Despite edge in numbers, Baffert no lock to win Sham Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. – A pair of party crashers face a tough task at Santa Anita on Sunday when they try to wrest the Grade 3 Sham Stakes from a stable that practically owns the race for 3-year-olds.
At a mile on dirt, the Sham presents multiple challenges for romping maiden sprint winner Spun Intended and graded turf winner Packs a Wahlop. One is unproven at two turns, the other unproven on dirt, both might be outclassed, and they definitely are outnumbered.
Bob Baffert entered four runners in the Sham, which he has won six of the last nine years. His 2023 entourage comprises National Treasure, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; Speed Boat Beach, a graded winner on turf returning to his preferred footing on dirt; graded-placed Newgate; and maiden winner Reincarnate.
Baffert lamented running four stablemates against each other in the Sham, but added, “They need to run.”
The Baffert runners break from the first four posts, with Newgate on the rail and, in order, National Treasure, Speed Boat Beach and Reincarnate outside of him.
Packs a Wahlop, trained by Jeff Mullins, drew post 5 and drops from an eighth-place finish in the BC Juvenile Turf. Spun Intended, trained by Mark Glatt, stretches out from a 6 1/2-length maiden win going 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar. He breaks from the outside post in the six-runner field.
The $100,000 Sham goes through Baffert, whose National Treasure is the most accomplished entrant. He won sprinting in his debut, finished second to Cave Rock in a Grade 1 route, and then third in the BC Juvenile.
John Velazquez rides National Treasure.
“I’d like to have seen him on the outside somewhere,” Baffert said. “He’s more of a stalker.”
With Beyers in the mid-90s, National Treasure could start favored in the historically predictable Sham, won by favorites eight of the last 12 years.
In early winter, the Sham offers an opportunity to tinker with strategy. The Sham “is going to be a race that we find out their styles, how they want to run,” Baffert said, adding that there’s no doubt how Speed Boat Beach wants to run.
Speed Boat Beach is a front-runner whose 104-Beyer sprinting on dirt in his debut in September is the co-highest figure earned by a 2022 juvenile. Speed Boat Beach subsequently won two turf stakes, without showing the brilliance he displayed first out.
“His dirt race was his best race, but it was going five and a half,” Baffert said. “We’ll see what he does going two turns.”
Flavien Prat rides 3-for-4 Speed Boat Beach, who is under consideration for the $1.5 million Saudi Derby in February. In order to win the Sham on Sunday, Speed Boat Beach must avoid a duel with Spun Intended.
Spun Intended followed his runner-up debut with his romp at Del Mar.
“I think he has all the tools to go on out farther,” Glatt said. “Like any young horse that’s stretching out for the first time, you want to see them relaxed, off the bit a little bit early, and not pulling like they do sometimes when they’ve just sprinted a couple times.”
Mike Smith rides Spun Intended, by Hard Spun. If he settles, the outside post allows the option of setting the pace or pressing from second. Spun Intended will try to follow the pattern of the last three Sham winners. Newgrange, Life Is Good, and Authentic each won a maiden sprint in his previous start.
Packs a Wahlop won a pair of Grade 3 turf miles, one in September and one in October. He did not get the trip his trainer hoped for in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
“I don’t think he liked it being down inside and being held,” Mullins said. “Normally he’s free-wheeling on the outside of the speed.”
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Ramon Vazquez has worked Packs a Wahlop and is his new rider Sunday. Packs a Wahlop has been aimed to the Sham since the Breeders’ Cup, but Mullins acknowledges it is a turf-to-dirt experiment for the son of Creative Cause.
“He’s bred to do both, but he always looked to me like a turf horse,” Mullins said. “If this doesn’t work out, he can always go back to grass.”
Newgate breaks from the rail. His lone win came sprinting in his debut, and he comes off a second in the Grade 3 Bob Hope going seven furlongs at Del Mar. Baffert said, “I’m not sure if maybe he’s a one-turn miler. I want to give him another crack at two turns.”
Baffert said that Reincarnate “wants to go a mile and quarter, a mile and a half.”
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