Speed Boat Beach to Turf for Stakes Debut in Speakeasy

Florida-bred Speed Boat Beach , a lightning-quick son of 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Bayern, need only replicate his sensational first-out maiden win on dirt to dominate the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes at five furlongs on the turf Oct. 2 at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Speed Boat Beach rocketed from the gate and led every step in winning his maiden debut Sept. 10 on the main track at Del Mar, completing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.86. A 1 1/4-length winner, he set a track record for the distance.

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Speed Boat Beach will be ridden Sunday by Juan Hernandez.

The Speakeasy, which has attracted nine 2-year-olds, is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race qualifier that will provide a fees-paid "Win and You're In" berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

Doug O'Neill-trained Ah Jeez , a maiden turf winner at five furlongs two starts back at Del Mar, would appear to rate a solid challenger with Abel Cedillo riding back. Campaigned by Mark Davis, the son of Mendelssohn   will try to bounce back from a troubled fourth in his stakes debut in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes (G3T) Sept. 11

Entries: Speakeasy S.

Santa Anita Park, Sunday, October 02, 2022, Race 5

• STK
• 5f
• Turf
• $100,000
• 2 yo
• 3:08 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Mas Rapido (GB)	Edwin A. Maldonado	120	Robert B. Hess, Jr.	20/1
2	2Straighten Up (CA)	Mike E. Smith	120	Mike Puype	6/1
3	3Ah Jeez (KY)	Abel Cedillo	120	Doug F. O'Neill	6/1
4	4Arman (FL)	Ramon A. Vazquez	120	Simon Callaghan	6/1
5	5Helladic (KY)	Tyler Baze	120	Ryan Hanson	5/1
6	6Flame Rider (KY)	Umberto Rispoli	120	Luis Mendez	30/1
7	7Taltariate (KY)	Ricardo Gonzalez	120	Philip D'Amato	20/1
8	8Wound Up (KY)	Mario Gutierrez	120	Michael W. McCarthy	20/1
9	9Speed Boat Beach (FL)	Juan J. Hernandez	120	Bob Baffert	4/5