Baffert has big opening weekend at Santa Anita

ARCADIA — Trainer Bob Baffert enjoyed a pretty nice opening weekend at Santa Anita the past three days.The 68-year-old Baffert won a pair of $300,000 Grade I stakes, the American Pharoah and the Awesome Again, on Friday and Saturday, and capped his trifecta by saddling even-money favorite Private Mission for an easy victory in the $200,000 Grade II Zenyatta Stakes on Sunday.

It hasn’t been an easy five months for Baffert since Medina Spirit tested positive for an illegal substance following his victory in this year’s Kentucky Derby, but he says he’s just concentrating on training the horses and letting the other stuff play out in the courtroom.

“Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t,” he said. “I was disappointed in my fillies in (Friday’s Chandelier Stakes). They just didn’t show up. That happens, but the rest of the week went well. They showed up and they ran well.”

Private Mission, a 3-year-old Into Mischief filly, won by 2 1/4 lengths and earned an all-expenses paid birth into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 6. She’s won four of five starts, and the 1 1/16-mile time of 1:43.77 was a serious clocking over Santa Anita’s deep and tiring main track.

“That filly is just getting better and better,” Baffert said. “She’s bred to be a really good horse so we’re pretty excited about it.”

Baffert said he gave Private Mission a seven-month break after a victory in the Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 14 when she wasn’t training to the Hall of Famer’s satisfaction.

“She’s a big filly and I let her grow into herself,” he said. “If they’re not enjoying what they’re doing I stop on them and give them time.”

Chillingworth Stakes

The classy 5-year-old mare Ce Ce gave jockey Victor Espinoza his first victory of the meet, winning the $100,000 Grade III sprint for fillies and mares by five lengths as the 1-5 favorite.

Ce Ce, trained by Michael McCarthy, closed from third in the five-horse field to score her seventh victory in 15 starts while running the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.00.

On Deck, a 31-1 longshot, finished second by a neck over Scotish Star.

Zuma Beach Stakes

Mackinnon made it two consecutive stakes victories, winning the $200,000 race for 2-year-olds at 1 mile on the turf as the 6-5 favorite for jockey Juan Hernandez and trainer Doug O’Neill.

The American Pharoah colt went into the race off a 1 3/4-length victory in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 6 and has won three of five starts.

Mackinnon, who closed from sixth early on, won by 2 1/4 lengths over Silver Surfer, who held second by 1 1/4 lengths over Picota. Final time was 1:33.80.

Surfer Girl Stakes

Cairo Memories, a 4-1 shot, gave jockey Kent Desormeaux and trainer Robert Hess Jr. a victory in the $200,000 event for 2-year-old fillies at 1 mile on the lawn.

A daughter of Cairo Prince, Cairo Memories went into the race off a 4 1/2-length victory in her maiden debut on Sept. 5 at Del Mar.

Helens Well, the 3-2 favorite, finished second, 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner. Hemmerle finished third, a neck in back of Helens Well. Final time was 1:34.27.

Unzip Me Stakes

The Peter Miller-trained Zero Tolerance, fresh of a maiden victory at Del Mar on Aug. 20, won the $75,000 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies down the hillside turf course.

The daughter of Mizzen Mast, ridden by Flavien Prat, closed from sixth to score her second victory in three starts and first stakes win.

Zero Tolerance won by a length, followed by 11-1 longshot Carpe Fortuna, who held off 8-5 favorite Burgoo Alley by a neck for second. Final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:11.67.