- Home
- DRF Bets
- Handicapping & PPsHorsemen's ProductsReports
- The Wizard
- DRF Gameplan
- Quick Sheets
- DRF Picks
- Today's Racing Digest
- Key Race Report
- Positive ROI Report
- Moss Pace Figure Reports
- Debut Reports
- BreezeFigs
Access past performances- DRF EasyForm PPs
- DRF Classic PDF PPs
- DRF Formulator PPs
- DRF HarnessEye PPs
- DRF Daily Harness Program PPs
Racing and Wagering InformationToolsHorse Racing Links- Race Tracks
- Casinos
- Account Wagering
- Breeding
- Racing and Charitable
- Contests/Games
- Regional/Free
- Radio Shows
Get the most out of
DRF's online PPs with
Learn more. - Entries
- Results
- NewsCategoriesTrack ReportsTriple Crown Special Events
Exclusive content available only with a DRF Plus Plan. See Plan Pricing. - Blogs
- Video
- Learn
- StorePast Performances
- Belmont Stakes Store
- Compare all DRF PPs
- DRF Formulator PPs
- DRF Classic PPs
- DRF EasyForm PPs
- See all Pricing/Plans
REPORTS PICKS Harness PPs - Events
- Sports Odds
Email
ARCADIA, Calif. – An impressive maiden race win by Bodemeister at Santa Anita last Saturday will result in a stakes appearance in March. The race and date have yet to be finalized, trainer Bob Baffert said Tuesday.
Baffert is loaded with Triple Crown hopefuls and is likely to use stakes at Santa Anita and other tracks such as Oaklawn Park to avoid running too many of his horses in the same race.
“I’ll have to give extra time and run him back in March somewhere,” Baffert said. “I’ll have to find a spot.”
Opportunities are dwindling at the current Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. The next two-turn stakes for 3-year-olds is the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on March 10, a prep for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7.
Making his second career start last weekend, Bodemeister led throughout a one-mile maiden race for 3-year-olds, pulling clear in the stretch to win by 9 1/4 lengths under a hand-ride from jockey Rafael Bejarano.
Bodemeister, owned by Zayat Stables, ran a mile in 1:34.45, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 99. The win left Baffert a little surprised.
“I thought he’d run well,” he said.
To have any chance of gaining a spot in the Kentucky Derby, Bodemeister will need significant graded stakes earnings, the tiebreaker used if the race oversubscribes. Gaining such earnings for Bodemeister is not a concern for Baffert.
“If he runs back like he did, I don’t think it will be a problem,” he said.
Baffert’s 3-year-old division will be active in two states this week. Earlier this week, he sent Secret Circle, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint at Churchill Downs in November, and the maiden race winner Castaway to Arkansas for the $250,000 Southwest Stakes over a mile at Oaklawn Park on Monday.
Secret Circle was second by a half-length to Out of Bounds in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes over a mile on Jan. 7.
Sunday at Santa Anita, Drill, winless in five starts since the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in September, will start in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs. The San Vicente field is led by Creative Cause, third in the BC Juvenile at Churchill Downs in November.
Best Bets
RON C led until deep stretch in his only 2011 appearance, in a maiden special route on the grass, which was won by future restricted stakes winner Crown's Path. He has a sprint prep under his girth on Polytrack, and could make all the running in this one-mile turf route, with the addition of Lasix. DR. HARKNESS is bred for the grass on both sides of his pedigree, and his trainer has solid numbers pertaining to this situation. DRINK OR SINK placed in both of his turf starts at Tampa during the winter, and could better this projected placing.
