TurfPublicists: BULLDOGGER SCORES DECISIVE VICTORY IN RETURN TO SPA FOR BAFFERT

**Please see attached photo of Bulldogger from today’s third race at Saratoga, credit NYRA, Adam Coglianese**

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Contact: Dan Silver

BULLDOGGER SCORES DECISIVE VICTORY IN RETURN TO SPA FOR BAFFERT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Bulldogger, one of the most impressive juvenile winners last year at Saratoga Race Course, returned to register a decisive victory in an allowance race on Saturday, his second win in three career starts.

Ridden by John Velazquez for trainer Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old son of Dixie Union wasted little time, breaking on top and setting fractions of 22.13 and 44.73. He widened throughout the stretch, finishing 4 ¾ lengths in front of long shot China.

Purchased for $300,000 at the April 2009 Keeneland 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Bulldogger debuted at Saratoga last summer, winning a maiden special weight on August 29 in explosive fashion by 6 ½ lengths.

“He was so impressive here last year,” Baffert said. “His shins were bothering him after that race, so we turned him out for the winter. He came back and ran two turns at Santa Anita [finishing third on March 3], and came out of that race sore. We got him ready to run again, and [owner] Hal Earnhardt said to me, ‘Put him on a plane to Saratoga!’”

Baffert said the colt will stay at Saratoga and could potentially run in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop on Travers Day, Saturday, August 28.

Velazquez, the current leading rider at Saratoga, was impressed by Bulldogger, who completed the six furlongs over the main track in 1:09.47 as the even money favorite.

“He ran very well today and is definitely stronger than he was last year, although he was still a bit green,” said Velazquez, who also rode him in his debut. “He has to keep improving, but he is certainly the kind of horse that could run against top competition at some point.”

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