Baffert Trio Looks Tough in Bob Hope

The Nov. 20 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) resembles the Sept. 11 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) in an aspect more important than both being seven-furlong races for 2-year-olds at Del Mar. As he did in the Futurity, trainer Bob Baffert is bringing three talented runners to the Bob Hope, two of them owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, the leading owners from the summer Del Mar meeting.

In the Futurity, Baffert finished one-two with Cave Rock  and Havnameltdown . Cave Rock went on to finish second in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) to Forte  and thus won't be in the Bob Hope. But the three Baffert is bringing could complete the Trifecta in just about any order.

Havnameltdown, like Cave Rock owned by Pegram, Watson, and Weitman, returns for the Bob Hope in his first outing since the Del Mar Futurity. Earlier in the Del Mar meeting, the son of Uncaptured  won the Best Pal Stakes (G3). Havnameltdown will have Juan Hernandez, the leading rider from the summer and again atop the standings at the current meeting, riding from post 2. Hernandez piloted the colt in the Best Pal, but rode Cave Rock in the Del Mar Futurity.

Hard to Figure , for the same ownership, drew the rail and will have Flavien Prat aboard for the first time. Third in his two Del Mar appearances, Hard to Figure, a son of Hard Spun  , captured the Sept. 25 Capote Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course by three lengths.

Baffert's third entry, Newgate , hasn't yet won a stakes, but this may be his opportunity. The son of Into Mischief   is owned by a large partnership headed by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables. He has been racing in top company, finishing fourth in the Del Mar Futurity and fifth in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1), won by Forte. John Velazquez has ridden Newgate in each of his starts and returns from post 7.

The four Bob Hope rivals to the Baffert trio include two stakes winners.

Lloyds Logic  (jockey Edwin Maldonado, post 3) invades from Emerald Downs in Washington, where he broke his maiden by 5 1/4 lengths in his fourth start and then powered home by 7 1/4 lengths in the Gottstein Futurity. Tom Wenzel trained the son of The Factor   for owner George Todaro at Emerald Downs, and Jerry Hollendorfer conditions him at Del Mar.

Giver Not a Taker  (Ramon Vazquez, post 4) won the Sept. 9 I'm Smokin Stakes at Del Mar and ran second in the Oct. 29 Golden State Juvenile Stakes at Santa Anita Park, both in California-bred company. He is the first stakes winner sired by California stallion Danzing Candy  . Peter Miller trains Giver Not a Taker for owner/breeders Kirk and Judy Robison, who also own champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior  .

"Any 2-year-old that wins a stakes race—Cal-bred or open, it doesn't matter—is a nice horse," Kirk Robison said after the I'm Smokin. "We're very excited about this horse."

Entries: Bob Hope S. (G3)

Del Mar, Sunday, November 20, 2022, Race 8

• Grade III
• 7f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 2 yo
• 4:00 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Hard to Figure (KY)	Flavien Prat	120	Bob Baffert	3/1
2	2Havnameltdown (FL)	Juan J. Hernandez	124	Bob Baffert	6/5
3	3Lloyds Logic (KY)	Edwin A. Maldonado	120	Jerry Hollendorfer	12/1
98	4Giver Not a Taker (CA)	SCRATCHED	0	UNKNOWN	-
4	5Mixto (KY)	Umberto Rispoli	118	Doug F. O'Neill	12/1
5	6Practical Move (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	120	Tim Yakteen	5/1
6	7Newgate (KY)	John R. Velazquez	120	Bob Baffert	5/2