Welcome to 2024 Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles, where we’ll take a look each week at a recent winner on the Triple Crown trail, usually from the Road to the Kentucky Derby prep series that offers qualifying points for the first leg of the series. The 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve will be held May 4, 2024, at Churchill Downs.
Tag: Racing
Speed Boat Beach Wins Malibu Stakes to Headline Opening Day at Santa Anita
Everything came together for Speed Boat Beach in the Dec. 26 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Daddysruby Noses Out Big Pond In La Brea’s Battle Of Cal-Breds
A first condition allowance winner on Oct. 27, longshot Daddysruby went to the front in Tuesday's Grade 1, $300,000 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita and just held on late to win by a nose over fellow California-bred Big Pond as Juan Hernandez and Peter Miller teamed to get the seven-furlong distance in 1:23.06.
Quick from her rail post position, Peter Miller's Daddysruby, with favored Howl in hot pursuit early, was able to open up a critical two length advantage on Big Pond three furlongs from home. Although a length clear at the sixteenth pole, fatigue set-in and Daddysruby just managed to stave off a determined challenge from the legendary Frankie Dettori aboard the runner-up.
Off at 6-1 in a field of nine sophomore fillies, Daddysruby paid $14.20, $6.20 and $4.20.
Owned by Jethorse, LLC, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber, Daddysruby, who is headquartered at San Luis Rey Downs and was making her first stakes start, had four wins from five starts coming into the La Brea. With the La Brea winner's share of $180,000, Daddysruby more than doubled her earnings to $352,014.
“We knew from the inside that we would have to go,” said Miller. “I was hoping for an outside draw, but I drew the two hole. … We knew she had a lot of speed and we knew he kind of had to go. I told Juan, 'Help her away from there, if they go crazy, she doesn't need the lead you can sit, but if you can get the lead take it.' And he did.
“You don't remember all the photo finishes that you won, you remember all the ones that you've lost, so I'm sitting here thinking I lost another one,” adsded Miller. “Another C Z Rocket in the Santa Anita Sprint and another Reneesgotzip in the Santa Anita Oaks, here we go again. I just sat up there and waited for the steward's decision.”
“That was a close one, I didn't know who got it,” said Barber. “It was really tough, ir looked like we were going to come second but winning like that it's thrilling and we're very happy. … There is a lot of options for her. She is just all heart, and she was just a warrior today. There's nothing better than winning a Grade 1, on opening day. We put a lot of money into this game and these are the moments we want to enjoy and share the victory with all of the partners and friends.”
In a huge effort, Tim Yakteen's Big Pond, a winner versus statebreds of the seven furlong Fleet Treat Stakes this past July at Del Mar, was off at 5-1 and paid $5.40 and $3.60 while finishing four lengths in front of well fancied Clearly Unhinged.
The second choice at 5-2, Clearly Unhinged, who was ridden by Umberto Rispoli, paid $3.00 and finished a half length in front of Royal Spa.
The 8-5 favorite, Howl faded to finish eighth.
Fractions on the race were 22.21, 44.49 and 1:09.60.
Live racing resumes on Friday with first post time for a nine-race card at 12 noon.
The post Daddysruby Noses Out Big Pond In La Brea’s Battle Of Cal-Breds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Speed Boat Beach Fights Off Stablemate Hejazi In Opening Day Malibu
In a stretch battle befitting its status as Santa Anita's Classic Meet opening day headliner, Tuesday's Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu Stakes showcased Speed Boat Beach and stablemate Hejazi as they “threw down” from the quarter pole home. With favored Speed Boat Beach prevailing by 1 ½ lengths while getting seven furlongs in 1:21.70, Bob Baffert collected the exacta as well as his record-tying sixth Malibu win, putting him atop the prestigious Malibu heap with fellow Hall of Famer Richard Mandella.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Hejazi broke sharply to take the lead from his number six post position, but he was headed by Speed Boat Beach and Flavien Prat to his inside a half mile out. Racing as a team into and around the far turn, it appeared Hejazi put a head in front at the quarter pole, but when they straightened for home, Speed Boat Beach was all business, opening up a length and from there, he was able to repel a resolute challenge from Hejazi to register his first Grade 1 win.
“His issue is that he has always been very aggressive,” Baffert said of Speed Boat Beach. “He's aggressive in the mornings and aggressive in his races. We have been working on getting him relaxed, a lot of schooling. I've got a great team, my riders and my assistants they have been working him a lot. Prat worked him for me today and he actually worked really well with Prat. He got along with him really well, got him to come off the bit a little bit.”
Prat, who hadn't ridden Speed Boat Beach since Dec. 4, 2022, rang up his third win on the opening day card and his second win in the Malibu, following up on his opening day score two years ago aboard undefeated super horse Flightline.
A Florida-bred 3-year-old colt by 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Sophia Mia, Speed Boat Beach was making his third start of the year. Coming off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, he was off as the 8-5 favorite in a field seven sophomores and paid $5.20, $3.20 and $2.60.
Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Speed Boat Beach, a Grade 3 one mile turf winner, notched his third overall stakes win and his fourth win from seven starts. With the winner's share of $180,000, Speed Boach Beach hiked his earnings to $498,000.
Off as the second choice at 2-1, Hejazi finished three lengths clear of Giant Mischief and paid $4.00 and $2.60.
Off at 10-1 with Kazushi Kimura, Giant Mischief, who broke from the rail, rallied for third money, finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Damon's Mound while returning $4.00 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.21, 44.42 and 1:08.65.
The Malibu trophy was presented by Santa Anita's all-time leading rider and a six-time winner of the Malibu, the great Laffit Pincay, Jr. A 14-time Winter Meet leading jockey, Pincay will turn 77 on Friday.
“It means a lot to be here and see all the fans and all the excitement in racing,” Pincay said. “It brings back some good memories, too. I won this race six times and in fact I forgot all about it. It's a lot of fun to come to the track and see all the people here, I really enjoy being here. It's exciting to see two good horses going head and head. I look forward to seeing who the next contenders are for the Kentucky Derby. I watch the jockeys and there are some really top jockeys here and I hope they keep competing with each other. It's nice to see competition between good jockeys.”
The post Speed Boat Beach Fights Off Stablemate Hejazi In Opening Day Malibu appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
