began to pull away with Martin Garcia keeping the gray colt to task in the final furlong.

"When this horse is really on his game he is an extraordinary horse,” said Baffert. “I'm just glad to have him back (from the layoff). He's got the most beautiful stride I've ever seen on a horse. It's like he barely picks up his feet."

"He was just cruising," said Garcia. "My horse was running easy. He took me up in there without even trying. My horse is really fast. And you saw it today: not only is he fast, maybe as fast a horse as I've ever ridden, but he'll keep on going. He wasn't getting tired or backing up there at the end at all. He's a really nice horse."

The Factor is now 4-0-0 in six starts, earning $457,180. George Bolton bought the colt for $250,000 at the Barretts May, 2010 sales of 2-year-olds.

Baffert has now won the Pat O'Brien a record five times, including the last three. El Brujo won the race last year, Zensational in 2009, El Corredor in 2001, and Love That Red in 2000.