Baffert Has the World to Conquer

A week before he sends out three 3-year-olds in search of a repeat victory in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, trainer Bob Baffert has some business out of town.

Baffert is in Dubai overseeing Silver Charm as the 5-year-old tries for another win in the $5-million Dubai World Cup, but the trainer will return to the United States and be at Turfway Park on Saturday to saddle Straight Man in the $750,000 Gallery Furniture Stakes.

Silver Charm, who will run against Malek and Victory Gallop, among others, had his final work for the 1 1/4-mile race Tuesday morning. Third without an excuse in the Big ‘Cap earlier this month, Silver Charm went 57 3/5 seconds with exercise rider Pepe Aragon aboard.

Straight Man, who will be making his stakes debut after two wins at Santa Anita, is expected to have seven opponents, including Lethal Instrument, second to Straight Man in a 1 1/16-mile race March 6.

The rest of the field will consist of Epic Honor, who has won two stakes in Northern California; Stephen Got Even, The Groom Is Red, Aly’s Alley, Machine To Tower and K One King, a two-time stakes winner at Turfway who was purchased last week by Madeleine Paulson for a figure reported to be between $1 million and $2 million.

Formerly called the Jim Beam Stakes, the Gallery Furniture will be run at 1 1/8 miles. David Flores will ride Straight Man and Chris McCarron Lethal Instrument.

Horse Racing Notes

Michael Wrona, who worked as Hollywood Park’s track announcer in 1990 and briefly a year later, will return to the Inglewood track when its spring-summer meet begins April 23. The Australian-born Wrona, who has been at Golden Gate Fields since 1992, replaces Luke Kruytbosch, who left to become the race caller at Churchill Downs and Ellis Park in Kentucky. Wrona, 33, will also call at Turf Paradise in Phoenix. . . . There is a Pick Six carryover for today of $106,997.59. . . . Hollywood Park probably will have a noon post every day except for the five Friday night cards. . . . Reraise, the champion sprinter of 1998, worked six furlongs in 1:10 4/5 Wednesday morning at Hollywood Park and will make his first start of the year in the $200,000 Potrero Grande Breeders’ Cup Handicap on April 3 at Santa Anita or the $125,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap five days later at Oaklawn Park.