Fed Biz fires off long layoff in San Diego

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Bob Baffert, jockey Martin Garcia, and owner Kaleem Shah scored what they hoped would be the first half of a coast-to-coast weekend double when Fed Biz, returning to his favorite track, crushed his rivals in a dazzling comeback performance in the Grade 2, $201,000 San Diego Handicap on Saturday at Del Mar.

Baffert, Garcia, and Shah will be represented by Bayern in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on Sunday. They also have Declassify in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby here on Sunday.

“I certainly hope so,” Shah said when asked if he was hoping for a sweep this weekend. “From your lips to God’s ears.”

Fed Biz had not raced since last November, when he was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but he came back better than ever, romping by 5 1/4 lengths while covering 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack in 1:41, a track record.

Fed Biz also set a track record for seven furlongs here when winning the Pat O’Brien last year, so he now holds two records at Del Mar, where he is 3 for 3.

“I knew he was going to run really well. He’d been training like a monster,” Baffert said. “He gets over this track really well.”

Fed Biz ($8) was the second choice in a field of nine. Footbridge, a 25-1 shot, rallied for second, one length in front of You Know I Know. Frac Daddy, favored at 2-1, was fourth.

The win was the sixth in 16 lifetime starts for Fed Biz, 5, a son of Giant’s Causeway. He was purchased at auction as a yearling by Shah from his breeder, Richard Santulli, who has bought back in as a partner.

Baffert said the main goal now with Fed Biz is to try and get him a Grade 1 win. He owns three victories in Grade 2 stakes.

“We have to decide whether to run here or at Saratoga,” Baffert said. “He needs to win a Grade 1.”