Baffert's Pacific Classic Crew Shrinks by One

DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Bob Baffert has a juggernaut heading to the Pacific Classic in Game On Dude, Jaycito, and Richard’s Kid, but a fourth possible runner for the race, Take Control, has been taken out of training and will miss the Pacific Classic.

“He was a little off. At first we thought it was a foot. But we can’t find anything specific, but when you can’t find exactly what it is, it’s best to just stop for 60 days,” Baffert said Friday morning. “It’s nothing that needs surgery.”

Baffert faced a similar situation earlier this year with the 3-year-old Fed Biz, who is now back in training at Del Mar and has looked sensational in recent works.

Take Control is an impeccably bred son of A.P. Indy out of Horse of the Year Azeri. Now age 5, he has raced just three times. In his last start, he closed furiously into a slow pace when he was a deceptively good fourth in the San Diego Handicap on July 28.