Earl Rock fends off late challenge, survives inquiry to win Baffle Stakes

Earls Rock closed from sixth in a field of nine to win his stakes debut in Friday’s $84,200 Baffle Stakes for 3-year-old turf sprinters at Santa Anita, and then survived a four-minute inquiry regarding an incident in which a rival was checked on the turn.

Earls Rock ($3.80) fought off a sustained challenge from 6-1 Beer Can Man in the final sixteenth to win the Baffle Stakes by three-quarters of a length, finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.15.

Earls Rock earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 81. Earls Rock was ridden by Flavien Prat, who had his third winner on the eight-race program.

The stewards conducted an inquiry into Earls Rock’s path on the turn, focusing on whether the colt interfered with 35-1 Weston approaching the quarter pole. Weston, the winner of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar last August, was forced to check under jockey Tyler Baze, but the stewards ruled in a unanimous decision that video replays were inconclusive as to whether interference occurred.

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Beer Can Man, the winner of the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar in November, finished 3 1/4 lengths clear of 26-1 Mac Daddy Too, who had his stakes debut on Friday.

Harlan Estate, supplemented to the Baffle Stakes for $1,500, finished fourth and was followed by Sword Zorro, Commander Khai, Weston, Gator Shining, and Exhalting.

Earls Rock, owned by Anthony Fanticola and trained by Phil D’Amato, has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $91,099. An Irish-bred colt by Fascinating Rock, Earls Rock was second in his debut at Down Royal Racecourse in Northern Ireland in September before being acquired by Fanticola and sent to D’Amato.

In his American debut, Earls Rock won a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf by 4 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita on Jan. 9.