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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 27, 2001
Seemingly every weekend Bob Baffert trots out another next-great this or next-great that.
The excitement is particularly profound this time of year when focus has shifted not only to the Breeders' Cup, but into next spring's Triple Crown season.
Sometimes the promise is realized (Silverbulletday), sometimes not (Chilukki), but as a three-time Eclipse Award recipient and the winningest trainer in the nation, the promising young horses keep coming.
Another will be on display this weekend.
Originally, Baffert was to race his top juvenile (Officer) and juvenile filly (Habibti), two of the best -- period -- at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park, but will hold Officer back until the Oct. 6 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park.
That leaves Habibti, another of Saudi Prince Ahmed Salman's Thoroughbred Corporation stars, as the focus of attention in the Grade I, 1-mile Oak Leaf Stakes on Sunday. Baffert said he decided to keep Habibti in California and ship Officer because he wanted an extra week between Habibti's last Breeders' Cup prep.
The Breeders' Cup is scheduled for Oct. 27 at Belmont Park.
Habibti, a Tabasco Cat filly, worked 5 furlongs in a bullet :58.80 on Tuesday. She is undefeated in two starts this year, including a 1:22.22 showing over 7 furlongs in a 2-length victory in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante.
Habibti, whose name means "my love" in Arabic, will be in new territory on Sunday in attempting two turns for the first time. The 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly goes one turn.
Baffert, seeking a record fifth consecutive Oak Tree victory, said the transition should not be difficult for her.
"I think it'll be an easier race for her than going the straight-out-of-the-chute-type of race where they sort of leave there gunning the whole way," he said. "So, she's run long, whatever, but I can't worry about stuff like that. I needed the extra week."
I-RACING: A horse that doesn't eat, get sick, hurt or require a trainer would save an owner a lot of money.
That, says Chris van der Kuyl, is at the heart of Vis Entertainment's I-Race, a computer-generated horse racing simulation that should be available in the United States next year.
For about $20 per month, fans with participating digital cable systems or a satellite can subscribe to the I-Race television channel and either campaign a stable or simply wager on simulated horse races.
"We wanted to bring (horse racing) to the 21st century so it wouldn't just be a wealthy person's sport," van der Kuyl told the Thoroughbred Times.
The races, which will run every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, will feature commentators.
CONTRIBUTIONS: Churchill Downs, Inc., which owns racetracks in Florida, California, Illinois and Kentucky, announced on Tuesday it will donate $69,103.28 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
The figure is comprised of donations made at Churchill Downs, Inc.'s six racetracks and nine off-track betting parlors, plus matching funds from the company.
Owners Ernie Paragallo (Paraneck Stable) and breeder Harry T. Mangurian have contributed $1-million individually to the NTRA Charities New York Heroes Fund.
INVESTING: Padua Stables, owned by Clearwater's Satish Sanan, was a big player in the Keeneland September Yearling sale, acquiring seven horses for $3.925-million. Sanan, IMRglobal chairman and CEO, acquired a colt by Saint Ballado out of Clever Monique for $1.550-million.
NTRA POLL: Kona Gold, a 7-year-old gelding with wins in all three starts this year, held on to the top spot in the weekly National Thoroughbred Racing Association all-ages poll.
Lido Palace (5-2-2-1) remained in second.