Baeza was forced to settle for third place in both the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve and the Belmont Stakes presented by Nyra Bets this spring, but he could not be denied a profit of degree 1.
Baeza came from the pace, circled rivals in the long turn, took the command in the play and moved to a clear victory in the $ 1 million degree 1 Pennsylvania Derby on 20 September on Parx Racing.
Baeza’s breakthrough victory will be counted among the most satisfying triumphs of trainer John Shirrreffs.
“Today was one of the most exciting races I participated in, to tell you the truth,” said Shirrreffs. “Only because of all the hope and everything we had for Baeza. All that structure. It was just like:” This is it today. “
Baeza defeated nine rivals in the last major Stakes Race of the season, limited to 3-year-olds to achieve his first career degree 1. He completed 1 1/8 miles in 1: 48.03 on a fast road to win with 2 1/4 lengths while he was led to victory by Jockey Hector Berrios. Magnitude gathered late to claim second. Goal Oriented was two more lengths back in third place.
Baeza, owned by CRK Stable and Fokker Grandview Equine, praised the entire spring as one of the top 3-year-olds in America thanks to his strong performances against classic winners sovereignty and journalism, but he was always the bridesmaid of one of those two or both-in four straight start. With their absence on Saturday, the pressure was to finally win a victory at the highest level.
“This was a ‘prove’ day,” said Shirrreffs. “He did that.”
Berrios broke to the back of the field of 10 horses and encouraged Baeza to stay attached to the back of the group and not to fall too far behind.
Gradually moving along the back as so sandy set fractions of: 23.01 ,: 46.63 and 1: 10.51, Berrios cried Baeza on the pool of three eighth and immediately received a response.
“Once he responded and I saw the other horses, I said,” It’s our victory. Our race, “said Berrios.
Baeza rode in position and approached the new leader, targeted, on the quarter pole before he went into the process. He paid $ 4.80 to win as a favorite.
Shirreffs has seen a major improvement in Baeza since the beginning of the year. “He has shown great signs of maturity,” he said.
Baeza was the second class 1 winner of the year for his father McKinzie. Baeza’s victory was also monumental for his mother, PUCA, who now produced three consecutive degrees 1-winning foals after Baeza’s half-brothers, Mage and Dornoch, respectively, won the 2023 Kentucky Derby and the 2024 Belmont Stakes. All three Colts were bred in Kentucky by Robert Clay’s Grandview Equine, who is co-owner of Baeza.
Shirreffs would not yet be committed to the $ 7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on del Mar on November 1 for the next race of Baeza, but it would be a logical place to walk, since the horse in South California was established.
Shirreffs had a big smile on his face when discussing his hope for a 4-year campaign. He was also enthusiastic for a new shot on sovereignty, who was the winner in all the previous three starts of Baeza.
“I always look forward to a chance of sovereignty,” said Shirrreffs.
Clicquot made a splash in her debut of grade 1, the losing weight of drying powder and Ourdaydreaming girl in a dramatic battle to the wire to win the $ 1 million grade 1 Cotillion Stakes on September 20 on Parx Racing.
Racing between horses early under Irad Ortiz Jr., Clicquot made a powerful move to turn home. Charging the marefolds by a father in the middle of the track came away from a stubborn dry powder through the lane to prevail a neck with the late-closing 42-1 Longshot Ourdaydreaming girl only a head in the back in third place.
“It is easy to say now, but for her to beat these mares, a relatively light raced merringeulen, I thought it was quite an achievement of her,” said Walsh.
Her fourth consecutive victory for trainer Brendan Walsh and owners X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables and SF Racing, Clicquot ($ 12.60) stopped the clock for the 1 1/16 mile in 1: 42.85. The victory marked the next step on the Ladder of Standage Improvement for Clicquot, who left a victory in the degree 3 Daily Racing Form Indiana Oaks in her last race on July 5.
“We had the plan all the time to go here when she won in Indiana and give her a chance,” said Walsh. “She has worked incredibly well. Like a top class horse does. You can see from her attitude that she is just all the class. I can’t say enough about her. She makes our work easy.”
None of the multiple winners of the class 1 in the field would take the final results into account. Post-time Favorite Scottish Lassie finished fourth, La Cara finished fifth and Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer suffered her third loss in a row and finished sixth. – Molly Rollins
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