CYPRESS — Apparently, nothing is going to stop Bob Baffert in the Los Alamitos Derby.
Read more Colombia tops Group K after scoreless draw with Portugal
Saturday, Baffert’s horse in Los Alamitos’ marquee stakes for 3-year-olds came in as a maiden after two starts, wasn’t favored by bettors and looked beaten in midstretch, and yet the Hall of Fame trainer emerged with the victory for the 10 th year in a row and 16 th time overall.
Sabino Canyon and jockey Ricardo Gonzalez passed favorite Start the Ride and Armando Ayuso in the last 100 yards of the 1-1/8 mile race and won by a half-length. He paid $5.60 and was clocked in 1:50.45.
It was an especially weak field for the race that has been won in the past decade by Baffert-trained horses like 3-year-old champion West Coast in 2017 and Grade I winner Nevada Beach in 2025, even as the former Swaps Stakes has slipped to ungraded status and a $100,000 purse.
But that takes little away from Baffert’s dominance, which is believed to be unprecedented in American racing.
Baffert said he entered Sabino Canyon in the Los Al Derby because long, dirt-track races for maidens are hard to find at California tracks and the son of Maxfield was looking sharp in workouts.
“Very exciting race to watch,” Baffert texted from Kentucky, where he saw it on TV. “We have always been high on (Sabino Canyon) but had some setbacks. He really should move forward off that race.”
Read more Congo beats Uzbekistan to reach World Cup knockout stage
Baffert praised Gonzalez, who rode his first stakes winner since January.
Aboard Sabino Canyon for the first time, the 30-year-old jockey was closer to the lead than the colt had been in two off-the-board finishes at Santa Anita, and ranged up from third on the turn for home.“I tried to put him in the race from the start,” Gonzalez said. “He was a little green in the stretch, but he gave me a real nice finish.”
The win was the fifth in the Los Al Derby for ownership partners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.
Fionello came from last to finish third and pacesetter Southern Melodee faded to fourth. Claimer Fuego Del Sol, checking in 25 lengths behind the winner, was the least surprising part of the race.
Earlier in the day at Los Alamitos, Faran ($3.20) and Umberto Rispoli teamed up to win the 6-1/2-furlong fourth race in the $3.4 million colt’s debut for Baffert and the jockey’s return from leg fractures suffered in January.
Los Alamitos stewards disqualified a first-place finisher for the second day in a row, taking down Pacer and jockey Tiago Pereira for veering into the path of original runnerup Fix It Quick ($4.20) and Gonzalez in Saturday’s third race.
Los Al racing continues Sunday with thoroughbreds in the afternoon and quarter horses at night. Thirteen nominations for next Saturday’s Grade II Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares include 2024 and 2025 winner and 7-furlong track record holder Sweet Azteca and Cal-bred star Grand Slam Smile.