Speed Boat Beach takes Speakeasy, gains berth in BC Juvenile Turf Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. - A slightly flawed start could not keep Speed Boat Beach from winning his stakes debut in Sunday’s $102,000 Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-old turf sprinters at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Speed Boat Beach ($2.80) hopped slightly at the start, but recovered to race in second behind Helladic, who set a torrid pace of 21.06 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 43.36 for a half-mile.

Speed Boat Beach caught Helladic in early stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths over that rival, finishing five furlongs on turf in 55.25 seconds.

The win left Speed Boat Beach unbeaten in two starts. Speed Boat Beach earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at five furlongs at Keeneland on Nov. 4 with the win.

“He’s got some serious speed,” winning trainer Bob Baffert said. “At the three-eighths pole, he took off.”

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Ah Jeez (8-1) closed from seventh in a field of nine to finish third, a half-length behind Helladic.

Mas Rapido finished fourth, followed by Wound Up, Straighten Up, Arman, Flame Rider and Taltariate.

Helladic had his stakes debut in the Speakeasy and first start since a win by 3 1/2 lengths in a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on turf in May in his debut.

To run that good and get beat, he ran his (tail) off,” jockey Tyler Baze said. “I think he will improve.”

Speed Boat Beach, a colt by Bayern, races for the partnership of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. In his debut at Del Mar on Sept. 10, Speed Boat Beach set a rapid pace and won by 1 1/4 lengths, setting a track record of 1:01.86 for 5 1/2 furlongs.

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