http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories...sdate=8/9/2007
Baffert colt dazzles
Maimonides wins debut by whopping 11 lengths
By TIM WILKIN, Staff writer
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First published: Thursday, August 9, 2007
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Bob Baffert showed up at Saratoga for the first time this season on Wednesday and, boy, did the trainer bring a horse that can run.
The 2-year-old colt Maimonides made an eye-popping debut in the second race, winning the 5-furlong sprint by 11 lengths. Maimonides, a $4.6 million purchase at the Keeneland September yearling sales, covered the distance in 1:04.41.
"This is a very nice horse," Baffert said in the winner's circle. "I ran this horse like an old horse. You don't normally put a 2-year-old on a plane and ship him in and run him in a maiden race."
Baffert really had no choice. Owner Ahmed Zayat removed all his horses -- including Maimonides -- from the grounds at Del Mar in California after a dispute with racing management over the Polytrack surface
"I am sure some people in Del Mar were not rooting for this horse today," Baffert said. "But he overcame everything."
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Maimonides was never headed and probably could have won by more.
Baffert said it was the first time he has won a maiden race at the Spa.
"When you pay $4.6 million for them and they are 1-2 (odds), then it means the whole world knows about them," Baffert said. "When you pay $4.6 million and they are 10-1, well, that's pressure."
Baffert did not rule out running Maimonides, a son of Vindication, in the Hopeful here on the final weekend.