Baffert Claims Another Rebel Win With Cupid

For the sixth time in seven years, Bob Baffert sent out the winner of the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) when Cupid scored in the 1 1/16-mile race March 19 at Oaklawn Park.

The Racing Hall of Fame trainer would love for this year's winner to enjoy just a portion of the success of last year's Rebel winner, American Pharoah  , who went on to win the Triple Crown, Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), and Horse of the Year honors.

Perhaps some of those races await, but for now Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith's Cupid has arrived on the classic scene after withstanding a determined stretch challenge from grade III-placed Whitmore to win his stakes debut in Saturday's field of 14.

With regular rider Martin Garcia also making the trip from Southern California, Cupid seized the early lead ahead of Siding Spring through an opening quarter-mile in :22.96. Things slowed down in the second fraction as Garcia and Cupid completed a half-mile in :46.82, while opening a clear advantage.

Cupid would carry that advantage into the stretch with Whitmore launching his best coming out of the far turn. Whitmore carried that momentum and challenged for the lead midstretch, but Cupid found one more gear on his way to a 1 1/4-length victory, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.84.

"I am so happy that he ran so well, especially for Martin. He works so hard getting these horses ready and he got the win," Baffert said. "I'm happy for the Coolmore (owners) gang, too. I knew going in he was a nice horse. But he never had been tested and that was a pretty strong bunch."

Garcia said Cupid showed some inexperience in early stretch.

"When we hit the top of the stretch, he got lonely and he locked in on the other horse that was coming up on the outside. He responded one more time," Garcia said. "He showed a lot of ability and we know he can run. He really proved today that he is improving. The distance doesn't matter, he can go as far as he wants."

Cupid paid $7.80, $5, and $3.80 across the board while Whitmore returned $5.20 and $4 to place and show. Creator rallied for third in his stakes debut, paying $4.80 to show. Also making his stakes debut was Cherry Wine, who ran fourth in the Road to the Kentucky Derby race that awarded points of 50-20-10-5 to the top four finishers.

After finishing fourth and second sprinting in his first two career starts in December and January, Cupid found his best stride once he was stretched out to two turns. The Tapit   colt cruised to a 5 1/4-length score in a Feb. 7 maiden race at Santa Anita Park, rallying from fourth early in the 1 1/16-mile race before drawing off late.

"It's hard for horses to break their maiden and then step up to this kind of company with this many people around and win, but he did," Garcia said. "He's still green."

In addition to Cupid and American Pharoah, Baffert's other Rebel winners include Hoppertunity in 2014, Secret Circle   in 2012, The Factor   in 2011, and Lookin At Lucky   in 2010.

When Cupid held off Whitmore's rally, it told Baffert a lot.

"When that horse came rolling down the middle of the stretch I thought, 'We'll see what he's made of.' That's when we realized what he's made of. He started to kick back in," Baffert said. "That's what you want to see this time of year, them showing some grit and some guts. He looked fantastic in the paddock and the post parade. He was ready to run and he ran like he looked."

Baffert said the plan is for Cupid to return for the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 16 at Oaklawn.

Trainer Ron Moquett, who owns Whitmore with Robert LaPenta and Harry Rosenblum, said the race's slow second quarter and some Baffert magic added up to a second straight runner-up finish for Whitmore, who entered off a second in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 15 at Oaklawn. Moquett battled food poisoning before the race and then had his emotions crash after Whitmore's rally came up short.

"I'm sick of Baffert. As bad as I felt all day and night, I'm more sick of Bob Baffert," Moquett said. "That horse was able to get his second quarter in :24. These caliber of horses don't come back from that. When you're a $900,000 Tapit, bred to be what he is, they don't back up. You give them a 24-second quarter... nobody went with him. I thought somebody would go with him."

Southwest winner Suddenbreakingnews, the 5-2 favorite, had to steady near the 5/16ths pole and finished fifth after a mild rally.

"We got stopped pretty bad (at the) three-eighths pole or so, I think," said trainer Donnie Von Hemel. "He was just getting his momentum going, and (jockey Luis Quinonez), basically said a horse stopped right in front of him and he had to check pretty hard. Otherwise, he's probably going to be right there. That's racing."

Bred in Kentucky by JKG Thoroughbreds, Cupid is out of grade II-placed Beau Genius mare Pretty 'n Smart, who also has produced grade III winners Heart Ashley and Ashley's Kitty, along with stakes winner Indianapolis.

M.V. Magnier purchased Cupid for his current owners for $900,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale, where he was consigned by VanMeter Sales, agent.