The money will pour in on Bishops Bay
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Eight 3-year-olds during 2023 have run a race that yielded a Beyer Speed Figure of 97 or higher, and one of them swings back into action Sunday at Fair Grounds.
Bishops Bay was bet down to 1-2 favoritism facing nine rivals in his career debut Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds and ran to expectations. His margin of victory in a six-furlong dirt race was just three-quarters of a length, but runner-up First Mission, who was to run in a maiden route Saturday at Fair Grounds, has graded stakes potential himself.
The two horses, both trained by Brad Cox, drew well clear of a spread out field in a legitimately fast race. On Sunday, Bishops Bay stretches out to a mile and 70 yards. He’s listed at 6-5 on the Fair Grounds morning line but is almost certainly bound to be odds-on again.
By Uncle Mo out of Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile, Bishops Bay doesn’t yet have the mind to match his raw physical ability. But he’s a kind horse that Cox believes can negotiate the transition to two-turn racing.
“He doesn’t overdo it, appears to have the ability to relax,” Cox said. “This horse just isn’t all the way there yet mentally as regards to knowing what his job is. I think he’s going to get better with experience.
“His works since his race, I couldn’t be happier with how he’s breezed. He’s a strong horse. He’s going to put himself in the race.”
It’s getting late, but if Bishops Bay runs back to or exceeds his debut performance, he could be given a chance to get onto the Triple Crown trail.
Among the other seven entered, First Defender appears to be Bishops Bay’s chief rival. A sharp debut sprint winner himself on Jan. 21, First Defender on Feb. 18 made the jump from a maiden sprint to a two-turn allowance that Bishops Bay attempts Sunday.
Contesting a faster-than-par pace, First Defender finished fourth, beaten two lengths, in a hot first-level allowance. The race’s first two finishers, Denington and Cagliostro, are expected to run back in the Louisiana Derby. Third-place Tapit Shoes, another Cox charge, also is highly regarded.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, First Defender in a reasonable betting market would be, at worst, about the same price as Bishops Bay. But Bishops Bay is a hype horse, and First Defender, one race more advanced than Bishops Bay and with route experience, probably offers some value.
Cox’s second entrant, Demolition Duke, wasn’t as brilliant as Bishops Bay winning his sprint debut, but win he did, rolling to a three-length victory over Bo Cruz, who returned to win a March 4 maiden route by more than 12 lengths earning a 92 Beyer.
“He did come from off the pace that day. I didn’t think the pace was hot, and he finished up well,” Cox said. “He’s not one to overlook.”
He’s likely to be overlooked, with everyone looking to see just how good Bishops Bay might be.
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