Baffert: Secret Circle 'got a lot out of' SA Sprint Championship

Baffert: Secret Circle 'got a lot out of' SA Sprint

Championship

Secret Circle finished worse than second for the first time

in his 11-race career Saturday, running third behind Hong Kong invader Rich

Tapestry and Goldencents in the Grade 1

Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six

furlongs.

Breaking from the rail and pressing the pace until deep

stretch, Secret Circle was beaten less than two lengths in his first race since

February 2, a span of eight months.

"He got a lot out of it and this race should tighten him (for a title defense

run in the Breeders' Cup

Sprint on November 1)," Bob Baffert said Sunday morning. "I went to see him

right after the race and you could tell he spent a little too much time on the

couch."

The Hall of Fame trainer was duly impressed with Rich

Tapestry, who under French jockey Olivier Doleuze hung a nose defeat on Goldencents in the Irish-bred gelding's first start since April 27.

"That's a really good horse and a really good trainer,"

Baffert said of the six-year-old son of Holy Roman Emperor and conditioner Michael

Chang, who flew back to Hong Kong Saturday night after earning the 200th training triumph

of his career.

"For a horse that just shipped over here from Hong Kong, he

looked so healthy," Baffert added. "He looked pretty impressive in the paddock."

Chang, meanwhile, was controllably thrilled and gracious

after the exciting victory.

"He's got a big heart," he said of his charge, who

will remain at Santa Anita with trainer Leonard Powell for the Breeders' Cup

Sprint.

"He won a race in Ireland, in Hong Kong, Dubai and now America...The horse

travels well. It never affects him. He was here three or four days and is like

an American horse already. He settled in extremely well."

Asked if Rich Tapestry had ever raced under such extremely hot

temperatures (104) as he did Saturday, Chang said, "In my country, it's hotter

than here. It's very hot and humid."

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