Misremembered gives Baffert a Big Cap he won’t soon forget

When Misremembered crossed the wire to win the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), it gave Bob Baffert his second victory (he won with General Challenge in 2000) in Santa Anita’s biggest race for older horses. But this one will surely hold a special place for the Hall of Fame trainer, as he is also Misremembered’s breeder as well as co-owner, along with his wife Jill and friend George Jacobs.

Misremembered holds off Neko Bay in Big ‘Cap  Benoit Photo

The Santa Anita Handicap – dubbed the “Big ‘Cap” – went to post with a full field of 14, spiced up by the presence of the filly St. Trinians (GB), who went off the 3-1 while trying to become the first distaffer to win the race in its 73-year history. Misremembered broke from post 13, but jockey Martin Garcia got him into a good spot right behind early leader Mast Track. That pair held those positions for the first three-quarters of a mile, when Misremembered forged to the lead. With Mast Track weakening, Misremembered began to draw off in mid-stretch, then held off a late inside charge by Neko Bay to triumph. It was another 2 1/4-lengths back to longshot Dakota Phone.

Prior to the Big ‘Cap, Baffert switched from Victor Espinoza, who had ridden Misremembered in his last nine races, to Garcia. “He’s got one speed. He’s a long-striding horse,'” Baffert said. “So we let him do it. When he was out there (in second), he didn’t chase after that speed horse. He really dug in.”

This was also a special Big ‘Cap for Garcia. “This is the first time I rode in the Big ‘Cap,” said Garcia. “I had the opportunity to make it to the winner’s circle. I’ve been working the horse, and Bob told me to give him a clear break and just not fight him. He wanted me to make one run, and that’s what I did. When my horse got to the lead I knew I still had a lot of horse.”

Misremembered came into the Big ‘Cap with a frustrating streak of three straight races where he had finished second, with his last win coming in the Indiana Derby (G2) last October. 

Misremembered broke his maiden in his second start last April at Hollywood Park. He then won the Swaps Stakes (G2) at the same track prior to the Indiana Derby. His runner-up finishes came in the Clark H.(G2) at Churchill Downs, and the Malibu S. (G1) and Strub S. (G2) at Santa Anita.

With the Big ‘Cap victory, he improved his career mark to 5-4-0 in 11 starts with the winning purse of $450,000 for the Santa Anita boosted his career earnings to $1,188,589.

The final time for the 1 ¼-mile race was 2:00.20 over the Pro-Ride racing surface – one second off the track record.