Speed Boat Beach

Favored Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) led home a one-two finish for Bob Baffert in the GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita Tuesday, putting away stablemate Hejazi (Bernardini) down the lane to give the trainer his record-tying sixth win in the race--and third in the last four years--and longtime owners Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman and Karl Watson their first victory in the Arcadia track's traditional opening-day feature. "Turning for home I knew I was going to win it," Baffert said. "I wasn't sure which one it was going to be, I...

Boxing Day is not a holiday observed on the American calendar--thanks, Revolutionary generation. However, the day after Christmas is circled in red by the horse racing cadre because it means one thing: Opening Day at Santa Anita Park. This Tuesday, an 11-race card kicks off at 2 p.m. ET under the picturesque San Gabriel mountains in Arcadia, California--six of which are graded stakes. To entice the horseplayer, the Classic Meet sports a $1 Pick Six, a 14 percent takeout on both the .50 Early and Late Pick 5, and we...

GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was first onto the main track Monday morning when he worked a bullet five furlongs in :59 flat, will walk at the barn Tuesday, and then is planned to return to the track Wednesday. "He's healthy, he's working well. There have been no hiccups," Baffert said. "He's ready. I know this is going to be a tough race, but if he brings his 'A' game, I don't really care who's running against us. That's my focus with him." The colt made...

Godolphin homebred Proxy (Tapit) had his final serious drill Sunday for an expected start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The 5-year-old breezed 5 furlongs in 1:02 on the fast track with regular jockey Joel Rosario in the saddle. The plan was to go in company with Godolphin's unraced 2-year-old colt Surveyor (Medaglia d'Oro), but the duo was unexpectedly joined by workers from other trainers. Despite the surprise, trainer Mike Stidham, Godolphin Chief Operating Officer Dan Pride and Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan were all smiles watching from the Grandstand....

Two contenders for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic worked Monday but, due to foggy conditions at Santa Anita, only one received an official time. With trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. in from New York to observe, White Abarrio (Race Day) worked five furlongs in 1:00.20. About an hour later, Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) went to the track to work with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith up. Due to the fog, Equibase clockers were unable to determine a final time and distance. Geaux Rocket Ride's trainer, Richard Mandella, said...

All four winners of Santa Anita's stakes on Saturday--Slow Down Andy (Nyquist), Dr. Schivel (Violence), Lane Way (Into Mischief) and Hong Kong Harry (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire})--were resting and doing well Sunday morning. Three from that group will head to the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Nov. 3-4. Slow Down Andy, front-running winner of the GII Awesome Again, "ate up a full feed tub and is doing great this morning," said Leandro Mora, assistant for trainer Doug O'Neill. Second in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland,...

In a battle of raw speed, Dr. Schivel (Violence) proved to be too much to beat as he outlasted a returning Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) to take the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. Last seen running a close-up third in the GI Bing Crosby S. at Del Mar over the summer, Dr. Schivel had plenty of back class to call on here: third last year at Meydan in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen for his only start of the season, second to Aloha West (Hard Spun) in the 2021...

The catalog for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training is now available at the OBS website at www.obssales.com. The 2023 iteration of the March Sale has been lengthened to three days and will take place Monday through Wednesday, Mar. 20-22, with sessions beginning at 11 a.m. daily. Hips 1-278 will be offered Mar. 20, Hips 279-566 on Mar. 21 and hips 567 through 833 on Mar. 22. Under-tack previews will take place over the course of four days, Mar. 14 (hips 1-208), Mar. 15 (209-416),...

Bob Baffert supplies two-thirds of the field for Sunday's GIII Sham S. at Santa Anita, but he is no slam dunk to walk away with a record-extending ninth renewal of the event, given the imposing presence of 'TDN Rising Star' Spun Intended (Hard Spun). The chestnut had a bit of buzz about him ahead of his Oct. 30 debut over 6 1/2 furlongs of this main track, and he nearly overcame a slow start and wide trip to run Fort Warren (Curlin) to a half-length, a performance that was also...

Stretching out on the grass for the first time, Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) gave the Bob Baffert barn a rare graded stakes victory on turf in Sunday's GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. at Del Mar. Off at 17-10 after touching 6-5 late in the wagering, Speed Boat Beach showed good early speed, but Game Time (Not This Time) speared through at the fence to take up the running into the first turn. Speed Boat Beach settled nicely for this first go at a route of ground...

The dams of four Grade I winners, including a pair of 2-year-olds that will be among the favorites for the juvenile dirt races at the upcoming Breeders' Cup meeting at Keeneland, are among the initial supplemental entries to The November Sale to be held at Fasig-Tipton's Newtown Paddocks Sunday, Nov. 6. Trophy Girl (Warrior's Reward) will be offered by Denali Stud as hip 302. The 9-year-old mare, selling in foal to dual Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality, is the dam of Blazing Sevens (Good Magic), third behind recent GI Claiborne...

Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), owner of a gaudy 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his Sept. 10 debut score on the Del Mar dirt over $3.55-million stablemate Hejazi (Bernardini) after blazing a furlong in a bullet :9.3 at OBSMAR, took to the turf with aplomb in Sunday's Speakeasy S. at Santa Anita, earning an automatic berth into the starting gate for the Nov. 4 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Backed like a lock at 2-5 making a rare dirt-to-turf move for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert,...