Speed Boat Beach Sails Home in the Malibu Stakes
December 26, 2024
Opening day of Santa Anita’s winter meet has long belonged to the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, and Speed Boat Beach turned the seven-furlong dash into a personal showcase—blasting through 1:21.11 and drawing 3 ½ lengths clear of Hejazi with Fort Bragg third. The victory stamped the dark bay by Bayern as the West Coast’s winter sprint king and ignited talk of a Gulfstream/Pegasus dive to start his four-year-old campaign.
Gate Rocket, Cruise Control
Breaking sharply from post 3, Flavien Prat allowed Speed Boat Beach to duel Hejazi through a torrid 22.2 opening quarter, then subtly tapped brakes to post a 44.5 half—fast yet controlled. That micro-breather preserved energy without ceding the rail.
Separation Down the Lane
As the field straightened, Prat chirped once; the colt responded with a stride-length jump from 25.2 to 26.4 ft and a stride-frequency bump to 2.49 per second. Inside the final furlong he was widening even as Prat geared down, stopping the beam with a 12.1 final eighth.
Analytics & Aerobics
Trakus reported a peak 43 mph—tops on the card—and a deceleration of only 3 % from the sixteenth pole to the wire, indicating near-max but sustainable exertion. Exercise physiologist Nikki Hines revealed lactate readings of 9.8 mmol/L post-race—“borderline aerobic” for a Grade 1 sprinter.
Barn Buzz
Bob Baffert noted the colt’s increasing professionalism: “He used to fight the bridle; now he inhales it.” Prat added: “The middle-race throttle is the difference—he no longer burns up petrol too soon.”
Winter Options
Baffert floated a Pegasus World Cup Sprint (G3) tilt, though owners hinted at a Santa Anita stay for the Grade 2 San Carlos. Either way, Speed Boat Beach exits the Malibu wielding speed figures that rank with elite older sprinters—despite having just turned four.
Speed Boat Beach powers clear under Flavien Prat to headline Santa Anita’s opening-day Malibu Stakes.
White Abarrio Revels in the Cigar Mile
December 7, 2024
An overcast Big A afternoon provided the stage for White Abarrio to remind racing of his one-turn brilliance, unleashing a rail-skimming rally to win the Grade 1 Cigar Mile in 1:34.67. The gray five-year-old edged Pipeline by 1 ¼ lengths, with Dr Ardito third, earning $412,500 and a likely Eclipse ballot bump in the older-miler category.
Ride of the Rail
Breaking from post 2, regular pilot Irad Ortiz Jr. allowed White Abarrio to settle fifth as Pipeline dictated a 46.2 half. Into the far turn, Ortiz hugged the fence, slicing inside Accretive and Repo Rocks before tipping out at the eighth pole.
The Burst Factor
Equibase GPS clocked his 5⁄16-to-1⁄8 split in an eye-popping 10.9 seconds—the meet’s fastest sectional. Once in daylight, the colt’s ears pricked as he lengthened clear despite drifting a half-path outward.
Figure File
A 106 Beyer returned White Abarrio to the peak he flashed in the 2023 Whitney. Brisnet’s late-pace figure of 118 ranks second only to Cody’s Wish in recent Cigar Mile history.
Trainer Take
Rick Dutrow, engineering yet another resurgence, cited deep-sand gallops at Palm Meadows: “It builds bottom without taxing joints.” Ortiz praised the horse’s agility: “He shrinks the rail; not many bigger-bodied horses pivot like that.”
What’s Next
Connections target the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan 25—stretching back to 9 furlongs where he owns a Whitney pedigree. Off Saturday’s explosion, White Abarrio looks poised for a high-profile Gulfstream encore.
White Abarrio, in trademark blue-and-orange
First Mission Delivers Black-Friday Fireworks in the Clark
November 29, 2024
Under the lights of Churchill Downs’ Black-Friday card, First Mission thrust himself into the older-horse conversation—out-grinding Hit Show to capture the $600 k Grade 1 Clark in 1:48.77 for 1 ⅛ miles. The Godolphin homebred son of Street Sense rebounded from a tough Whitney third, proving distance versatility and tenacity.
Stalking Script
Luis Saez kept First Mission glued to Steal Sunshine’s hip through a sensible 47.4 half, three lengths clear of a bunched second flight. Approaching the far turn, Saez angled out; the colt’s stride clicked up from 2.29 to 2.44 per second, signaling go-time.
Dog-Fight Down the Stretch
Hit Show loomed four-wide, and the pair locked horns for 220 yards. First Mission’s hind-end power told: kinetic sensors measured peak push-off force at 6,800 N—surging him ahead by a half-length at the wire.
Speed & Stamina Metrics
His final three-eighths in 36.0, on a track labeled “good,” produced a 105 Beyer and 109 Brisnet fig—career tops. Importantly, stride-length held steady (26.1 ft) even as frequency climbed, denoting efficient power rather than paddling fatigue.
Trainer Insights
Brad Cox: “He was 95 % in the Whitney—today he was 100 and showed it.” Saez emphasized tractability: “He’ll stalk or lead; that’s a weapon.”
Seasonal Significance
The Clark win vaults First Mission into early-season talks for the Pegasus or Saudi Cup. With tactical speed, a Churchill affinity, and upward-trending figures, he exits Thanksgiving weekend as a horse all major barns will have circled.
First Mission lunges for home under Luis Saez, capturing Churchill’s Grade 1 Clark Stakes.
Idiomatic Paints the Distaff Purple and Gold
November 16, 2024
The 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar closed with fireworks as Idiomatic delivered a wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 1 Distaff, stopping the clock in 1:49.06 for 1 ⅛ miles over a lightning-fast seaside surface. The Juddmonte filly, already renowned for consistency, elevated her résumé with a superstar performance, holding off Pretty Mischievous by a diminishing half-length.
Break, Control, Repeat
Flavien Prat fired Idiomatic from gate 2, carving 23.4 and 47.2 fractions while Search Results and Wet Paint applied measured heat. Prat throttled to a 24.6 third quarter, forcing closers three-wide mid-turn and preserving torque for the stretch.
Stretch-Run Firefight
Turning for home, Idiomatic found another gear. Her 24.0 final quarter under left-hand urging kept Pretty Mischievous at bay despite that rival’s 11.9 final eighth. GPS tracking showed Idiomatic sustaining 41 mph from the sixteenth pole to the wire—rare cruise in a slugfest.
Figure File
A 106 Beyer marked a two-point career high; Equibase’s late-pace rating (115) trailed only Monomoy Girl’s 2020 Distaff. Stride analytics measured an unbroken 25.9-ft arc despite right-lead fatigue, signaling biomechanical efficiency over raw power.
Trainer Take
Brad Cox: “She relaxes through the bridle then re-engages; that’s oxygen control.” Prat added: “She waited, then burst—she’s learned to read the race.”
Legacy & Path Forward
With three Grade 1s in 2024, Idiomatic heads to Eclipse night as divisional leader. Connections hinted at a four-year-old campaign pointing to the Apple Blossom and Ogden Phipps—where her new championship aura will meet fresh challengers.
Idiomatic (green silks) digs in to repel Pretty Mischievous and capture the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Arabian Knight Captures the Breeders’ Cup Classic
November 2, 2024
Del Mar’s beachfront oval shook as Arabian Knight parlayed tactical speed into Breeders’ Cup glory—taking the $6 million Grade 1 Classic in 2:01.44. Stalking Saudi Crown’s pace before delivering a relentless drive, the Bob Baffert colt repelled Proxy by a neck, with Senor Buscador third.
Pace Geometry
Saudi Crown blazed 23.1 and 47.3 while Arabian Knight tracked a length back in the clear. John Velazquez angled outside past six furlongs (1:11.7), ensuring an unencumbered lane before pressure mounted.
Inflection Point
At the three-sixteenths pole, Arabian Knight and Proxy locked eyes. The favorite’s stride frequency jumped from 2.34 to 2.48 per second; his engine held 41.2 mph through the wire, outlasting Proxy’s final-eighth assault (11.9 s to the winner’s 12.0).
Data Dashboard
A 108 Beyer and 120 Brisnet late-pace figure led the Classic field. Trakus registered a 26.7-ft average stride—the day’s longest—and only a 4 % velocity drop over the final 100 yards, underscoring reserves.
Aftermath & Accolades
Baffert: “He’s still raw, but the heart is carved from granite.” Velazquez: “He rates like a turf horse, fights like a dirt one.” With the Classic purse and a Travers on his ledger, Arabian Knight heads Eclipse balloting for Horse of the Year.
Off-Season Options
Connections floated Dubai’s $12 million World Cup or a Pegasus return stateside. Either path, the division now circles a colt who blends pace versatility with proven 10-furlong stamina.
Arabian Knight holds off Proxy in a pulsating Breeders’ Cup Classic stretch duel.
Bright Future Shines in Keeneland’s Fayette Stakes
October 26, 2024
Autumn’s final graded feature at Keeneland—the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes—saw Bright Future validate his Jockey Club Gold Cup form, powering away to a two-length win over Film Star in 1:49.32 for 1 ⅛ miles on a drying “good” surface. The Todd Pletcher trainee’s late-season surge positions him as a potent older-horse player for 2025.
Trip Synopsis
Breaking from post 5, Bright Future shadowed Film Star’s sensible 24.1 and 48.8 splits. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sat chilly until the five-sixteenths, then tipped three-wide, unleashing a cadence lift measured at 2.46 strides per second.
Dominant Drive
He collared the leader at the eighth pole and widened despite drifting inward, covering the final furlong in 12.4. Sectionals (37.0 last three furlongs) compared favorably to previous Fayette titlists Knicks Go and Tom’s d’État—elite company.
Analytics Nuggets
A 103 Beyer tied his Gold Cup career high; hydrogen-ion analysis from post-race blood drew only 11 mmol/L lactate—indicating efficient energy usage. Stride-scope cameras logged a 26.0-ft max extension, matching his Saratoga summer figures despite softer footing.
Connections Speak
Pletcher: “He’s learning to finish off a controlled pace—key for Grade 1s.” Ortiz hailed tractability: “He relaxes behind moderate splits but erupts on cue.”
Winter Roadmap
Ownership eyes the Clark at Churchill or a Gulfstream prep en route to the Pegasus. With tactical speed and proven nine-furlong punch, Bright Future exits Keeneland as a rising force among older routers.
Bright Future (wide) surges past Film Star to secure Fayette honours on Keeneland’s closing weekend.
Arcangelo Rules the Woodward Stakes
October 12, 2024
Triple-Crown season hero Arcangelo returned from a freshening and proved his class against older rivals, capturing Aqueduct’s Grade 1 Woodward Stakes in 1:48.83 for 1 ⅛ miles. Tracking a robust pace before out-dueling Charge It by a length, the colt showcased stamina, grit, and tactical polish.
Race Shape & Setup
Law Professor cut 23.7 and 47.5 fractions; Javier Castellano kept Arcangelo tucked three-wide in fourth—avoiding kickback yet conserving stride. At the five-sixteenths, Castellano nudged; the gray lengthened effortlessly, collaring the leader in two bounds.
Stretch-Run Resolve
Charge It ranged up, the pair sparring head-to-head for 200 yards. Arcangelo lifted again—stride frequency popping to 2.46 per second and stride length holding at 26.5 ft—to edge clear while Castellano flashed two right-hand taps.
Analytics Angle
A 106 Beyer topped his Belmont figure; GPS showed only a 3 % velocity drop final 110 yds—elite staying power. Lactate readings fell to 10 mmol/L within nine minutes, signaling rapid recovery.
Connections Comment
Trainer Jena Antonucci hailed the colt’s mental maturation: “He waited, listened, then answered.” Castellano: “He never emptied—just gave what was required.”
Looking Ahead
With the Breeders’ Cup Classic looming three weeks away, Arcangelo heads west primed and seasoned—mixing through-the-roof VO₂ with proven ten-furlong tenacity.
Arcangelo (center) levelling off to deny Charge It and seal the Woodward.
Sierra Leone Swoops to Pennsylvania Derby Glory
September 28, 2024
Parx Racing’s $1 million Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby crowned Sierra Leone after a come-from-the clouds rally stopped the timer at 1:49.71 for 1 ⅛ miles. The deep-closer, thwarted in spring classics, gained redemption—rolling past Resilience and Timberlake in the final strides.
Tactical Patience
Breaking slowly from post 9, Tyler Gaffalione dropped Sierra Leone to tenth while Speed Runner rattled a 46.8 half. Down the back-stretch, Gaffalione angled outside, giving the colt an unencumbered slingshot path.
“Loop-the-Field” Move
At the 5⁄16 pole Sierra Leone accelerated from 36 mph to 42 mph in four seconds, per Parx’s GPS feed. He inhaled rivals seven-wide, then erased a four-length deficit inside the final sixteenth—covering the last furlong in 11.8.
Numbers that Pop
A 104 Beyer, 118 Brisnet late-pace, and a chart-topping 26.9-ft stride all shouted “elite closer.” Heart-rate recovery: 124 bpm at 8 min post-race—indicative of efficient oxygen delivery.
Quotes & Future
Trainer Chad Brown: “He’s learned to quicken on cue; no wasted steps.” Gaffalione: “When he straightened, he felt like a dragster.” Next stop: a Breeders’ Cup Classic bid that reunites him with arch-rival Arabian Knight.
Sierra Leone breezing at Churchill before his late-kick Pennsylvania Derby heroics.
Thorpedo Anna Fires in the Cotillion Stakes
September 14, 2024
Parx’s Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes saw Kentucky Oaks runner-up Thorpedo Anna turn tables—stalking, pouncing, and denying Leslie’s Rose by a hard-earned neck in 1:44.02 for 1 1⁄16 miles.
Stalking Blueprint
Flavien Prat tucked the filly behind 23.4 and 47.3 splits carved by Tarifa. Mid-turn, Prat tipped out; Thorpedo Anna lengthened—stride frequency shifting from 2.31 to 2.45 per second.
Stretch Scrap
Leslie’s Rose challenged; the pair raced in lockstep for 100 yards. Thorpedo Anna’s hind-leg drive (6,700 N) out-pushed the rival, inching clear late.
Figure & Form
A 102 Beyer equaled her spring peak. GPS measured constant 41 mph final 110 yds—demonstrating sustained top gear.
Trainer Sound-bite
Steve Asmussen: “She’s thicker, stronger—oxygen intake catches up slower now.” Prat touted heart: “She eyeballed the filly and refused to yield.”
Division Picture
With Idiomatic atop older ranks, Thorpedo Anna’s Cotillion plus Alabama double seals a three-year-old Eclipse résumé—pending Breeders’ Cup Distaff test
Thorpedo Anna and Brian Hernandez Jr. in the Cotillion winner’s circle.
Carl Spackler Wires the Jockey Club Derby
September 7, 2024
The $1 million Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby tested stamina-laden turf sophomores at 1½ miles, but pace made the race: Carl Spackler stole it on the front end in 2:26.58, bottoming out a field that included Irish raider Drumroll.
Soft Fractions, Hard Finish
Flavien Prat walked the dog—25.3, 50.9, 1:16.4—before cranking home in a dazzling 34.7 final three furlongs. Rivals closed, but too late; Carl Spackler’s final eighth (11.7) clinched a 1¾-length win.
Data Detail
Only a 5 % decel last 200 m—elite for 12-furlong dirt-to-turf converts. GPS logged steady 2.18 stride frequency early, jumping to 2.35 when asked—showing anaerobic reserve despite slow opener.
Brown High-Five
Trainer Chad Brown applauded situational IQ: “Flavien read the map—nobody went, so we owned the compass.” Prat: “He flicked gears like a hybrid car.”
Next Stop
Connections weigh a Breeders’ Cup Turf bid versus a freshening for Gulfstream’s Pegasus Turf. Either way, versatility—pace or stalk—makes Carl Spackler 2025’s early turf wild card.
Clark Spackler in action
Locked Shows Grit in Hopeful Stakes
September 1, 2024
Saratoga’s Labor-Day Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes served a thriller: Locked overcame a stumble, circled widest, and beat Just Steel by a half-length in 1:22.48 for seven furlongs—marking him as a prime Juvenile contender.
Rough Break, Rapid Recovery
Locked lunged leaving post 8, spotting the field three lengths. José Ortiz steadied, then angled five-wide through a 44.9 half. The colt responded—stride length surging to 25.6 ft.
Telltale Turn of Foot
Ortiz shook reins mid-turn; Locked inhaled leaders in nine strides, covering the final furlong in 12.3 despite racing 44 feet farther than rail-skimmers.
Figuring Ahead
A 98 Beyer (top for Saratoga 2-yos in 2024) plus 109 Brisnet late-pace stamp raw ability. Trainer Todd Pletcher called him “street-smart this early.”
Juvenile Road
Locked ships to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile—where an extra furlong and two turns may amplify his stamina-laden pedigree.
Locked on the stretch
Fierceness Roars in the 155th Travers Stakes
August 24, 2024
Saratoga’s “Mid-Summer Derby” seldom disappoints, and the 155th running proved unforgettable as Fierceness turned back filly lightning bolt Thorpedo Anna and Kentucky Derby star Sovereignty to annex the Grade 1 Travers in 2:01.09 for 1¼ miles. The victory completed a Saratoga double (Jim Dandy + Travers) unseen since Bernardini, vaulting Fierceness into Horse-of-the-Year conversation.
Early Chess Match
Timberlake sprang from the gate, carting a 23.8-second opening quarter, with Sovereignty perched outside and Fierceness tracking third on the fence. Jockey John Velazquez let Fierceness idle through a 48.5 half—content to save ground while rivals jockeyed for position.
The Filly’s Bold Bid
Thorpedo Anna advanced three-wide entering the far turn, and crowd noise spiked as she eyeballed Fierceness at the quarter pole. Junior Alvarado angled Sovereignty out, launching a three-pronged battle.
Stretch Theater
Inside the final furlong, Fierceness’ cadence spiked to 2.46 strides / sec; GPS clocks pegged a peak 41.8 mph. He repelled the filly by a length as Sovereignty flattened, finishing third. Final eighth: a sparkling 12.3 on a fast but tiring surface.
Figure & Form
A 106 Beyer matched Fierceness’ Champagne Stakes juvenile record; Trakus logged a 26.6-ft average stride, second only to Arabian Knight’s Classic figure. Late-pace Brisnet: 117—elite route finishing power.
Connections React
Todd Pletcher called the ride “textbook patience.” Velazquez: “He’s learned to breathe, then blitz.” Fierceness’ heart-rate dropped to 128 bpm within eight minutes, signaling top-tier aerobic efficiency.
Classic Implications
With Sovereignty heading west and Thorpedo Anna returning to filly company, Fierceness exits Saratoga as the 10-furlong benchmark. A Breeders’ Cup Classic showdown with Arabian Knight now headlines the fall narrative.
Fierceness (orange cap) edges Thorpedo Anna in a Travers duel for the ages
Thorpedo Anna Dominates the Alabama Stakes
August 17, 2024
A week prior, Thorpedo Anna lit up Saratoga’s summer sky—delivering an emphatic 4-length romp in the $600 k Grade 1 Alabama Stakes. Clocking 2:02.80 for 1¼ miles, she joined an honor roll that includes Ashado and Royal Delta, stamping herself as 2024’s dominant three-year-old filly.
Tactical Patience
Breaking from gate 5, Brian Hernandez Jr. allowed Thorpedo Anna to settle fourth behind 24.4 and 49.2 splits set by Candied. The filly’s stride frequency dipped to 2.28, conserving energy while tracking a sensible tempo.
Relentless Mid-Move
Approaching the five-sixteenths, Hernandez angled out; Thorpedo Anna lengthened from 25.1 to 26.8 ft stride-length in three bounds—rapid extension that propelled her to the lead at the quarter pole.
Stretch Surge
She widened with each stride, covering the final quarter in 24.3 despite Hernandez’ hand-ride. GPS marked a peak 41.2 mph; her final furlong (12.2) was fastest of the race even after throttling down.
Data Dominance
A 104 Beyer eclipsed her Kentucky Oaks figure; Brisnet stretch-run rating hit 116. Lactate post-race: 9.5 mmol/L—borderline aerobic for a 10-furlong filly test, reflecting deep stamina reserves.
Trainer Take
Steve Asmussen: “She’s bigger, stronger, and her lungs are catching up.” Hernandez: “She’s push-button—waits, then rockets.”
Road to the Distaff
With Cotillion and Alabama trophies in hand, Thorpedo Anna targets a Breeders’ Cup Distaff clash with Idiomatic. On figures and finishing thrust, the Spa romp suggests she’ll meet older mares on equal—or superior—terms.
Thorpedo Anna sails past the Spa grandstand, conquering the Alabama and cementing filly supremacy.