|
Bayern faces nine in San Felipe
 |
|
Bayern has drawn comparisons to another unraced two-year-old
trained by Baffert, 2012 Kentucky Derby runner-up Bodemeister
(Benoit Photo) |
A runaway winner in both career starts, Bayern will step up to make his
stakes debut in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000
San Felipe
at Santa Anita. The 1
1/16-mile test is part of the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" scoring series and
offers points on a 50-20-10-5 scale to the top four finishers.
Bayern is the likely favorite following a 15-length allowance romp in his
two-turn debut on February 13. The Bob Baffert-trained colt is playing catch-up
from an experience standpoint, making his career bow on January 4, but he
appears long on talent with the top last-race BRIS Speed rating (99) among San
Felipe entrants. A dark bay son of Offlee Wild, Bayern will break from post 6
with regular rider Gary Stevens.
California Chrome is another promising colt being tested for class.
Conditioned by Art Sherman, the Lucky Pulpit colt exits a pair of sharp stakes
wins over California-bred foes, taking the seven-furlong King Florious by 6 1/4
lengths prior to a 5 1/2-length score in the 1 1/16-mile California Cup Derby on
January 25. His BRIS Speed ratings rose significantly in those starts and the
improving chestnut retains the services of Victor Espinoza.
|
Midnight Hawk will look to make amends for a third in the Grade 2 Robert B.
Lewis as the favorite. After opening his racing career with a 6 1/4-length
maiden win in mid-December, the Baffert charge captured the Grade 3 Sham on
January 11. Mike Smith, who has been up for all three starts aboard the speedy
colt, rides.
Kristo has been freshened off a runner-up in the Sham. After dropping his
first two starts in sprints, the Distorted Humor colt found his best form around
two turns, recording a 6 3/4-length maiden tally, and the John Sadler trainee
will receive an interesting jockey switch to Joel Rosario.
Unstoppable Colby invades for D. Wayne Lukas following a maiden win at
Oaklawn Park and Schoolofhardrocks will make his first appearance for David
Hofmans since capturing his career debut at Del Mar. Home Run Kitten exits a
fifth in the Lewis and Recanted will go turf to dirt for Doug O'Neill in his
second U.S. start. A pair of maidens, Rprettyboydfloyd and Sawyer's Hill,
complete the field.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
Send this article to a friend
| 
