Fed Biz returns to winner's circle in San Fernando

Fed Biz drew attention last year when taking an optional claimer at Santa

Anita by 5 3/4 lengths, but wouldn't be seen in competition again until a neck

victory in the El Cajon at Del Mar following a near seven-month layoff. Baffert

shipped his charge to Hooiser Park for a run in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby, and

Fed Biz managed to hold for third that day after leading in the early stages of

the 1 1/16-mile contest.

Fed Biz returned a month later at Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup, but

couldn't keep up in the Dirt Mile and wound up eighth of nine. He threw in

another subpar effort when sixth in the Malibu last out, but got back on the

winning track here to improved his scorecard to 8-4-0-1 and boost his earnings

to $274,456.

"I really liked him when I

breezed him before the race (Malibu) on opening day and for some odd reason he got really

hot," Smith explained about Fed Biz's run in that December 26 affair. "I hadn't taken two steps inside the gate and he was over, threw me out the

back, and he just wasn't right after that.

"I told Bob (Baffert about the

incident) when I got to see him later that day and ever since they've really

been schooling him. (Assistant trainer) Jimmy (Barnes) has been taking him over

and Dana (Barnes) has been with him every morning in the gate, and it paid off

today; that was the whole key."

"I wasn't sure I was going to run him in here, and he acted up so much

(before the Malibu), but he was doing really well the other day and this horse

needed to get a win," Baffert said.

"I expect so much from this horse, when he loses, it's very disappointing. He's

a very talented horse and he was good today going to the gate and he ran well.

"In the Malibu, he went to the gate and he tried to sit down in there...so it

was a tough go. I kept telling (owner) Kaleem (Shad), 'He's such a good horse.'"

Smith could find himself in the position of having to choose between Fed Biz

and fellow Baffert trainee Game on Dude if the conditioner decides to run both

in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 2. However, the rider isn't

complaining.

"Great place to be, great place to be, it certainly is a good position to be in,"

he said.

"If you're having to choose a few, at least you are having opportunities. The

tough part is when you don't anything to choose from. I'll be glad to have to

pick one out."

Bred in Kentucky by Colts Neck Stables, Fed Biz is slowly but surely earning

back his purchase price of $950,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. He is out

of the stakes-winning Wild Again mare Spunoutacontrol, whose first registered

foal, Spun Silk, scored a stakes victory in 2005.

Fed Biz is from a star-studded female line, as his second dam is the winning

Mr. Prospector mare Yarn. She is best known for producing dual Group 1-scoring

sire and Irish champion Minardi; Grade 1 victor and stallion Tale of the Cat;

and the dam of U.S. and European champion Johannesburg, who would also go on to

become a top sire.

Fed Biz's third dam is the Grade 3-winning Honest Pleasure mare Narrate, who

is the dam of Grade 1 diva Preach and granddam of dual Grade 2-conquering

leading sire Pulpit.

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