Baeza was compelled to accept third place in each the Kentucky Derby offered by Woodford Reserve and the Belmont Stakes offered by Neelabett this spring, however couldn’t deny a Grade 1 victory.
Baeza got here from the tempo, circling his rival on a distant flip, taking command within the stretch, and incomes a transparent victory at Parx Racing within the $1 million grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on September twentieth.
Baeza’s groundbreaking victory counts among the many most satisfying victories of coach John Shirreffs.
“At the moment is without doubt one of the most enjoyable races I have been to and to inform you the reality,” Shirev mentioned. “For all hope and all the pieces we had for Baeza. All accumulation. It was precisely like ‘That is at this time’. ”
Baeza defeated 9 rivals within the closing main stakes race of his 3-year-old season, securing his first profession grade 1 victory. He accomplished 1/8 mile with a quick observe at 1:48.03 and received for two 1/4 size, resulting in a victory from Jockey Hector Verios. Magnitude revolved late to say the second. The objective orientation was third and two extra lengths.
Owned by CRK Steady and breeder Grandview Equine, Baeza has garnered reward all through the spring as considered one of America’s prime three-year-olds due to the classical winner’s sovereignty and robust performances on journalism, however he has at all times been considered one of two or each in 4 consecutive begins. Together with his absence on Saturday, the stress was lastly to get a top-level victory.
“This was a day to ‘show it’,” Shirev mentioned. “He did that.”
Pushing in direction of the again of the 10-horsepower subject, Belios urged Baeza to stay connected to the again of the group, to not be too late.
Regularly transferring his again up because the sandy seashore at 23.01, :46.63, and 1:10.51 set the fractions, Belios referred to as out to Baeza with three-thirds of the pole and responded instantly.
“He responded and after I noticed the opposite horses, I mentioned, ‘It is our victory, our race.’
Baeza cruised to the competitors, approaching his new chief, objective orientation on the quarter pole and pulling out the stretch. He paid $4.80 to win as a favourite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Loghkwtd388
Shirreffs has seen main enhancements in Baeza for the reason that starting of this yr. “He actually exhibits a terrific signal of maturity,” he mentioned.
Baeza was the sophomore winner of this yr for McKinzie bulls. Baeza’s victory was additionally monumental to his dam, Puka. Puka has produced a foal that received Grade 1 for the third consecutive yr, after profitable the 2023 Kentucky Derby and the 2024 Belmont Stakes, after Baeza’s brothers, Mage and Dornock, respectively. All three Colts had been stored in Kentucky by Robert Clay’s Grandview horse.
Shirreffs haven’t dedicated to the $7 million Longines Breeders ‘Cup Basic at Del Mar in Baeza’s subsequent race on November 1st, but it surely’s a logical place to run given the horses are based mostly in Southern California.
Shirreffs acquired a giant smile on his face as they mentioned their hopes for the 4-year-old marketing campaign. He was additionally keen about one other shot at Sovereignty, who was the winner in all three earlier begins for Baeza.
“I’ve at all times appeared ahead to the shot of sovereignty,” Shirev mentioned.
Clicquot made a splash in his Grade 1 debut, equipping Dry Dreaminggirl and received a $1 million Grade 1 Cotillion stake on September twentieth at Parx Racing in a dramatic battle with Wire.
Racing between horses early underneath Irad Ortiz Jr., Clicot unsubscribed from giving up robust strikes for the house. Charging the middle of the truck, a stuffed stuffed stuffing falls down the lane and away from the cussed dry powder and hits the neck, with the second half of 42-1 shot ourdaydreaminggirl in the back of one other head.
“It is simple to say that now, however I assumed it was a good achievement from her to assist her beat these mares, the comparatively evenly raced mares,” Walsh mentioned.
Coach Brendan Walsh and house owners X-Males Race, Madaket Stables and her fourth victory in SF Racing, Crickcott ($12.60), stopped the watch 1/16 miles at 1:42.85. The victory marked the subsequent step within the ladder of regular enchancment for Clicot, who introduced him a Grade 3 victory for the Indiana Oaks within the closing race on July fifth.
“We have been planning all alongside and going right here if she wins in Indiana and provides her an opportunity,” Walsh mentioned. “She works extremely nicely. Like the highest horses do. Her perspective exhibits that she is in each class. I am unable to say sufficient about her. She makes our work simpler.”
One of many a number of Grade 1 winners on this subject won’t be thought-about within the closing end result. Posttime favourite Scotland Russy was fourth, Lakara was fifth, and Rondaine Kentucky Oaks winner Goodchair misplaced 3 times in a row to complete sixth. – Molly Rollins
