Heavily-favored Cezanne didn't disappoint in his debut around two turns for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, capturing the $45,000 feature Thursday at Los Alamitos in Cypress, Calif.
A $3.65 million purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream 2-year-olds in training sale in March 2019, the 3-year-old son of Curlin and the Bernardini mare Achieving is now 2-for-2 after dispatching of Mongolian Legend and three others 26 days after breaking his maiden going 6 ½ furlongs.
After breaking from the outside under jockey Flavien Prat, Cezanne, who is owned by Michael Tabor, Michael B. Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and co-breeder St. Elias Stable, Cezanne sat off the pace set by stablemate Bronn, then took charge with a quick burst at the top of the long stretch and went on to win by 1 3/4 lengths as the 1-10 choice.
“I think he made the lead a little early and was kind of lost (late in the stretch) but I thought it was good,'' said Baffert. “We wanted to get a nice two turn race into him. He needed it and he ran pretty fast.
“I'm glad we found this spot. He's got a ways to go, but he's improving. We'll have to see how he comes out of this, but we'll try to find a little stakes race for him, probably out of town.
“He's a heavy horse and he needed that,” Baffert added. “After his first race he was blowing pretty hard, but today he wasn't as tired. He's getting fit. I was very happy with his race. The party continues.”
Cezanne was the sixth individual betting choice at 19-1 in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5 that closed on June 28. Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law was the favorite at 2-1.
Cezanne, who has banked $57,000 for his wins, returned $2.20 and $2.10. There was no show wagering.
Mongolian Legend, the longest shot in the cast of five at 33-1, paid $6.80. Bronn, who was making his first start since graduating at Los Alamitos last Sept. 8, Itsthattime and Never Easy completed the order of finish.
Racing resumes Friday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 1 p.m.
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