Pennsylvania Derby: Baeza has his day in Bensalem

By Paul Halloran —-

Pennsylvania Derby: Baeza has his day in Bensalem

BENSALEM, Pa. – Standing on the rail between the finish line and the first turn at Parx Racing, John Shirreffs waited until the horses were several strides past the wire before he lifted his arms over his head, fists clenched and looked to the sky. Finally, he had something to celebrate.

Baeza was a bridesmaid no more, after making a winning move on the far turn and coasting to a 2 1/4-length win Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million betPARX Pennsylvania Derby.

“He needed to win something,” said Shirreffs, who had his unyielding faith in his well-traveled 3-year-old colt rewarded. “And to win the Pennsylvania Derby … Look at all the great horses that have won it. I was at dinner in the casino the other night watching the tape of the horses that have run in it. It’s a great group.”

The Southern California-based Shirreffs sent Baeza, owned by C R K Stable and breeder Grandview Equine, on a cross-country journey for the fourth time in five months. The previous trips were both satisfying and frustrating: third in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Belmont Stakes, second in the Jim Dandy. The winner of those races, Sovereignty, was 250 miles away at Bill Mott’s base at Saratoga Race Course when the Pennsylvania Derby was run Saturday. It was Baeza’s turn.

“Today was one of the most exciting races I have ever participated in, to tell you the truth,” Shirreffs said. “And that includes races with (2010 Horse of the Year) Zenyatta. This was like, ‘prove yourself today.’ And he did. This was very gratifying. We have been close in some of the big races and today he put it all together.”

Rail runner So Sandy led a compact group into the first turn of the 1 1/8-mile race, with seven horses within three lengths of the lead as they turned down the backstretch. There were two lines of three horses across the track: So Sandy, David of Athens and Goal Oriented, followed by Magnitude, Big Truzz and Gosger, through a quarter-mile in :23.01 and a half in :46.63.

Baeza started to advance under Hector Berrios and although the 7-5 favorite was still seventh after 6 furlongs in 1:10.51, he was only 4 lengths off the lead. By McKinzie and a half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes champion Dornoch, Baeza unleashed a furious rally on the far turn that saw him advance five places within a furlong, with only Goal Oriented left to catch. He did that before they reached the eighth pole and gave Shirreffs a stretch run he could finally enjoy.

Magnitude closed for second, 2 lengths clear of Goal Oriented, with So Sandy fourth. The winning time was 1:48.03.

“For me, this is a new starting point and I like it,” said Berrios, who was taken off Baeza in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, but regained the mount in the Jim Dandy. “I wanted to close, because these horses were very quick, so for me it was just wait, wait, and at the three-eighths (pole), he was pumped and finally closed. For my career, I’m very happy.”

As he watched the race develop, Shirreffs was pleased to see Baeza stay in contact with the field.

“He was tactical, he had a kick, he did everything today,” Shirreffs said. “He broke OK, but it looked like he was maybe thinking about dropping back a little bit, but Hector was like ‘no, no, we are going to stay connected with the field.’ He willingly started creeping up and getting better position. The horse ran beautifully, Hector rode him perfectly and it was a great afternoon.”

The Pennsylvania Derby drew a large crowd that enjoyed perhaps the best weather in the history of the race, with temperatures in the low 70s and not a cloud in the sky. All-sources handle came in at $17.8 million, second highest in track history behind the $18.8 million that was wagered on the 2022 card that was headlined by Derby winner Taiba.

PHOTOS ATTACHED

Baeza cruises to the finish in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million betPARX Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing. Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO.