It's likely on to the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail for Baeza after the half brother to classic winners Dornoch and Mage rolled to a 4 3/4-length victory in a maiden special weight for 3-year-olds Feb. 14 at Santa Anita Park.
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Sent off the 2-1 second choice under Hector Berrios, Baeza eagerly tracked longshot pacesetter Flyin Private in second, took the lead midway around the second turn, and drew off in the stretch to graduate in his third start. Mellencamp, ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Bob Baffert, was second with another 1 1/4 lengths back to Westwood in third.
Racing for the colors of C R K Stable and breeder Grandview Equine, Baeza ($6.40) completed the mile in a final time of 1:37.84 for the mile on a fast main track.
"His stride, it's nice," Berrios said of Baeza. "He's still a little green, just a baby, but he's getting better with racing."
Both Baeza and Westwood are trained by John Shirreffs.
"It seemed like (Baeza) was a little more aggressive today," Shirreffs said. "We're excited about the effort."
Friday's race was the third career start for Baeza, a son of second-crop sire McKinzie . After beginning his career with an unplaced finish on the turf, the colt showed promise in his second outing, getting up for the place behind Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) runner-up Rodriguez in a mile maiden special weight Jan. 4 in his dirt debut.
Shirreffs said a stakes opportunity will likely be next for Baeza. The next stop in Santa Anita’s stakes series for 3-year-olds on dirt, the San Felipe Stakes (G2) going 1 1/16 miles, is March 1, just two weeks away. Shirreffs said “that might be a little quick” but the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (G1) is on the radar. A win or runner-up finish in the Santa Anita Derby, which offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale to the top five finishers, would likely earn Baeza a berth in the 151st Kentucky Derby May 3 at Churchill Downs.
"We hope so," Shirreffs said of joining the Derby trail. "It's that time of year where you try those things. We'll see how he comes out. I'll talk with (owner Lee Searing) and we'll make a decision."
The fourth winner out of the blue hen mare Puca, Baeza exchanged hands for $1.2 million to Mayberry Farm at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale out of the Runnymede Farm consignment.
Baeza is Puca's last foal bred by Grandview Equine before the daughter of Big Brown sold to John Stewart for $2.9 million at the 2023 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Prior to her sale, Puca produced classic-winning Good Magic full brothers Mage, winner of the 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1), and Dornoch, winner of the 2024 Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1) stakes. Puca currently has a yearling Good Magic colt on the ground and was bred back to Good Magic this year.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
