Cave Rock Moves to 3-for-3 With American Pharoah Win

The nearest a horse not trained by Bob Baffert could get in the Oct. 8 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park was 24 1/4 lengths behind undefeated winner Cave Rock . That's because all four of the Baffert runners finished ahead of the other four in the race, with daylight between every one of them.

Cave Rock streaked home by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:43.05 for 1 1/16 miles, followed by National Treasure , 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Hejazi , who had another 3 1/4 lengths on Gandolfini . Then came a gap of 12 1/4 lengths to Man Child , the first horse not trained by Baffert.

"I don't remember finishing one through four (in a stakes)—I think it's the first time in a grade 1 definitely," Baffert said.

Bettors felt Baffert had the field surrounded, making Cave Rock, winner of the Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1), the 2-5 favorite. They sent off Hejazi as the second choice at 2.90-1 and National Treassure 9-1. Only Skinner , third to Cave Rock in the Del Mar Futurity, was given any chance against the Baffert quartet, at 13-1 over Gandolfini at 17-1.

Despite Baffert's accomplishment of finishing one through four with his trainees, Cave Rock dominated the American Pharoah from start to finish. The victory also gives the colt a "Win and You're In" berth to the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1). He will bring to that race a three-for-three record and total winning margins of 16 1/2 lengths, which could earn him the role of favorite.

In the American Pharoah, under jockey Juan Hernandez, who piloted Cave Rock in both of his previous starts, the colt broke in third and quickly took command.

"He broke really good, very nice," Hernandez said. "At first, he was kind of looking around a little bit around the turn."

National Treasure stayed about 1 1/2 lengths behind his stablemate through the early going. Cave Rock set fractions of :22.96, :46.82, and 1:11.07 while the other Baffert runners jockeyed for position behind him. Hejazi raced outside of National Treasure, and Gandolfini, who broke from the rail, remained on the inside.

"He started improving his pace and he just kept going," Hernandez said. "I just let him run because that's the way he runs. At the quarter pole, he just changed leads and he just kept going again."

The early 1 1/2-length margin became 2 1/2 lengths after six furlongs, and then Cave Rock's lead continued to increase. He galloped across the wire easily. His winning time of 1:43.05 was the fastest clocking in the race since American Pharoah   won in 1:41.95 in 2014 when the race was named the FrontRunner. Baffert trained American Pharoah, who captured the Triple Crown the following year.

Baffert trains Cave Rock for the partnership of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, the leading owners at the Del Mar summer meeting. Pegram, Watson, and Weitman are off to a fantastic start at Santa Anita as well, having won the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) with Defunded , Zenyatta Stakes (G2) with Midnight Memories , and Speakeasy Stakes with Speed Boat Beach  on opening weekend.

"(Cave Rock) is pretty special," said Karl Watson. "We've had high hopes and so far he's delivered."

Anne and Ronnie Sheffer Racing bred Cave Rock in Kentucky. Baffert and bloodstock agent Donato Lanni selected the son of Arrogate --Georgie's Angel , by Bellamy Road , for the partnership, which buys horses in the name of Three Amigos. They purchased the colt from Gainesway for $550,000 at 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Baffert trained Arrogate, the 2016 champion 3-year-old male and winner of that year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Arrogate went to stud, but died at age 7 in 2020.

Baffert said that when horses he trains stand as stallions, he tries to find the best ones for his clients. He recalled that Lanni said he had found "a great Arrogate."

"He's built a bit different than Arrogate," Baffert said. "He runs with his head sort of low like Arrogate."

Cave Rock showed talent early, as Watson recalled.

"I went to Ocala earlier this year," Watson said, "and we stopped by (Barry and Shari) Eisaman's, which breaks them for us. They said, 'This is probably the best one that you have.'"

The name Cave Rock comes from a historical landmark near Lake Tahoe in Nevada.

"He's the real, real deal," said Pegram. "The first time I saw him was in Del Mar. You look at him now—he's everything a guy would want. He's won two grade 1s. We'll take it. We'll find out what he's made of four weeks from now if everything is okay."

Video: American Pharoah S. (G1)