Highly regarded Baffert-trained pair of Bezos, Tivoli Twirl face off in debut

Highly regarded 3-year-old first-time starters Bezos and Tivoli Twirl will get a chance to live up to the hype when they appear in a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Bezos, an Empire Maker colt purchased for $400,000 as a yearling, and Tivoli Twirl, a Twirling Candy colt bought for $375,000 at a 2-year-olds in training sale, have worked well in recent weeks for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The workouts have suggested Bezos and Tivoli Twirl could rapidly rise in the 3-year-old division in coming months.

“They have to prove it,” Baffert said Friday. “They’re both nice horses.”

Mike Smith will ride Bezos, while Drayden Van Dyke has the mount on Tivoli Twirl. Smith has not been aboard Bezos for any workouts, but has heard considerable chatter about the colt’s promise.

“He’s had some good works, I know that,” Smith said. “Hopefully, he’s that kind of horse.

“It would be nice to win that and then watch the Super Bowl.”

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First post at Santa Anita for Sunday’s eight-race program is 11 a.m. Pacific, to complete the program before Super Bowl kickoff at 3:30 p.m. Pacific.

Tivoli Twirl, owned by Michael Petersen, has drawn post 4, one spot to the inside of Bezos in a field of nine. Tivoli Twirl recorded fast five-furlong workouts in 59 seconds from the gate on Jan. 23 and 59.20 on Jan. 31. Both were the fastest times of the morning for the distance.

“Tivoli Twirl is pretty quick,” Baffert said.

Bezos, owned by a partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stable, also has recorded fast times in recent weeks, notably five furlongs in 59.40 from the gate on Jan. 21, and five furlongs in 58.80 on Monday.

“Bezos has a big, long stride,” Baffert said. “He’s not as quick as Tivoli Twirl. He’s bred to go long.

“He’s a horse that is not real quick from the gate. Mike is good to get them out of the gate.”

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Bezos and Tivoli Twirl are two of six first-time starters in the field, a group that includes Chaos Reigns, a colt by Malibu Moon. Trained by Ron Ellis, Chaos Reigns has had a consistent pattern of workouts in January and earlier this month, including a half-mile in 47.40 on Monday.

Of the runners with race experience, Mr. Impossible has shown the most promise, finishing second to the Baffert-trained Concert Tour in a maiden special weight race at six furlongs on Jan. 15 in his debut. Concert Tour was entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Mr. Impossible stalked the pace in that race and was beaten 3 1/2 lengths. Trainer Simon Callaghan said a second start in a sprint is a good fit for Mr. Impossible.

“It seems he’s moved forward out of his last race,” Callaghan said. “This is a tough race.

“He’s built like a more of a one-turn horse. I want to keep him one turn for the moment.”