Florida-bred Speed Boat Beach, a lightning-quick son of 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Bayern, need only replicate his sensational first-out maiden win on dirt to dominate the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes at five furlongs on the turf Oct. 2 at Santa Anita Park.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Speed Boat Beach rocketed from the gate and led every step in winning his maiden debut Sept. 10 on the main track at Del Mar, completing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.86. A 1 1/4-length winner, he set a track record for the distance.
Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Speed Boat Beach will be ridden Sunday by Juan Hernandez.
The Speakeasy, which has attracted nine 2-year-olds, is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race qualifier that will provide a fees-paid "Win and You're In" berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 4 at Keeneland.
Doug O'Neill-trained Ah Jeez, a maiden turf winner at five furlongs two starts back at Del Mar, would appear to rate a solid challenger with Abel Cedillo riding back. Campaigned by Mark Davis, the son of Mendelssohn will try to bounce back from a troubled fourth in his stakes debut in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes (G3T) Sept. 11
Entries: Speakeasy S.
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, October 2, 2022, Race 5
- STK
- 5f
- Turf
- $100,000
- 2 yo
- 3:08 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Mas Rapido (GB) | Edwin A. Maldonado | 120 | Robert B. Hess, Jr. | 20/1 |
| 2 | 2Straighten Up (CA) | Mike E. Smith | 120 | Mike Puype | 6/1 |
| 3 | 3Ah Jeez (KY) | Abel Cedillo | 120 | Doug F. O'Neill | 6/1 |
| 4 | 4Arman (FL) | Ramon A. Vazquez | 120 | Simon Callaghan | 6/1 |
| 5 | 5Helladic (KY) | Tyler Baze | 120 | Ryan Hanson | 5/1 |
| 6 | 6Flame Rider (KY) | Umberto Rispoli | 120 | Luis Mendez | 30/1 |
| 7 | 7Taltariate (KY) | Ricardo Gonzalez | 120 | Philip D'Amato | 20/1 |
| 8 | 8Wound Up (KY) | Mario Gutierrez | 120 | Michael W. McCarthy | 20/1 |
| 9 | 9Speed Boat Beach (FL) | Juan J. Hernandez | 120 | Bob Baffert | 4/5 |
