Baffert Pleased with Goal Oriented's Sunday Workout

The goal for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert on May 17 is a record-extending ninth victory in the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course. He took the next step on that path May 11 when he sent Goal Oriented to the track for a half-mile breeze over the Churchill Downs track. The workout came just eight days after the Not This Time colt improved his record to 2-for-2 in an allowance on the Kentucky Derby (G1) undercard May 3. Baffert said he decided to work the colt to make sure everything was perfect coming out of the race. "I just wanted a little maintenance work. I just wanted to see how he handled it," Baffert said. "He's only had two (starts), and you want to see how it affects him mentally. Some horses get a little uptight or get tense or nervous. He handled it like a pro." Exercise rider Eric Garcia was aboard Goal Oriented as he worked alone. Baffert said he had Garcia start off easy before radioing to pick it up just a touch. Goal Oriented was officially recorded by Churchill Downs clockers in :47 3/5, the fourth-fastest of 35 horses at the distance Sunday. "He went a half real easy. He did it on his own," Baffert said. "That's all he needed, he was nice and relaxed. Looks like the race didn't take too much out of him." Goal Oriented debuted going six furlongs at Santa Anita Park April 6 with a 3 1/4-length win from off the pace. Noting that the colt did not appear to care for the dirt hitting him in the face, Baffert instructed jockey Flavien Prat to keep him in the clear during the 1 1/16-mile Derby day allowance. Prat put the colt on the lead where he stayed until the end, holding off a late effort from Hypnus by 3/4 length. "He went around there just galloping," Baffert said of the race. "It looked like (Hypnus) was coming to him, he wasn't going to get by him. They could have gone another round, he wasn't going to get by him." Now Goal Oriented returns to the starting gate for his third career start in just two weeks. Originally, Baffert said he was considering the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard. However, as the colt bounced out of the race well and Wood Memorial (G2) winner Rodriguez was still getting over a foot issue that caused his scratch from the Derby, Baffert called an audible and added Goal Oriented to the Preakness lineup. "I think the distance is not going to be a problem for him, he's a big, powerful horse," Baffert said. "I think he's sitting on another big race, and he's undefeated. Why not take a chance at the Preakness? It's an important race, and it's exciting when you win the Preakness." It is a high step from allowance to classic with the lack of seasoning Goal Oriented has, but Baffert has pulled off similar feats before. He referenced how Justify came off the same maiden-to-allowance route before taking the 2018 Santa Anita Derby (G1) on his way to winning the Triple Crown. Although Goal Oriented is not Justify, Baffert said he does see a few similar qualities that make him comfortable taking the jump. "I'm not comparing him to Justify, but he's a big, strong horse like Justify, so I think he can handle it," Baffert said. "He's got a great mind. It's asking a lot, but I've always been really high on this horse. He's a big, strong horse. He's handled everything thrown at him; he shipped, he won." Bred in Kentucky by Runnymede Farm and CWC Investment 2, Goal Oriented does have some Preakness blood in the family. His dam, Bizzy Caroline, is a daughter of 2005 Preakness and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Afleet Alex. Bizzy Caroline was a two-time grade 3 winner on grass. Goal Oriented is owned by the large partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. Those same connections are the owners of Rodriguez. Rodriguez was back on the work tab Sunday morning for the first time since scratching from the Derby and appears to be on the improve. Baffert announced the colt would not be entered in the Preakness May 9. After the colt trained May 10, the Hall of Famer commented on how it was the best he looked since arriving at Churchill Downs before the Derby. That momentum carried to Sunday as Rodriguez worked a half-mile in :49, ranking 20 of 35 at the distance. "He went nice, he went really nice," Baffert said. "I think Rodriguez, the way he worked today, I could have been tempted to run him (in the Preakness)." But Baffert is not planning on giving in to temptation. Sticking to his original decision, he said he would get the colt in top condition for the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course June 7. "I missed that time. There's nothing worse than trying to rush your horse into it," Baffert said. "I couldn't train him properly for the Preakness, and finally we got a work in today and it looks like we're moving the right way."