In what appears to be a David vs. Goliath at Santa Anita . Park January 8, Coach Mark Glatt’s prolong the plan will take on four Bob Baffert interns out of six sophomores in the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) field at one mile.
The Sham, which has won Baffert eight times, is likely to provide qualifying scores on a 10-4-3-2-1 scale from first to fifth on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. However, because Churchill Downs Inc. suspending Baffert’s private property through mid-2023 for drug violations, his horses are ineligible for points.
A tough second in its 6.5-second debut on October 30, Spun Intended impressed at the one-mile range on November 26 at Del Mar, galloping 6 1/2 lengths with a ratio of 4-5. Owned by Edge Racing and Muir Hut Stables, son of Spin hard will probably show a lot of speed on his first try around two turns and there seem to be a lot of team mates ahead in the Baffert brigade. Spun Intended will be ridden for the third time in a row by Mike Smith.
The first winner goes 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar September 3rd National treasures then came in second, beaten by a highly rated stablemate 5 1/4 lengths stone cave at 1 1/16 miles in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) October 8. Then finished third, beaten 3 3/4 by 8-1 in the Breeders’ Cup for minors ( G1) at Keeneland November 4, Quality Sugar colt has regular racer John Velazquez up.
“This is the time of year you see them maturing, and this horse is maturing as well,” Baffert said. “I think he ran a big race in the Breeders’ Cup, and he continues to work that way.”
National Treasure and John Velazquez in the paddock before the Breeders’ Cup Juniors at Keeneland
Videotapes
Baffert is trained regeneration , runner-up ran a mile on grass in the first two starts, switched to dirt in the third start, went 1 1/16 mile at Santa Anita Nov. 4 and ran a much improved race, about second after 3/4 of the distance. Then favored in the one-mile race on November 25 atDel Marregeneration (good magic ), who was pressed all the time, won 3/4 of the time at Velazquez’s hands.
With Velazquez aboard the National Treasure, Juan Hernandez aboard the Reincarnation.
“He’s a strong horse,” said Baffert. “It’s not as fast as other horses, but it can jump if it’s fast. It wants to go a mile and a half. Distance will be its friend.”
Baffert’s eight Sham Stakes include the last three, with Newgrange (2022), Life Is Good (2021) and Authentic, who will also win the Kentucky Derby in 2020.
Most recently came in second, beaten by a stable friend 1 1/4 lengths Havameltdown take seven stretches during Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar on November 20, Baffert’s new gate the winner of the first five distances, four starts back on July 30, will try two runs a second time.
new port (into naughty ), who has been ridden by Velazquez in all four of his previous starts, will get Frankie Dettori’s first service. In an earlier route, Newgate finished fifth far away in his only attempt by about two turns starting with a wide October 8 draw Breeders Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.
“I think he’s better than he’s shown,” Baffert said of Newgate. “He’s the kind of guy who’s physically and mentally slower to mature. We’re trying to find him, and that’s the point of these races.”
National Treasure, Reincarnation and Newgate share common ownership, racing to win the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, JWaves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.
The biggest question mark in Baffert’s quartet seems to be Speedboat Beach , who, although he ran fast on his main track debut, has competed on grass in the previous three starts — winning two bets. In his most recent attempt, and in his first attempt about two turns, the son of Bayern took the one-mile Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T) on the Del Mar lawn on December 4 for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.
Last week, Baffert scratched him off Eddie Logan Stakes on the pitch.
“He’s a horse we’ve been thinking about sending to the Arabian Derby and Dubai, so I wanted to prepare him for the dirt road,” Baffert said.
Baffert wouldn’t be surprised to see him lead Flavien Prat early.
“He’s incredibly fast, definitely the fastest of the bunch,” Baffert said.
Baffert’s eight Sham Stakes scores include three from the past: Newgrange (2022), life is good (2021) and Accuracy who would go on to win the 2020 Kentucky Derby.
Like Speed Boat Beach, double win game Pack a Wahlop (creative cause ) moves from field to field, doing so for coach Jeff Mullins and owner of Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal. The 3-year-old added blinking eyes.
Item: Dummy S. (G3)
Santa Anita . ParkSunday, January 8, 2023, Race No. 8
- Class III
- 1m
- dust
- 100,000 USD
- 3 years old
- 3:30pm (local)
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
