2009 Woodbine Oaks Post Position: 7

* Nineteen-year-old Joe Talamo may have missed out on a possible  ‘winning ride’ aboard I Want Revenge, the morning line favourite in this year’s Kentucky Derby, who was scratched on the morning of the race.    But he’s got another Wynning Ride, literally, this time in Sunday’s Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser and she’ll definitely be one of the favourites. 

* Trained by three-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert, who is being inducted into the U.S. National Horse Racing Hall of Fame and Museum this summer, Wynning Ride, owned by Arnold Zetcher, is a well-bred miss.  Her sire is Argentinian champion Candy Ride, who was a perfect six-for-six in his career, winning three in his homeland as a three-year-old, before moving to California for a four-year-old campaign, where he produced a dominating win over Medaglia d’Oro in the 2003 $1 million Pacific Classic in a season highlight. 

* Her dam is Wynyard, a Mr. Greeley mare, who raced locally for trainer Josie Carroll and owners Jim and Alice Sapara in 2001 and 2002.   Bred in Ontario by Winsong Farms, Wynning Ride was purchased by Zetcher for $120,000 at the 2007 Keeneland Yearling Sales. 

* Wynning Ride will attempt to win the Oaks  in just her second start of the year, her first crack at a distance of ground this season and her first appearance at Woodbine.  Now that’s certainly a challenge.   

* The good news is her four career starts have all been over Cushion Track/Pro-Ride surfaces in California, which she has proven she can handle.  The chestnut filly showed lots of potential last season, breaking her maiden impressively at Santa Anita in October in her debut for trainer Ron McAnally, before being transferred to the care of Baffert.  

* She subsequently finished fourth in the Moccasin Stakes at Hollywood Park, before closing out the season with a sparkling runner-up placing to former Woodbine campaigner Laragh in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet at one and one-sixteenth miles. 

* In her sole 2009 outing, at six and one-half furlongs on May 14, Wynning Ride closed belatedly to finish second to Lady Lumberjack in an allowance contest.   “Lady Lumberjack is pretty nice, a good sprinter,” explained Baffert.   

* “She (Wynning Ride) ran really well last year, but after the Starlet, I gave her some time off.   We freshened her up and I’ve been pointing for this race all along.  She’s pretty fit.  I’ve been working her steadily,” said Baffert. 

* On the challenge of moving from California synthetic surfaces to Woodbine’s Polytrack, Baffert, who plans to be here to saddle his Oaks hopeful, laughed and said, “We’re just thinking $500,000 ($300,000 to the winner).   Show me the money.   (Seriously) She’s a nice filly.  I think she’s going to be very competitive and she’s coming up to the race really good.” 

* Wynning Ride may have tipped her hand in her latest workout, a bullet move of 1:11 3/5 seconds for six furlongs (the fastest of 19) at Santa Anita on Sunday.  “She worked really, really well,” he continued.  “I loved the way she worked and she did it the right way.   She’s doing the best she’s ever been.  She’s got a good mind.  It’s a long way to go but hopefully she’ll ship well and we’ll get lucky.” 

Owner – Arnold Zetcher 

A St. Louis, Missouri native, Arnold Zetcher is the former chairman, present and chief executive officer of Talbots, a manufacturer and retailer of stylish women’s wear, with headquarters in Hingham, Massachusetts.  He retired as chairman in 2008 after a 20-year career at Talbots, which he directed into becoming an international clothing giant.  

The Century City, California resident started owning thoroughbreds in 2000 and over the years has raced a number of good ones, including House of Fortune, a multiple graded stakes winner who captured the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn and the Hollywood Oaks in 2004 and the 2006 Sunshine Millions Distaff at Gulfstream Park, her final start in a career where she earned over $989,000.  She’s now his principal broodmare in Kentucky. 

Currently, his top runners include stakes winners Tizzy’s Tune, who was fifth to Ventura in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and three-year-old filly Gabby’s Golden Gal, who is competing this Saturday at Belmont Park in the Grade 1 Acorn.  

Trainer – Bob Baffert 

Born on January 13, 1953 in Nogales, Arizona, Bob Baffert grew up on a cattle and chicken farm near the Mexican border and got started in the horse business, grooming and galloping Quarter Horses owned by his father. A graduate of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, he first tasted success as a Quarter Horse trainer and conditioned 1986 world champion Gold Coast Express.

He made the transition to Thoroughbreds during the late 1980s, with the encouragement of owner Mike Pegram.  He gave up his Quarter Horse division in 1991 after recording a stakes triple in the California Cup during the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita.

Since then, Baffert has enjoyed a tremendous career as a trainer and is one of the most recognizable racing personalities in the world.  He’s won seven Breeders' Cup races, the Sprint with Thirty Slews in 1992, and with Midnight Lute in 2007 and 2008, the Juvenile Fillies with Silverbulletday in 1998 and with Indian Blessing in 2007, the Juvenile with Vindication in 2002 and Midshipman in 2008.  His accomplishments to date have earned him an induction into the U.S. National Horse Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, when the ceremony takes place at Saratoga this summer.

The 56-year conditioner, who resides in Arcadia, California has also won two legs of the U.S. Triple Crown on four occasions: with Silver Charm (1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness), Real Quiet (1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness), Point Given (2001 Preakness and Belmont) and War Emblem (2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness).

Baffert was voted three straight Eclipse Awards from 1997-99 and led North American trainers in earnings from 1998-2001. He’s also trained 10 national champions: Chilukki, Point Given, Real Quiet, Silverbulletday, Silver Charm, Vindication, War Emblem, Indian Blessing (twice), Midnight Lute and Midshipman. 

Baffert has also won the Dubai World Cup twice: in 1998 with Silver Charm and in 2001 with Captain Steve.   The multiple stakes-winning Congaree was another of his stable stars several years ago.  

Jockey – Joe Talamo 

Born January 12, 1990 in Marrero, Louisiana, Joe Talamo sprang to prominence as just a 17-year-old in 2007, earning an Eclipse Award as the top apprentice in North America.   Among the horses he rode that year was Nashoba’s Key, who won four graded stakes during the season, before failing in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, her first career loss.   In fact, Nashoba’s Key was Talamo’s first Grade 1 stakes winner when she captured the Vanity. 

He also finished second to Michael Baze that year in the rider standings at Hollywood Park for the Spring and Summer Meetings. 

Talamo first started riding at Louisiana Downs in 2006, before moving to the Fair Grounds later in the year, where he became the first apprentice on record to win a riding title there, finishing with 119 wins. 

This year, he is currently 12th to Julien Leparoux on the North America money list with over $3.5 million in purses and 62 wins, with his big horse being I Want Revenge, winner of the Gotham and Wood Memorial, who, after being scratched on the morning of the Derby, is on the shelf racing-wise until the fall.   

In 2008, he had over $6 million in purse earnings, with 137 winners, while in his Eclipse Award-winning season of 2007, he notched 247 wins and over $10.7 million in purses.

He is also one of the stars of the reality series ‘Jockeys.’