Bezos Makes Amends With Convincing Two-Turn Score

The highly regarded Bezosmade amends for his lackluster debut effort March 26 with a convincing 4 1/2-length victory in a maiden special weight at Santa Anita Park. Trained by Bob Baffert, the son of Empire Maker blasted from the gate and sped a tepid :22.98 for the first quarter before being joined by his stablemate Fenway down the backstretch as the pair rolled through a :46.37 half. The big bay shook off his rival turning for home and drew off unchallenged through the lane under steady encouragement from rider Flavien Prat. Bezos clocked the mile in 1:37.64 on a fast track.

Despite the fact Bezos finished off the board in his Feb. 7 unveiling, the 3-year-old was backed as the 7-5 favorite in his first attempt at two turns. He paid $4.80, $2.80, and $2.10. There Goes Harvard got up for second over Fenway.

Although Bezos was nominated to the Triple Crown prior to his debut, Baffert expressed that a potential start in the Kentucky Derby would not be a part of the colt's future plans.

"We missed the window; we were trying to get him there (Derby Trail), but he's a beautiful horse," said Baffert. "This was good what he did today. Going two turns, that's gonna be his game, so he'll develop. We'll just let him develop on his own now. We're not in a hurry now."

Out of the A.P. Indy mare A P Mink, Bezos was purchased for $400,000 as a Keeneland September Yearling and is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson.

Video: Race 6 (MSW) at SA on 3/26/21