12/26/11- The Factor Cruises in Malibu Stakes Courtesy of The Blood-Horse
Fog City Stable and George Bolton's The Factor zipped to a decisive victory in the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) before a crowd of more than 40,000 on the opening day card at Santa Anita
After breaking quickly from the outside 11 post position, The Factor and jockey Martin Garcia dueled with Centralingeligence and Joel Rosario for the early lead before the latter dropped back nearing the three-eighths pole and was eventually eased.
A 3-year-old son of War Front --Greyciousness, by Miswaki, trained by Bob Baffert, The Factor zipped along in :22.61 for the first quarter mile, completed the half in a quick :44.61, and got the six furlongs in 1:07.96. The colt went on to win by 3 1/2 lengths, with Rothko and Corey Nakatani finishing second. The 123 pound highweight, The Factor completed the seven furlongs in 1:19.89, just missing the track record of 1:19.70.
The Malibu was the fifth win in nine starts for The Factor, who has now earned $652,180. The Malibu was the second grade I win of the year for The Factor, who previously won the Pat O’Brien. Earlier in the season, the colt was a classic contender, winning the San Vicente (gr. II) and Rebel Stakes (gr. II) before finishing seventh in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I).
Bred in Kentucky by H&W Thoroughbreds, The Factor was purchased at the 2010 Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training for $250,000.
8/28/11 - THE FACTOR stamped himself as a "TDN Rising Star" with a track-record setting 8 1/4-length maiden score at Santa Anita Dec. 26. He put himself squarely on the Triple Crown trail with wins in the Feb. 20 GII San Vicente S. and GII Rebel S., but suffered a hairline fracture to a hind ankle while running seventh in the Apr. 16 GI Arkansas Derby and went to the sidelines.
Facing older horses for the first time here, the gray colt battled favored Smiling Tiger (Hold That Tiger) through fractions of :22.41 and :44.28. The Factor forged clear as Smiling Tiger began to fade after six furlongs in 1:08.60 and the gray flashed under the wire a confident winner.
"He was just cruising," reported winning rider Martin Garcia. "[Smiling Tiger] was outside and [Joel Rosario] was riding to get up front. My horse was running easy. He took me up in there without even trying. My horse is really fast. And you saw it today: not only is he fast--maybe as fast a horse as I've ever ridden--but he'll keep on going. He wasn't getting tired or backing up there at the end at all. He's a really nice horse."
Winning trainer Bob Baffert added, "When this horse is really on his game he is an extraordinary horse. I'm just glad to have him back. He's got the most beautiful stride I've ever seen on a horse. It's like he barely picks up his feet."
3/19/11-Exciting Indian Creek sales grad
The Factor firmly on the Derby Trail
Article Courtesy of the Blood-Horse
Add The Factor to this year's list of serious contenders on the Triple Crown trail. The brilliant colt, trained in Southern California by Bob Baffert, proved his ability to get a route of ground with a crushing win in the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park March 19
Ridden by Martin Garcia, the favored (7-5) son of War Front turned in an electrifying front-running effort in the 1 1/16 mile Rebel, drawing away from a deep field of 3-year-olds to win by 6 1/4 lengths. The final time was 1:42.19 over a fast track.
Fog City Stable and George Bolton own the brilliant The Factor, who has been remarkable so far this this year in a pair of grade II stakes triumphs. Those followed a maiden win by 8 1/4 lengths Dec. 26 at Santa Anita in which he covered six furlongs in an eye-catching 1:06.98 and earned a 108 Beyer. He returned to capture the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) at seven furlongs over a wet-fast track Feb. 20 in a superb 1:20.34 (103 Beyer).
Out of the Misawki mare Greyciousness, The Factor was bred in Kentucky by H & W Thoroughbreds. The gray/roan colt was purchased for $250,000 as a 2-year-old at Barretts last May.
The Factor made it consecutive wins in the Rebel for Baffert, who took the 2010 renewal with Lookin at Lucky .
The start of the Rebel was held up for about five minutes when Alternation flipped in the starting gate in post 1, necessitating a veterinarian scratch and reducing the remaining field to nine.
“I was concerned because my horse was in the gate when (Alternation) started acting up. Anytime something like that happens it can get horses near him stirred up," Baffert said. "I’m glad they got them out of there quickly.
"It was pretty amazing what he did today. I was a little worried coming over from Santa Anita because the track there is much lighter. This was a more demanding track and I think he probably got the most out of this than any race so far."
Baffert said he was leaning toward returning to Oaklawn for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) at 1 1/8 miles April 16.
"Right now I’d say we would probably come back. He clearly could have gone a mile and an eighth today,” he said.
The Factor out-broke 34-1 outsider Saratoga Red for the early lead and appeared to be coasting for Garcia as he zoomed off to a 2 1/2-length advantage, which he maintained as he clicked off solid fractions of :23.33, :46.77 and 1:10.98. With Saratoga Red, Archarcharch, J P's Gusto, and Caleb's Posse stalking him, The Factor led through the final turn and took a two-length lead into the stretch.
Caleb's Posse, up five wide on the outside for Eusebio Razo Jr., was poised to challenge for the lead at the top of the lane but The Factor never let him get close, edging away to a commanding three-length lead mid-stretch. The Factor finished well under some right-handed urging from Garcia while lengthening his margin of victory in the final furlong.
“He is really that fast," Garcia said afterward. "He surprises a lot of people. He doesn’t look like he’s going as fast as he is. He just keeps going. Today was his first time going that distance and look what he did. Nobody was going to catch him today.
2/20/11 - THE FACTOR Dazzles Again in San Vicente
Courtesy of the Blood-Horse
Heavily favored The Factor showed his speedy reputation is no hype when he turned back a good group of 3-year-olds in winning the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) by three-quarters of a length at Santa Anita Feb. 20.
Bob Baffert won his record sixth San Vicente with The Factor, who completed the seven-furlong test in a sizzling time of 1:20.34 with Martin Garcia aboard him for the first time. Now victorious in two of his three starts, Fog City Stable and George Bolton's gray/roan son of War Front was making his stakes debut.
This was the second blazing win in a row for The Factor, who set a six-furlong track record of 1:06.98 at Santa Anita on a lightning-quick main track Dec. 26 while defeating maidens by 8 1/4 lengths.
“He’s so talented," Baffert said of The Factor. "I knew he was going to get a lot of pressure up front. I told Martin, ‘You are the speed. Let’s go with him and find out what he’s made of.’ He got a little tired at the end. That’s a nice horse that ran second."
City Cool broke on top with The Factor racing between that one and Premier Pegasus to his outside. The Factor soon put his head in front as the field made its way onto the main track and Premier Pegasus settled into third for Alonso Quinonez.
The Factor led a hard-pressing City Cool through an opening quarter mile of :22.20 and drew out to a 1 1/2-length advantage as he reached the half in a sizzling :43.41. As he edged away from City Cool, Premier Pegasus moved to challenge leaving the bend. But The Factor was too much for that rival as well, and with Garcia urging him on with a right-handed whip, he soon opened up a daylight lead while reaching the furlong pole in 1:07.31.
Sway Away, rallying from about eight lengths back on the turn, closed resolutely under vigorous handling by Garrett Gomez and was making up ground late on The Factor, who appeared to be tiring somewhat as he approached the wire. Sway Away, in an impressive effort for his first race since last August, wound up second by 2 1/2 lengths. Grade III winner Premier Pegasus, previously undefeated in three starts, finished third.
“He has a lot of speed and I know that the horse inside of me had a lot of speed, too," Garcia said. "I just let him break by himself. The more you fight, the more he’s going to take off. He doesn’t want to be behind horses, so I just let him be comfortable and he kept going. He is still learning.
"This is only the third time he has been out. I think the more that he runs, the better he will get. I don’t think any horse can keep up with him, as fast as he went.”
The Factor, expected to progress on the Triple Crown trail with the San Vicente win, picked up $90,000 in graded earnings. He'll likely need to show he can route next, but he is now two-for-two on dirt.
Baffert was non-commital on the next start for his talented youngster.
“One thing about George (Bolton), he’s very patient," he said. "He’s been in this game a long time and we’ll wait for The Factor to tell us when he’s ready to jump back into the fray. It’s hard to get a horse like this. They don’t come around very often."
Bred in Kentucky by H & W Thoroughbreds, the colt is out of the Miswaki mare Greyciousness and cost $250,000 as a 2-year-old at Barretts last May.
The Factor began his career with a fourth-place finish going 6 1/2 furlongs on the Hollywood Park Cushion Track Nov. 28.
The 9-10 choice carried 118 pounds and paid $3.80, $2.80 and $2.40 and keyed an $11 exacta.
Sway Away, last seen finishing second to J P's Gusto as the 3-2 favorite in Del Mar's Best Pal Stakes (gr. II), showed he's one to watch for trainer Jeff Bonde. Sway Away returned $3.60 and $2.80.
“It’s heartbreaking to lose, but that’s the way the game goes," Bonde said. "This horse is the best (Kentucky) Derby chance I’ve had in many years. He probably could have used one more work and he maybe got back a little too far today, but he showed me enough that I’m still a believer in him."
Premier Pegasus had been away since winning the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) Nov. 20 and had just three published workouts since. He paid $3.60 to show for owner/breeder/trainer Myung Kwon Cho.
In his first start on dirt, Irish import Surrey Star finished 1 1/2 lengths back in fourth. He was followed by Sinai and City Cool. Metropolitan Man, Oakcrest Drive, and Indian Winter scratched.
1/9/11 - The Factor Zips over Santa Anita Dirt...
Courtesy of the TDN
“TDN Rising Star” The Factor (War Front) showed no signs of slowing down at Santa Anita
Sunday when working five furlongs in :58 flat under former jockey Joe Steiner. "I didn't want
him to go that fast," admitted trainer Bob Baffert. "He went a little too fast--He got away
from the rider." The gray was fourth in his career bow at Hollywood Nov. 28, but bounced back to set a track record of 1:06.98 for six furlongs while winning by 8 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita Dec. 26. As for what lies ahead for the talented colt, Baffert was tight lipped. "I don"t know
what I'm going to do..I'm not saying nothing," said Baffert, adding, "I know nothing."
2010 NEWS
12/30/10 - X Factor...
George Bolton and Fog City Stable's The Factor (War Front) established himself as a “TDN Rising Star” when he set a new track record of 1:06.98 at Santa Anita Sunday and, two days later, was featured on "The O'Reilly Factor" on the Fox News Network.
"As soon as the colt hit the wire on Sunday, we initiated contact with O'Reilly's production staff and they were very receptive," said Santa Anita Director of Publicity Mike Willman. "I knew there were some horseracing friendly people involved with the show, and the fact that this horse is a bona fide Derby prospect made it an easy sell. When they saw The Factor's race from the
three-eighths pole home and they heard Trevor's [Denman] call, it was a done deal. We were hoping they'd use it on their Pinheads and Patriots segment, and they did. It' s up to [trainer Bob] Baffert now to keep this horse right of center and out of trouble on the Derby trail. Bob's super-high on him and, if he continues to improve, it could be a heckuva ride for all of us."
12/26/10: The FACTOR was selected by Iroquios Bloodstock and sold as a yearling by Indian Creek. As a two year old he topped the Barrets May Sale, bringing $250,000.
Courtesy of the TDN
9/5/01- LETHAL COMBINATION (2007 Broken Vow - Yard g.) won the GIII Saranac Stakes at Saratoga. Lethal Combination was bred, raised, and sold by Indian Creek.
9/2/10- BREVITY (2008 Street Cry-Cut Short f.) won the EBF Dick Poole Fillies S. at Salisbury. BREVITY was foaled and raised at Indian Creek and her 1/2 brother by Exchange Rate sells as hip 559 in Keeneland September.
8/10/10 BREVITY (2008 Street Cry-Cut Short f.) breaks her maiden at Ffos Las - congratulations to owner/breeder Clievenden Stud and trainer Brian Meehan. BREVITY was foaled and raised at Indian Creek. BREVITY'S half brother by Exchange Rate will be selling as hip 559 at the 2010 Keeneland September Sale!
8/12/10 FORK LIGHTNING (2007 Storm Cat-Last Second f.) breaks her maiden at Epsom - congratulations to owner/breeder Denford Stud and trainer Sir Mark Prescott. FORK LIGHTNING was foaled and raised at Indian Creek.
8/16/10 FLOWER FAIRY (2007 Dynaformer-Santolina f.) breaks her maiden at Kempton Park for HRH Princess Haya of Jordan and trainer John Gosden. FLOWER FAIRY was bred, raised, and sold by Indian Creek on behalf of our partners Hugo Lascelles, Anthony Stroud, and W B Isaacs III. FLOWER FAIRY'S half brother by Proud Citizen is slated to sell as hip 1293 at the Keeneland September Sale. Look for Santolina and her weanling colt by Raven's Pass in the 2010 Keeneland November Sale as well!
8/13/10 BONIFACIO (2006 Even the Score-Contessa Halo f.) wins the Daisycutter at Del Mar for Chandler & Graham and trainer Craig Dollase. BONIFACIO was sold by Indian Creek for Iroquois Bloodstock and Hedberg Hall, Inc.
5/10/2010 - 2yo War Front colt tops Barretts - sold by Indian Creek as a yearling
A colt from the first crop of multiple graded stakes winner War Front (Danzig) elicited a bid of $250,000 to top Monday's Barretts May Two-Year-Old in Training Sale in Pomona, California. The colt was the lone purchase for prominent owner George Bolton, who most notably was a partner in Curlin during that champion's racing days.
Jerry Bailey Sales Agency consigned the topper as hip 48. Produced by the winning Greyciousness (Miswaki), a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Chief Seattle (Seattle Slew). Bailey sent him out to a one-eighth breeze at the under-tack show May 7, and the big-striding colt zipped the distance in :10 flat (video) without being asked. It was the co-second-fastest move at the distance.
