9th-DMR, $54k, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 7:28p.m. ET
Looking to add to Puca (Big Brown)'s remarkable streak of runners, BAEZA (McKinzie) will go to post in the turf night cap at Del Mar. Racing for the partnership of C R K Stable and Grandview Equine, the John Shirreffs trainee has big shoes to fill as the half-brother to MGISW Dornoch (Good Magic) and his full-brother, GI Kentucky Derby hero Mage. Even before those two, their dam had produced another stakes runner, namely Gunning (Gun Runner). She was placed in the Listed Runhappy Audubon Oaks in 2022 and the Dig A Diamond Stakes in 2023.
Baeza was sold for $1.2-million in 2023 at the Keeneland September sale to Mayberry Farm as agent for the current ownership group. Dornoch and Mage also went through that ring, bringing $325,000 and $235,000 as yearlings, respectively, while Gunning was an RNA back in 2020 when bidding halted at $70,000. Puca changed hands to John Stewart last year for $2.9-million at the Keeneland November auction.
Baeza has been at the track since June and a characteristically steady string of works follows him into this race. His five furlong move Nov. 16 was a bullet over the Del Mar main track, the clocked time of :59.40 marked as the fastest of nine that morning. Umberto Rispoli is in the irons and he's been given 3-1 morning line odds which will likely only be lower by gate break.
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