Wynstock will try to do what his father couldn’t
At 0h02, on February 1, 2024 • By OAKLAWN PARK
From the first crop of Solomini, Wynstock is among the favorites for the $800,000 G3-Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Oaklawn, a 1 1/16-mile race postponed one week because of winter weather. The Southwest is Oaklawn’s second Kentucky Derby points race, a series that continues with the $1.25 million G2-Rebel Stakes Feb. 24 and $1.5 million G1-Arkansas Derby March 30.
Solomini, in 2018, ran second in the Rebel and third in the Arkansas Derby for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, . Baffert also trains Wynstock, a New York-bred who makes his 3-year-old debut and first start outside California in the Southwest. Baffert has won the Southwest two consecutive years and a record six times overall.
“He reminds me a little bit of Solomini,” Baffert said Monday afternoon. “Sort of lazy in the mornings, if you watch him train. He just does what he has to do, but he’s a big, strong colt. He’s bigger than Solomini. He’s a bigger, stronger colt than his sire.”
Wynstock was purchased last April for $700,000 – almost 10 times higher than Solomini’s 2024 stud fee – at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. Wynstock zipped an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 in his under-tack preview workout, which Baffert said contributed to the colt’s hefty sales price. Solomini stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
“At the time, taking a big chance on a freshman sire,” Baffert said. “You never know what they’re going to do, but the Solominis seem like they’re running well. He looks good. He’s doing well and he’s got a lot of speed.”
Wynstock hasn’t started since a half-length victory in the $200,000 G2-Los Alamitos Futurity at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 16. Wynstock, unbeaten in two starts around two turns, is an anomaly because Baffert’s horses traditionally flourish in sprint races to begin their careers.
Wynstock, however, flopped as the favorite in his first two career starts, both at 6 ½ furlongs. But in his next start, and two-turn debut, Wynstock broke his maiden by 7 ½ front-running lengths at one-mile Oct. 15 at Santa Anita. Wynstock then outdueled more heralded stablemates Coach Prime and Wine Me Up in the Los Alamitos Futurity. Wynstock went off 13-1 in both victories.
Wynstock (the 4-1 second choice on the morning line) is scheduled to break from post 5 under Kyle Frey, who is two-for-two on the colt. Baffert trains Wynstock for Los Alamitos executives Ed Allred and Jack Liebau.
