Baffert's Derby challenger, Bob and John, wins Memorial

The three-time Derby winning trainer sent out Bob and John to victory in Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial, followed about an hour later by Point Determined's runner-up finish to Brother Derek in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.

The results in two of the final major preps for the Derby has Baffert in great shape to make another run for the roses in four weeks.

Baffert was at Aqueduct for Bob and John's 1 1/2-length win over Jazil, then left for the airport for the return trip to California.

In the rain, he loved what he saw from Bob and John.

Bob and John, making his first start outside California, caught pacesetter Keyed Entry at the top of the stretch over a sloppy track and took control inside the eighth pole. Jazil came charging down the stretch and nipped Keyed Entry by a half-length for second in the nine-horse field.

"This is a very nice young horse," Baffert said. "He changes every month because he's so young. When you have a horse that good with that kind of breeding, you know he's going to get better. This was a good test."

And now it's on to Louisville, where Baffert won the Derby with Silver Charm in 1997, Real Quiet in 1998 and War Emblem in 2002. Baffert's two Derby horses since then finished 14th (Indian Express in 2003) and 17th (Sort It Out in 2005).

Bob and John, third in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 18, is owned by Stonerside Stable's Bob McNair, who also owns the Houston Texans. In addition to having a Derby prospect, McNair's Texans also have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft in a few weeks.

Named for Bob McNair and Stonerside manager John Adger, Bob and John covered the 1 1/8 miles in a slow 1:51.54. Baffert came East in an effort to take his colt away from speed-favoring California tracks.

"Just goes to show you that there is so much speed in California, it's like a vacation when you get away from there," Baffert said.

Bob and John, ridden by Garrett Gomez, won for the fourth time in nine career starts and earned $450,000 to boost his career bankroll to $680,070.

The winner, sent off as the 2-1 second choice behind Keyed Entry, returned $6.40, $4.50 and $2.70. Jazil, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, paid $12.20 and $4.80. Keyed Entry returned $2.10 for show.

Scanlon's Song was fourth, followed by Platinum Couple, Deputy Glitters, Greeley's Legacy, Niagara Causeway and Marco's Tale.

UA alumnus Todd Pletcher, who trains Keyed Entry, said he will wait a few days before making a Derby decision.

"I'm not going to jump to any conclusions just yet," Pletcher said. "We'll see how he comes out of it."

Earlier, Baffert's Too Much Bling won the Bayshore Stakes by nine lengths over Songster. Sent off at even odds, Too Much Bling returned $4.20 and covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.40 under Gomez.

Baffert reaffirmed that the 3-year-old colt was not a Derby contender.

"We're just glad he's a fast son of a gun," the trainer said. "We'll keep him at one-turn races for now."

The day was not a complete washout for Pletcher. Bishop Court Hill won the seven-furlong Carter Handicap.