Baffert Horse Is All the Rage

Trainer Bob Baffert does have a quality 3-year-old in his barn who can handle a distance of ground that was not purchased impulsively days ago.

So, why isn’t Mountain Rage headed to the Kentucky Derby? Because the son of Mecke is strictly a turf horse and the gray will seek his third consecutive victory over the surface in the $75,000 La Puente Stakes today at Santa Anita. The race is the fifth leg in a pick six with a carryover of $182,443.

A winner only once in four races on the dirt--and that victory came at Fairplex Park--Mountain Rage has won three of four on turf. His victories have come in the Generous, a Grade III, last fall at Hollywood Park, and in the Hill Rise and Academy Road at Santa Anita.

Despite his accomplishments, Mountain Rage is only the second choice--at 5-2--on Jeff Tufts’ morning line because the 2-1 favorite is Johar. Owned and bred by Prince Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corporation and trained by Richard Mandella, Johar is out of the multiple stakes winning mare Windsharp. He has won both of his grass races.

After beating maidens by a neck on Feb. 24, the bay colt dominated six allowance rivals on March 28, winning by 3 1/2 lengths while completing the final quarter of a mile in about 23 seconds.

Race of the day: Bella Bellucci, one of the top 3-year-old fillies in the country, will try for her second graded stakes victoryin the $100,000 Comely at Aqueduct.

Who’s hot: Victor Espinoza. The jockey won four races at Santa Anita on Saturday and none of them were favorites.

Who’s not: Wood Kat. The 6-year-old is winless in eight since arriving in the United States in 1999. He’ll try to end the streak in today’s sixth at Santa Anita.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Big Bad Juan in the fifth, using Captian Bell, Lasting Tribute, Devil’s Horn and Eddie Eddie in the sixth and Power Wing, Fin Entertainment and Tough Men in the seventh.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/219. Money: Previous day/meet total: $6.40/$1,268.60. Total money bet: $1,360.