Potente, first time starter, leads all the way in maiden sprint
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ARCADIA, Calif. - It is never too late to arrive on the 3-year-old scene.
On Saturday at Santa Anita, the first-time starter Potente led throughout a maiden race for 3-year-olds at six furlongs at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Kazushi Kimura for trainer Bob Baffert, Potente ($3.20) won by three-quarters of a length over 8-5 favorite Captain Shreve, who posed a challenge throughout.
Potente was timed in 1:10.65 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 79.
“He’s not a sprinter,” Baffert said. “He wants to go two turns.”
Baffert said in the winner’s circle that Potente will benefit from the race experience.
“This horse needed a race or a couple of works,” he said. “His class showed up.”
Potente led Captain Shreve by a head through a solid early pace of 22.77 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.62 for a half-mile. Potente led by a half-length with a furlong remaining.
Captain Shreve, who was second in his debut on Dec. 28, finished 3 1/4 lengths in front of Deep Tracks, a Nyquist colt purchased for $1 million at the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic sale of 2-year-olds in-training last May. The purchase price equaled the third most-expensive price of the sale.
Deep Tracks is trained by John Shirreffs.
Potente races for Speedway Stable and was purchased for $2.4 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale in August 2024. By Into Mischief, Potente was the second most-expensive hip of the prestigious auction.
Potente beat only four rivals on Saturday after Crude Velocity, Duntov and Ruler of Law were withdrawn.
Cornucopian wins comeback
Later on Saturday, Cornucopian, a $1.1 million yearling purchase at Keeneland in September 2023, overcame brief trouble to win an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs for Baffert.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Cornucopian was not urged in the final furlong, winning by three lengths over Red Flag, an 8-year-old gelding who won the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar in November 2020.
Cornucopian, who was timed in 1:15.68, was fifth on the backstretch while racing on the inside. Hernandez briefly checked Cornucopian on the turn when the colt lacked racing room. When space developed, Cornucopian quickly took the lead. He led by 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining.
Cornucopian earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.
A 4-year-old by Into Mischief, Cornucopian has won 2 of 4 starts. He was fourth as the 9-10 favorite in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park last March.
Cornucopian was scratched from the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on Dec. 28.
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