Hejazi, Baffert's $3.55 million colt, breaks maiden at Santa Anita

One day after Christmas, Opening Day at Santa Anita is always a treat and this year promises to be no different. This season's lid lifter at the beautiful Southern California track features six graded stakes races, with three of them being Grade 1. In the headliner, trainer Bob Baffert will be in search of his sixth win in the Malibu Stakes (G1)…

National Treasure gallops Sep. 9 (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire) Santa Anita Stable Notes by Victor Ryan ARCADIA, Calif.- After a disappointing effort in last month's GI Travers at Saratoga, Bob Baffert was not initially planning to run National Treasure back in Saturday's GI Awesome Again in what will be his first race against older horses. Things…

Trainer Tim Yakteen's Practical Move, fresh off impressive scores in a pair of graded stakes, heads a field of nine sophomores going a mile and one eighth in this Saturday's Grade I, $750000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby-a race that has produced 20 Kentucky Derby winners. With a total of 200 Kentucky Derby qualifying points at stake, 100 will be…

The 2023 San Felipe Stakes (G2) happens Saturday, March 4, at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California! It is the second-to-last points prep on the Southern California spur of the Kentucky Derby trail and the first one that offers its winner a virtually guaranteed spot in the Kentucky Derby. The race offers 50-20-15-10-5 Road to the Kentucky Derby points…

Before handicapping the Grade 2, $400000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, it might seem as if trainer Tim Yakteen has the field surrounded with five entries, partially thanks to trainer Bob Baffert. But there are other viable contenders not from the Yakteen barn, and one of them stands out enough to take a shot on him against the Yakteen five. The…

G2 San Felipe Stakes Preview: Hejazi Headlines Yakteen's New Team (Hejazi / Benoit Photo & Courtesy of Santa Anita) From the Santa Anita Media Team: One of four Bob Baffert trainees that will be saddled for the first time by Tim Yakteen, Hejazi heads an outstanding field of 11 sophomores going a mile and one sixteenth in Saturday's Grade II,…

One of four Bob Baffert trainees that will be saddled for the first time by Tim Yakteen, Hejazi heads an outstanding field of 11 sophomores going a mile and one sixteenth in Saturday's Grade II, $400000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. One of America's most important Derby preps, the San Felipe winner will be awarded 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying…

Hejazi breaking his maiden at Santa Anita Jan. 15 in the race after finishing third in the GI America Pharoah. (Coady Photography) Santa Anita Press Release/Edited ARCADIA, Calif.-One of four Bob Baffert trainees that will be saddled for the first time by Tim Yakteen, Hejazi heads an outstanding field of 11 sophomores going a mile and one sixteenth…

Finding the better Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old will prove difficult in the Group 3, $1.5 million Saudi Derby next weekend at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, as Havnameltdown and Speed Boat Beach give a similar impression in terms of class, speed figures and running style. Havnameltdown holds a small edge in terms of class, mostly because…

Havnameltdown gallops Jan. 18 (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire) Santa Anita Press Release ARCADIA, Calif. - To the surprise of no one, Sunday's Grade II, $200000 San Vicente Stakes goes through Bob Baffert. The trainer of nine out of the 11 horses nominated to the seven furlong stakes for Derby hopefuls, Baffert has entered four out of the five that…

Leading US handicapper Richard Eng has a look at the three-year-olds currently at the centre of conversations ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6, 2023 USA: The Kentucky Derby is America's most famous horse race. The limit for starters is 20 so I will mention my top 20 horses in total - the top 12 plus eight more who…

After finishing third in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) last fall, the $3.55 million colt Hejazi stood as one of trainer Bob Baffert's better 2-year-olds. If Baffert and Zedan Racing Stables wanted to take a shot at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, they had an argument based off his placing. But Hejazi was still a maiden, and Baffert chose to back off…

While likely juvenilechampion Forte was made an even shorter-priced favorite at one sportsbook, fiveweekend winners made moves in the Las Vegas futures market for Kentucky Derby 2023. Kingsbarns,an $800000 Uncle Mo colt owned by Spendthrift Farm, opened at Circa Sports andsettled by Monday morning at 55-1, one day after his 1 3/4-length debut…

Only 2000 winner Fusaichi Pegasus and 2009 also-ran Dunkirk madeit to the Kentucky Derby after being sold at public action for more than $3million. If he lives up to his expectations, Hejazi could be thethird. Amr Zedan paid a record-breaking $3.55 million for the Bernardini colt lastMay at a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale. Winless in three tries in…

This is trainer Bob Baffert's really fun time of the year, running his stable full of talented 3-year-olds and learning which ones are ready for the big time and which are maybe a cut below. Cave Rock, Arabian Knight and Faustin might be at the head of the class right now, but Baffert unveiled three others Sunday at Santa Anita that he hopes could…

G3 Sham Stakes Preview: Spun Intended Could Spell Trouble From the Santa Anita Media Team: In what appears to be a David vs. Goliath scenario at Santa Anita, trainer Mark Glatt's Spun Intended will take on no less than four Bob Baffert Derby hopefuls among a field of six sophomores in Sunday's Grade III, $100000 Sham Stakes at one mile. Named for…

In what appears to be a David vs. Goliath scenario at Santa Anita, trainer Mark Glatt's Spun Intended will take on no less than four Bob Baffert Derby hopefuls among a field of six sophomores in Sunday's Grade III, $100000 Sham Stakes at one mile. Named for the winner of the 1973 Santa Anita Derby and subsequent runner-up to Secretariat in that…

In what appears to be a David vs. Goliath scenario at Santa Anita, trainer Mark Glatt's Spun Intended will take on no less than four Bob Baffert Derby hopefuls among a field of six sophomores in Sunday's Grade 3, $100000 Sham Stakes over one mile at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Named for the winner of the 1973 Santa Anita Derby and…

Join our channel to stay up to date on the latest in marketing Saturday's American Pharoah Stakes, at Santa Anita, is dominated by the Bob Baffert yard, who have won the prize 10 times in the past and he means business again with 50% of the 8 runners. With the winner also getting a free ticket for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Nov 5 there is an…

Saturday's $300000, Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park is the premier West Coast prep for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile, which will be held this year on Nov. 4 at Keeneland. Five 2-year-olds who've won the American Pharoah have trained on to win the Juvenile over the past 39 years, and all five were named champion 2-year-old…