Newz Forum: OTHER: Baffert Gets Sort It Out

NEW YORK - Trainer Bob Baffert has picked up another Kentucky Derby contender in Sort It Out, winner of last week's Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct.

A majority interest in the New York-bred colt was sold to Bob and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable, and the 3-year-old was moved to Baffert's barn at Belmont Park.

Sort It Out was not an early nominee to the Triple Crown races, but after winning his last three races, Stonerside plans to pay a late nomination fee of $6,000 and let Baffert choose the colt's next race on the road to the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

The colt's previous owner, Preferred Pals Stable, retains a minority interest. Baffert takes over the training from Allen Iwinski.

Baffert, a three-time Derby winner, already has 12 horses nominated to the Triple Crown races, including top prospect Roman Ruler and San Vicente Stakes winner Fusaichi Rock Star.

Roman Ruler was scratched from last Sunday's San Vicente with a quarter crack of the left front foot, and last-minute sub Fusaichi Rock Star went wire-to-wire.

Stonerside Stable said Thursday that Sort It Out will remain in New York before being shipped to Santa Anita where Baffert is based.

"The Whirlaway was a tough, tough race," Baffert told BloodHorse.com. "He made a big three-eighths of a mile move, and then Naughty New Yorker, another horse I really like, came to him and looked like he was going to blow by him. But he wouldn't let him go by him. I really liked that about this horse."

Sort It Out held off Naughty New Yorker by a neck, with heavy favorite Galloping Grocer fourth.

McNair, who owns the NFL's Houston Texans, has teamed up with Baffert before on the Derby trail. They campaigned Congaree, who finished third in the 2001 Kentucky Derby and earned more than $3.2 million before he was retired in 2004.

source

ESPN