Breakout Beyers: Baffert’s Speed Boat Beach sets track record in his debut
Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.
Speed Boat Beach
Sept. 10, 6th race Del Mar, MdSpWt82k
Beyer: 104
5 furlongs 1:01.86 – 1st by 1 1/4 lengths
b. c. 2, Bayern – Sophia Mia, by Pioneerof the Nile
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: OBS yearling sale 2021 – $12,000; OBS March 2-year-old 2022 – $200,000
Owner: Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Breeder: Caperlane Farm
Trainer Bob Baffert’s ridiculously deep roster of 2-year-old colts looked even deeper following this Del Mar maiden race, which yielded the highest juvenile Beyer Speed Figure of 2022, a 104. Cave Rock, who won the Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 11, got a 101 first time out, while the filly Muny’s Gold also got a 101 way back in June but hasn’t been able to run back. Baffert ran one-two-three here with Hejazi a chasing second and Fort Bragg more than four lengths behind him but more than six lengths in front of the fourth-place finisher. You don’t see maidens setting track records at major venues like Del Mar – but you did here. Speed Boat Beach had plenty of gate speed and came through along the inside to lead in the final furlongs, and both he and Hejazi were doing sub-12-second furlongs from the five-sixteenths pole to the finish. Speed Boat Beach is the first foal to race from an unraced dam, and there is not a ton of obvious pedigree on the dam’s side, nor has Bayern been a star sire. This colt has more of a sprinter-miler look (hard to believe he could be this fast and sold for $12,000 as a yearling), and going forward into longer trips, I’d take Hejazi, who is very much bred to stretch out. Hejazi’s Beyer leapt from 64 to 100, and he probably just got out-quicked at this short-sprint trip.
Sir Lancelot
Sept. 9, 4th race Delaware Park, MdSpWt42k
Beyer: 78
6 furlongs 1:09.93 – 1st by 7 3/4 lengths
b. g. 2, Goldencents – Madame X Ski, by Polish Numbers
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: John and Susan Moore
Trainer: Michael Stidham
Breeder: John and Susan Moore
Moore homebred debuted in blinkers and was only the co-second choice in the wagering as the betting public gravitated to the wrong first-time starter. Gelded before his first start here, Sir Lancelot broke decently, took a few strides to make the lead, and subsequently took total control of the maiden sprint. He cornered a bit wide into the stretch, but no one was making a run, and in the end it mattered not that he failed to change leads – though the rider tried hard – all the way to the wire. Can’t say much about the gallop-out as the replay was severely truncated and carried the winner only for about three seconds past the finish. The dam hasn’t gotten any celebrated runners but has gotten 11 of her foals to the races, which is remarkable in its own right. She was a sprinter-miler, and her offspring, if anything, have tended toward shorter races.
Getthemoney
Sept. 11, 6th race Del Mar, MdSpWt82k
Beyer: 77
6 1/2 furlongs 1:16.63 – 1st by 5 1/2 lengths
b. f. 2, Midnight Lute – Sailing Shiksa, by Bernstein
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 – $90,000; OBS spring 2-year-old 2022 – $220,000
Owner: Alan Klein, Philip Lebherz, Janet Lyons
Trainer: Brian Koriner
Breeder: Twin Magnolia Farm
The crazy thing is the Beyer for this second-time starting 2-year-old filly was six points higher than the winning Beyer in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante one day earlier. While fast colts abound in Southern California this year, that’s not really the case so far with fillies, making this one worth following. She engaged in a pace duel and faded first time out, but here was patiently ridden to show her early speed, easing to the front in the first half-furlong, then leading clear on a long rein around the turn and into the stretch. The rider hand rode for the most part, giving his mount one pop of the crop she didn’t really need, and Getthemoney clearly was getting the money a furlong from the finish. Her gallop-out was solid, not spectacular. She’s the second foal from a dam who was a low-level claiming sprinter, but looking at this horse herself, you can see why she fetched big money at auction earlier this year; she’s robust, powerful, got a nice long stride. Can’t say based on this she couldn’t at least get a mile at some point this year.