"I'm throwing him in there in the deep end of the pool. You just need to get races into these horses and that's what we're doing. We'll see what happens. It was asking a lot, pushing Potente from a maiden race to a Grade 2 stakes. You know, when he broke his maiden he really didn't run that fast, but Kazushi Kimura, who rode him, said he wants to go long."
"This horse has a lot of talent. He's big, he's strong and he showed up today. I think he's going to be even better next time. The pace indeed was fast, with Baffert's 4-5 favorite Brant, coming off a four-month layoff, and So Happy, a sprinter stretching out for the first time, going through six furlongs in 1 minute, 10.42 seconds."
Trainer Bob Baffert entered Potente in the San Felipe Stakes primarily due to limited racing options at Santa Anita Park. The Into Mischief-sired colt, purchased for $2.4 million as a yearling, competed in the Grade 2 Kentucky Derby prep race in just his second career start. Despite a fast early pace set by Baffert's favored Brant and So Happy, Potente persevered through the 1 1/16-mile distance to narrowly defeat 67-1 long shot Robusta by a head. Jockey Juan Hernandez praised Potente's talent and strength, suggesting further improvement ahead. The victory paid $18.20 as the 8-1 fourth choice in a seven-horse field.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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