Santa Anita: Baffert-trained maiden winner Fed Biz earns stakes shot

Fed Biz, a $950,000 yearling purchase, won a one-mile maiden race for 2-year-olds on Friday at Santa Anita, a performance likely to lead to a stakes appearance in his next start.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Fed Biz stalked the quick pace of Where’s Henry, took the lead on the turn and won by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:35.48.

“He had every reason to stop and he rebroke,” winning trainer Bob Baffert said. “We’ve always thought a lot of this colt. He showed he’s a real deal. That was exciting.”

Baffert said finding a first-condition allowance race for Fed Biz’s next start could be difficult. Owned by Kaleem Shah, Fed Biz was fourth in his debut at Hollywood Park on Nov. 27.

“It may be stakes races from here on out,” Baffert said.

Groovin’ Solo, who won Friday’s second division of the maiden races for 2-year-olds, will be pointed for the $200,000 Robert Lewis Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 4, owner-trainer Myung Kwo Cho said.

Groovin’ Solo, ridden by Alonso Quinonez, closed from fifth in a field of eighth to win by a half-length over the fast-closing Candy’s Jewel in 1:36.02.

Bred by Cho, Groovin’ Solo was pulled up in the CashCall Futurity when his reins broke on the backstretch. Groovin’ Solo is a half-brother to Premier Pegasus, who won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes last March but missed the Santa Anita Derby the following month because of injury. Cho said on Friday that Premier Pegasus has returned to training.

◗ Trainer Gary Stute has been fined $500 after Heart Fever, the winner of a maiden special weight race at Hollywood Park on Nov. 12, was found to be racing in excess of the permitted level of the common analgesic phenylbutazone.