Cave Rock has first workout of the year

Cave Rock, one of the nation’s leading 2-year-olds of 2022, has resumed workouts for the first time since a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in November.

On Monday at Santa Anita, Cave Rock worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds.

“He went nice and easy,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He wanted to do more.”

Owned by the partnership of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Cave Rock has won 3 of 4 starts, including two Grade 1 races – the Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs last September and the American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in October.

Baffert has not stated a race goal for Cave Rock.

In the BC Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles, Cave Rock was the 1-2 favorite in a field of 10. He set the pace to the final furlong, but finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Forte, who was later named champion 2-year-old male of 2022.

Sunday was a busy workday for Baffert at Santa Anita.

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Country Grammer and Taiba, the stable’s leading hopes for the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 25, both worked seven furlongs in 1:25.40. Country Grammer was second in the 2022 Saudi Cup at 1 1/8 miles and later won the $12 million Dubai World Cup last March.

Country Grammer won the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, the same day Taiba won his third Grade 1 of 2022 in the $302,000 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

As of Monday, Taiba (2-1) and Country Grammer (7-2) were the first two choices in the future-book market for the Saudi Cup with British bookmakers.

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