Pricey Cezanne Proves Himself in San Carlos
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Cezanne makes it look easy in the San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Cezanne has always engendered great expectations, having sold as a 2-year-old for $3.65 million, and he is now proving himself. The attractive son of Curlin put away a gutsy Principe Carlo to win the $200,5000 San Carlos Stakes presented by Fanduel (G2) March 5 at Santa Anita Park.
Trainer Bob Baffert was particularly pleased because the seven-furlong distance is what he feels is Cezanne's forte.
"We've always wanted to go longer with him, but we've had little setbacks with him," said Baffert. "There wasn't a spot to really prep him."
In his second race since last April, Cezanne, the 3-5 San Carlos favorite, came away from the gate well and vied for the lead, running easily between pacesetter Canadian Pride on the rail and Principio Carlo to his outside. Canadian Pride completed the first quarter-mile in :22.67 and the half-mile in :45.42, with jockey Flavien Prat on Cezanne pressing between horses.
"He broke well and got himself into the race," said Prat. "I was traveling well, and he responded well when it was time to make a move."
That time came in the turn. Cezanne gave Prat just what the jockey asked for, gliding to the lead nearing the quarter pole. Principle Carlo refused to give up and stuck with Cezanne for a few strides. But then Cezanne pulled away, reaching the wire 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Principio Carlo and stopping the timer in 1:23.45. Canadian Pride was six lengths back in third.
"Bob was telling me he was going to be really sharp today, and that was the case," said Prat.
Baffert noted that in other circumstances, he could have run Cezanne in the Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaavama' Resort & Casino (G1) later in the card.
"I liked what I saw today—he was just getting going," Baffert said. "He needed his first race."
In that first race, the Jan. 29 Palos Verdes Stakes (G3), Cezanne finished third to Baffert-trained Essential Wager and Richard Baltas-trained Shooters Shoot , the latter running fifth of six in the San Carlos after stumbling at the start.
"I think stretching him out, he'll love it," said Baffert of Cezanne after the San Carlos. "He came back like it was nothing. This is not his distance."
Baffert trains Cezanne for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and St. Elias Stable. St. Elias bred the 5-year-old in Kentucky with Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings from the Bernardini mare Achieving . M.V. Magnier purchased the sales-topping Cezanne from Crupi's New Castle Farm in 2019 at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select 2-year-olds in training sale.
Achieving has also produced stakes winners Arabian Hope and Counterforce . The second dam, Teeming , is a half sister to champion Rags to Riches .
Prat has ridden Cezanne in each of his six starts. Cezanne ran three times at 3 in 2020, winning his first two races, and in his only 2021 start, he captured the 6 1/2-furlong Kona Gold Stakes (G3) by 9 3/4 lengths.
"He's a big, heavy horse," said Baffert. "We gave him the time and got him back."
The San Carlos originally attracted nine, but American Theorem was double entered and went into the Santa Anita Handicap instead. Then trainer Craig Lewis withdrew the speedy Brickyard Ride , and Baffert scratched Eight Rings . Lewis indicated that he might instead point Brickyard Ride, who had won the Tiznow Stakes for California-breds less than two weeks earlier, to the March 26 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan.