Grade 3, $100,345 Sham Stakes, one mile, Santa Anita, Jan. 6, 2018 (10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: McKinzie, by Street Sense Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Mike Smith Owners: Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman Beyer Speed Figure: 97 McKINZIE was placed first after a disqualification in the Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity last month, but there was no debate following the Sham, in which McKinzie ran the best race of his career and took significant steps forward in terms of speed figures and deportment. In his prior start, only the second of his career, he understandably betrayed his inexperience when racing two turns for the first time and against top-class divisional leaders. Because of the aggressiveness he showed midway through Los Alamitos Futurity, the blinkers he had worn in his first two starts were removed for the Sham. Both that, and perhaps the simple fact he is gaining experience with each start, produced a colt who was far more settled early, and then he kicked on when it was time, earning a clear-cut victory. Granted, this field was inferior to what McKinzie faced in the Los Alamitos Futurity, but this was a far more professional effort. He produced a strong Beyer Speed Figure for a third-start runner and for a 3-year-old racing in early January with likely two more preps to come prior to the Kentucky Derby. At the moment, McKinzie belongs right alongside other divisional leaders like Good Magic, Bolt d’Oro, and Solomini. In this race, McKinzie broke alertly and then settled into third, in a perfect stalking position, just back of the two leaders entering the first turn. He continued in that position down the backstretch and into the far turn while waiting patiently despite the moderate pace, advanced toward the leaders three furlongs out without being asked at all by Smith, then powered clear through the lane without being asked for his best; he was ridden out to the wire. The only oddity about his performance was his swishing his tail a couple of times through the lane; not sure what that meant. I joked with his owners in the winner’s circle that maybe he was just waving goodbye to the competition. It’s a quirk worth noting to see if he does it next time. ALL OUT BLITZ, who was second, was sent along aggressively to take the lead, had SHIVERTIMBERS on his hip the whole way down the backstretch, was nudged a bit coming to the three-furlong pole and got the best of Shivermetimbers, was asked hard entering the lane to try to go with McKinzie, could not keep pace but was clearly second-best. As he is by the speedy Concord Point, I doubt he wants to run much farther than this. MY BOY JACK, who was third, took advantage of his rail draw to get some cover into the first turn, similar to how he was ridden in his best races, on turf. He got a bit rank racing behind All Out Blitz and inside Shivermetimbers, settled nicely midway down the backstretch, was outfooted at the three-furlong pole and could not keep up with All Out Blitz, McKinzie, nor Shivermetimbers at that point, was angled off the rail while being aggressively urged, outfinished Shivermetimbers for third but was no threat to the top two. He just doesn’t appear to like the loose surfaces on dirt. He’s far more effective on firm turf courses. Shivermetimbers, who was fourth, started just outside of All Out Blitz and was alongside him into and around the first turn. He came under a ride three furlongs out when McKinzie ranged outside him, but he could not go with him, and then he was forced to check between McKinzie and All Out Blitz while being outrun entering the lane. After that, he went evenly to the wire, failing to hold off My Boy Jack. I thought he was better than this. CITY PLAN, who was fifth, raced between and just behind My Boy Jack and McKinzie into the first turn, became a bit keen and ran up on the heels of Shivermetimbers at the three-quarter pole, was still too keen for his own good entering the backstretch, started to be outrun three furlongs out and steadily faded. HERE IS HAPPY, who finished last of six, lacked speed and trailed into the first turn, then remained well back throughout in a dull effort. He was gelded prior to this race and added blinkers. He needs far softer company.