Cave Rock kept his record perfect Saturday with a commanding victory in the $300,000 American Pharoah (G1) for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita.
The Arrogate colt led from the start under Juan Hernandez and won by open lengths dominating in his first start at 1 1/16 miles, finishing in 1:43.05 on a fast track.
Cave Rock was one of four runners from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and they swept the top four spots. Cave Rock led in stablemates National Treasure, the runner-up; Hajazi, third; and Gandolfini, fourth in the field of eight.
With the victory, Cave Run earned an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 4 at Keeneland as the American Pharoah is a Breeders' Cup Challenge 'Win and You're In' qualifier.
Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Cave Rock set early fractions of :22.96, :46.82 and 1:11.07 for six furlongs with National Treasure in pursuit but he could not best the winner.
A perfect 3-for-3 with Saturday's win, Cave Rock came in off a wire-to-wire 5 ¼-length triumph in the Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) Sept. 11 at Del Mar that followed an eight-length gate-to-wire romp in his career debut there Aug. 13.
Cave Rock, who was bred in Kentucky by Anne and Ronnie Sheffer Racing LLC, was a $550,000 purchase by Three Amigos Racing Stable (Pegram, Watson, and Weitman) from the Gainesway consignment at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His dam is the Bellamy Road mare Georgie's Angel.
Cave Rock returned $2.80.
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