Baeza secures breakthrough gain in PA Derby * The Racing Biz

The 1 Pennsylvania derby grade on Parx Racing changed to the long-awaited breakthrough for Baeza, who finally took the spotlight after a series of near-miss against the best of his generation.

The 3-year-old Colt of McKinzie, trained by John Shirreffs for CRK Stable LLC and Grandview Equine, had finished second or third in each of his last four-time behind division leaders sovereignty or journalism. On Saturday, however, the stage was his, and he delivered an authoritative stretch rally to secure his first class 1 victory.

Driven by Hector Berrios, Baeza settled at the back of the ten-horse field as So Sandy, pressed by David van Athens, carved fractions of 23.01 and 46.63. Patiently treated, he began to go on the rear tight and then a swanting four-wide rally in turn that brought him forward through the pool of three sixte. Under mild insistence, he moved to a victory of 2 ¼ length in 1: 48.03 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast track.

Behind him, Magnitude gathered for the second, while Goal Oriented, who briefly took the lead to turn home, are kept third but third. So Sandy showed the road early before he went to fourth place.

For Baeza, the victory improved its record to 8: 2-3-2, with career income now $ 1.5 million. It was the show that his connections had waited for and his consistency confirmed with a characteristic degree 1 score.

At the windows, Baeza, the favorite, returned $ 4.80 to win, $ 3.20 to place, and $ 2.40 to show as a favorite. Magnitude, who shows a new power to relax and run by, paid $ 7.80 to place and $ 5.40 to show, while targeted $ 3.60 to show. The $ 2 Exacta (8-3) was worth $ 53.40, the $ 0.50 Trifecta (8-3-6) returned $ 57.15 and the $ 0.10 Superfecta (8-3-6-1) paid $ 99.81.

With his Pennsylvania Derby Triumph, Baeza has finally stamped himself as a winner of class 1 and has set the stage for a run at the division leaders.