By Brian DiDonato
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
5th-SA, $61K, Msw, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 4:03 p.m. ET
The day has finally arrived for the buzzed-about Bezos (Empire Maker) to kick off his career for Bob Baffert and the powerful ownership conglomerate nicknamed The Avengers. The $400,000 KEESEP yearling has been working so well at Santa Anita that he was bet down to 26-1 in the GI Kentucky Derby future pool that closed Jan. 24 without having yet made an afternoon appearance. His tab includes a :59.40 (1/39) gate breeze Jan. 21 in which he bested graded-placed older stablemate Speed Pass (Bodemeister) by some five lengths (XBTV Video). The bay is a half to MSP Fortunate Girl (Hard Spun) from the family of GSWs Palmeiro (Pleasant Tap), Dynaslew (Dynaformer) and 2019 GII Remsen S. winner Shotski (Blame).
Baffert has also entered Michael Lund's Tivoli Twirl (Twirling Candy). The bay was a $95,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling turned $375,000 OBS April juvenile after a :10 flat breeze. He's been working quickly at Santa Anita as well, and prepped for this with a :59.20 (1/64) solo five eighths last Sunday (XBTV Video). The bay is a half to MSW Saythreehailmary's (Repent) and SW Afleet Alexandra (Northern Afleet).
Three runners hit the board in their respective debuts, with Mr. Impossible (Munnings) the toughest-looking of that bunch on paper. The Simon Callaghan trainee earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure when running second here Jan. 15 to Baffert 'TDN Rising Star' and Saturday's GII San Vicente S. winner Concert Tour (Street Sense). He's out of graded-winning turfer Qaraaba (GB) (Shamardal), already the dam of GSW and GISP Californiagoldrush (Cape Blanco {Ire}) and last year's GII Zenyatta S. heroine Harvest Moon (Uncle Mo).
Twin Creeks homebred Law Professor (Constitution) is out of a MSW half-sister to pricey GISW Celestine (Scat Daddy).
6th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:10 p.m. ET
Favored on the morning line at 5-2 in this stacked field is Repole Stable's Iced Latte (Pioneerof the Nile). The $250,000 KEESEP yearling is out of fellow Todd Pletcher pupil Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon), winner of the 2010 GI Ruffian H. for late owner/breeder Ned Evans. From a typically deep family, Malibu Prayer sold for $2 million in foal to Smart Strike during the blockbuster dispersal of Evans's stock at the 2011 Keeeneland November sale.
Peter Brant's Boston Post Road (Quality Road) was a $525,000 FTSAUG yearling bred on the same cross as her connections' GISW Dunbar Road (Quality Road). She's a full to MSW and GSP Top Quality and a granddaughter of GSW Sweet Fervor (Seeking the Gold) from the family of GSWs Concerto, Illusioned and Codified.
Brant's cousin Joe Allen also gets in on the action with $650,000 Keeneland September acquisition Red Hot and Blue (Candy Ride {Arg}). The rail-drawn Shug McGaughey pupil hails from the extended female family of McGaughey-trained Phipps standouts like Point of Entry, Pine Island and Pleasant Home.
Sabana Farm homebred Hitech Is Back (Outwork) is out of stakes winner Hitechnoweenie (Harlan's Holiday), making her a half to last year's local GIII Forward Gal S. and GII Davona Dale s. heroine Tonalist's Shape (Tonalist). Dream About Me (Medaglia d'Oro) was a $450,000 Saratoga yearling out of a daughter of GISW juvenile Mi Sueno (Pulpit) and granddaughter of GISW Madcap Escapade (Hennessy). TJCIS PPs
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