In a performance akin to stablemate Adare Manor by Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) earlier on the February 6 card at Santa Anita . ParkBob Baffert trained Messier spike over the 15-minute stretch at the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3).
Owned by a partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm, Messier has impressively broken her maidenhood at the asking time. second at the age of 2 last October at Santa Anita before capturing Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar in its share offering. In his last start at the age of 2, the son of Empire Maker was defeated a length by Slow down Andy in an upcoming issue of Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) December 11.
A short 3-5 favorite in Lewis, Messier broke through from his inside post and took the lead while being closely watched by Sir London and Cabo Spirit . As the trio made the quick first quarter-mile in:23.24 and half-mile in:46.94, jockey John Velazquez shook Messier’s reins on the final turn and the foal began Stabilize the distance with his opponents. Cabo Spirit tried to stay with Messier but the half-Ontario man ran out of the alley, roaring home under a handcart.
Messier hit 1/16 of a mile on the fast track with a solid 1:42.89. Cabo Spirit completed seven long runs ahead of Messier’s cagemate Wharton in part three. The winner paid $3.20.
Baffert said: “(Assistant) Jim (Barnes) once worked for Johnny (Messier) for me and he gave me some good comments about him. “He’s growing up, I can tell today he’s growing, he’s getting bigger. You can tell when I put the saddle on him. He looks amazing, he looks like a baby. section. There are some good horses in there, they are legal horses.”
“I had to work with him three weeks ago, just once, and I really have a good feeling about him,” Velazquez said. “But today, Bob said to me, ‘We have two really good chances and I think today these two horses will impress you.” I mean, he wasn’t wrong. From the very beginning I thought they were right today. “
Asked if Messier was at home and pointed to the Runhappy Santa Anita (G1) race on April 9, Baffert replied: “I don’t know yet. That depends on my other horses to see. (what they are like) We always go with whoever has a good record that week (and him) to get on a plane or stay here. So right now, we’re going to enjoy this. and I’m happy to have a horse like this in my stable.”
Although Lewis valued 10-4-2-1 for the first four finishers on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Messier was unable to score any points due to Baffert serving a two-year suspension. Churchill Downs through the Kentucky racetrack’s spring 2023 encounter. However, because Messier was raised in Ontario, that makes him eligible to compete in the Canadian Triple Crown series for 3-year-olds, starting with Queen’s Plate on August 21 in Honeysuckle.
Bred by Sam-Son Farms, Messier is the third foal and the first produced by a Smart Strike mare to win multiple shares. Past marked . The dam has a longing longing by Candy Ride and bred with Real for the year 2022.
Messier increased his earnings to $285,600 from a 3-2-0 record in five starts. It was purchased by SF/Starlight/Madaket for $470,000 from Sam-Son Farm’s shipment at the 2020 Selected Annual Fish Show Fasig-Tipton.
Videotapes: Robert B. Lewis S. (G3)
