Baffert Sends Out a Trio in Competitive Damascus Stakes

With twelve horses lined up for the seven-furlong Damascus, trainer Bob Baffert sends out three talented colts including the 7/2 morning line favorite Midnight Hawk who last ran in the April 19 Illinois Derby where he finished second by a nose.  Baffert will also saddle the second choice in Chitu (4/1) who was last seen May 3 in the Kentucky Derby where he finished ninth after chasing the pace before tiring in the stretch.  Declassify (6/1) is the third member of the Baffert contingency, most recently finishing seventh in the Grade 1  Bing Crosby July 27 at Del Mar. 

Declassify could be most dangerous for Baffert

Of the three Baffert entries, Declassify has recorded more triple digit Beyer Speed Figures (3) than the other two runners combined.  Declassify is also a Grade 1 winner at the seven furlong distance and has done some of his best running over the Santa Anita dirt. His worst race was on Polytrack  in the Bing Crosby and the four year-old son of Orientate has trained forwardly since that effort.  

Magic Mark looks razor sharp  

Magic Mark (8/1) and Broadway Empire (6/1) are outsiders with a legitimate chance to take home the top prize.  Magic Mark has shown an affinity for the local strip winning four of five races at Santa Anita.  Trainer Ron Ellis is hitting at an astonishing 48% clip with runners returning from layoffs between 60 and 180 days.