El Brujo’s G1 Pat O’Brien tops huge day for Baffert

Sunday | August 29, 2010

El Brujo’s front-running victory in the Grade 1 Pat O’Brien Aug. 28 at Del Mar topped a day that the Hall of Fame trainer won’t soon forget. Two races prior to the seven-furlong sprint, Baffert won the Pacific Classic (G1) with Richard’s Kid for the second consecutive year.

In the Pat O’Brien, El Brujo was too much on the front end, as he set all the fractions. He maintained about a length lead for the first half-mile, then widened out in the stretch before Crown of Thorns made a late run, but could get no closer than a half-length at the wire.

The final time over the fast track was 1:21.70, just off the track record of 1:21 flat.

El Brujo is owned by Arnold Zetcher LLC. The bay 4-year-old gelding failed to meet his reserve when offered for auction at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale. He is a son of the

Baffert took over training El Brujo just two starts back when Zetcher purchased him from Windways Farm.

With the $180,000 from Pat O’Brien win, El Brujo is now 7-4-2 in 18 starts, with earnings of $721,429.

The stakes win was the second of the meet for Bob Baffert. It was his fourth win in the Pat O’Brien. His other wins were with Zensational (2009), El Corredor (2001) and Love That Red (2000). He now has 88 stakes wins at Del Mar, the most by any trainer.  

In addition to the two Grade 1 wins, Baffert also won the seventh race, a straight maiden 5 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds, with Bull Creek. The dark bay or brown colt is owned by Hal and Patti Earnhardt. The Earnhardts bought the son of Tale of a Cat for $150,000 at the 2009 Keeneland Sept yearling sale.

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