Cezanne Wins on Debut at Santa Anita Park

Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and St. Elias Stable's Cezanne made his debut a winning one June 6 when he took a 6 1/2-furlong, $51,000 maiden special weight by 2 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita Park. 

Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Flavien Prat, Cezanne broke just a touch slow from his spot on the rail and quickly settled in midfield behind Rayray and jockey Abel Cedillo. Stalking the pace along the backstretch, the colt gained ground quickly through the opening quarter-mile. He cut between rivals Brazen and Mystery Man to get up for second as the half-mile went in :44.73, slid past Rayray on the outside, and was in front by a 1 1/2 lengths at the top of the stretch. 

From there, it was easy for Cezanne, who pulled away under mild urging from Prat. The pair crossed the wire clear of their competition in a final time of 1:16.13. 

A son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin , Cezanne first turned heads at 2 when he was consigned by Crupi's New Castle Farm to The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select sale of 2-year-olds in training. His entrance into the auction ring led to a bidding frenzy, which was won by bloodstock agents Donato Lanni and Jamie McCalmont acting on behalf of M.V. Magnier. The final bid for Cezanne was $3.65 million, a price that helped seal a record-setting session for the South Florida auction. 

Bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stables, Cezanne is out of the winning Bernardini  daughter Achieving, who has a yearling filly by Curlin. Cezanne is a half brother to group 1-placed Arabian Hope and stakes winner Counterforce.