Messier pulls away for easy win over small Bob Hope field
DEL MAR, Calif. – The promising colt Messier continued his progression toward the immediate goal of next month’s Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity by easily skating past three rivals in the Grade 3, $98,000 Bob Hope Stakes on Sunday at Del Mar.
Messier, who started from the rail in the field of four, trailed early as Forbidden Kingdom set a sharp pace, rallied outside weary rivals on the turn, got to the front at midstretch and pulled away for a 3 1/2-length victory.
Forbidden Kingdom, the only horse in the race not trained by Bob Baffert, held second by 1 3/4 lengths over Winning Map. Kamui, who bumped with stablemate Winning Map when the gates opened, trailed.
Rock N Rye was scratched. There was no show wagering.
The posted final time for seven furlongs on the fast main track was 1:22.74. The posted splits were 21.40 seconds for the opening quarter – that with an abbreviated run-up – and a half in :43.23, which would mean the second quarter was run in 21.83 seconds.
Messier ($4.40) was favored based on a romping win in his second start against maidens, that going six furlongs on Oct. 22 at Santa Anita. He had finished second going five furlongs in his debut at Los Alamitos in June.
“He’d never been here before,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert, who sent Messier by van from Santa Anita early Sunday morning. “He walked into the paddock like he owned it.”
Nine days earlier, Baffert won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with Corniche.
“Him and Corniche, they’re two top individuals,” Baffert said.
Baffert and jockey Flavien Prat swept the weekend’s stakes here. They teamed with the 2-year-old filly Eda to win the Desi Arnaz on Saturday.
Baffert was happy that Messier, who removed blinkers for this race, was allowed to sit and finish.
“Try to get an education, sit back there,” he said.
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Messier, by Empire Maker out of the Smart Strike mare Checkered Past, is now 2 for 3 for his large partnership, which includes Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables, SF Racing, Siena Farm, Starlight Racing, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Robert “Bat” Masterson, and Jay Schoenfarber. He was purchased as a yearling for $470,000.
Baffert said Messier would stretch out to two turns in the Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 11.
In addition to all the major 3-year-old races in the United States to which Messier could be aimed next year, he is an Ontario-bred, making him eligible for the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine in Canada.