By Bob Mierszerski
Another year, another victory in the $125,000 Los Alamitos Derby for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
Reincarnate, the even-money favorite in the field of five after the scratch of Yellow Brick, controlled things up front Saturday under jockey Juan Hernandez, giving Baffert his seventh win in a row in the Derby and his eighth in the last nine years.
The victory also completed a stakes sweep at the Los Angeles County Fair meet for a second consecutive year for Hernandez.
Earlier he had won the $100,000 Bertrando with Kings River Knight June 24, then teamed with Baffert July 4 to take the Grade II, $202,000 Great Lady M. Stakes with Eda.
A year before Hernandez swept the Bertrando, Great Lady M. and Los Alamitos Derby with, respectively, Desmond Doss, Becca Taylor and High Connection.
Owned by a partnership that includes SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, Reincarnate prevailed by 2 ½ lengths over 6-5 choice Skinner in 1:48.72 for the 1 1/8 miles.
A son of Good Magic and the Scat Daddy mare Allanah, Reincarnate, who had been idle since finishing 13th in the Kentucky Derby May 6 at Churchill Downs, is now 3-for-9 lifetime with earnings of $420,650.
The win was the first for the gray, who was purchased for $775,000 at the Keeneland September sale in 2021, since he scored a 16-1 upset in the Grade III Sham Jan. 8 at Santa Anita.
“I told (Hernandez) that he was back to how he was when he last won,’’ said Baffert. “It was very important to get the win especially when you know how good Skinner is.
“This race always comes up tough and it was a big win for the team.’’
Hernandez, who is now 2-for-3 in tandem with Reincarnate as he was also aboard for the Sham Score, was impressed Saturday.
“(Baffert) had him ready today,’’ he said. “I loved his race. He broke really sharp and was comfortable all the way.
“He looked like he was waiting for company because he put his ears up. When the company came around the three-eighths pole, I asked him and he picked it up really well. In the stretch he switched leads and he opened up again.’’
Reincarnate paid $4 and $2.40. There was no show wagering.
Skinner, who was making his first start since finishing a close third in the Santa Anita Derby three months ago, returned $2.40 while finishing 2 ½ lengths in front of 23-1 shot Prince Abu Dhabi.
Abeliefinthislivin and High Mo, Skinner’s stablemate and 5-1 third choice, completed the order of finish.
Heading into the final day of the LACF season, jockey Ramon Vazquez, who won all three riding titles here in 2022, holds a 9-7 lead over Abel Cedillo.
Baffert tops the trainers with five wins, one more than Peter Miller, Jesus Uranga, Milton Pineda and Hector Palma.
