HEAVILY FAVORED MCKINZIE REMAINS UNBEATEN AS HE TAKES GRADE III SHAM STAKES

By Mike Willman —-

HEAVILY FAVORED MCKINZIE REMAINS UNBEATEN AS HE TAKES GRADE III, $100,000 SHAM STAKES BY 3 ½ LENGTHS UNDER SMITH; BAFFERT TAKES BLINKERS OFF & STREET SENSE COLT RELAXES WELL EARLY
WITH THE WIN, MCKINZIE PICKS UP 10 KENTUCKY DERBY QUALIFYING POINTS

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2018)—Bob Baffert’s McKinzie took another significant step toward the Kentucky Derby by winning Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Sham Stakes in stylish fashion under Mike Smith, as he dominated by 3 ½ lengths while getting a flat mile in 1:36.58.

With Baffert removing blinkers, McKinzie seemed more settled early than he had been in his first trip around two turns, a win, via disqualification in the Grade I Cash Call Los Alamitos Futurity at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 9.

“He was a bit too aggressive last time,” said Smith. “Today, he seemed to relax early, then he jumped when I asked, so taking the blinkers off today, I thought we might as well try it and I think it was a great move.”

The heavy 1-5 favorite in a field of six sophomores, McKinzie paid $2.40, $2.40 and $2.10.

Owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman, McKinzie, a Kentucky-bred colt by Street Sense, is now perfect in three starts and with the winner’s check of $60,000, he now has earnings of $270,000.

In a gallant effort, All Out Blitz, who tried two turns for the first time and was ridden by Tyler Baze, went to the front as expected and although he was no match for the winner when confronted a quarter mile out, stayed gamely for the place, finishing four lengths clear of My Boy Jack.
Off at 14-1, All Out Blitz paid $7.20 and $3.80.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux and trying dirt for the first since his debut six starts back, My Boy Jack held off second choice Shivermetimbers by a neck and paid $2.80 to show.

With the win, McKinzie picked up 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, with four, two and one point each going to the second, third and fourth place finishers.

Fractions on the race were 23.69, 47.73, 1:12.17 and 1:24.22.

SHAM STAKES QUOTES GRADE III, $100,000

JOCKEY QUOTES

MIKE SMITH, MCKINZIE, WINNER: “He was a bit too aggressive last time. Today, he seemed to relax early, then he jumped when I asked, so taking the blinkers off today, I thought we might as well try it and I think it was a great move.
“He’s getting better as he matures. He ran a tremendous race in only his second time out last time at Los Al. The horses he ran with that day were top horses and we thought he’d move forward off of that race and he did today.
“I smooched to him just to keep him interested but going past the wire he was well within himself and galloped out nicely.”

TYLER BAZE, ALL OUT BLITZ, SECOND: “He ran good. It was his first time going long today and we got beat by a race horse. I ran second to the winner on another horse here in October (28) and I knew then he (McKinzie) was a really talented colt. My horse is going to improve. He’ll relax better next time and I think he’s gonna be a real nice horse.”

TRAINER QUOTES

BOB BAFFERT, McKINZIE, WINNER: “He just broke, got in a good position, didn’t get rank with the blinkers off. He was good, and when horses come to him, he really gets into the bridle. He got a lot out of this. Last time, he got a little tired at the end. It just goes to show you the Los Alamitos Futurity was a good race. They were good horses.
“He came back to run like we hoped. I was happy Everything went smooth; that’s what you want. I don’t have to work him that much before the next one. I don’t know (which race it will be). It could be the San Felipe (Grade II, $400,000, 1 1/16 miles March 10). We’ll try and get two (races) into him. I think he showed more maturity today. We sort of had had to rush into his earlier races.
“If he’d have relaxed in the Los Al Futurity . . . he got a little rank but he got a lot out of it. He was really tired that day, but he came back and worked extremely well for this race. I told (part owner) Mike Pegram I wanted to run him again and get a two-turn race into him. Everybody thought he was supposed to win easy or whatever at Los Al . . . The track’s been good here and I think he was more manageable without the blinkers.”

KARL WATSON, PART-OWNER, MCKINZIE, WINNER: “It’s really nice to see a horse you name after someone so important to you turn out to be such a nice horse, it’s great.
“Bob picked the right one to name him after, that’s for sure.
“I was pleased with today; I can’t say I was surprised because we all have a lot of anticipation, expectations for today. Bobby likes the horse and he’s a good horse, so we were hopeful and we’re very pleased.
“I’ll leave it up to the chef to decide what’s next.”

NOTES: McKinzie is named for Baffert’s late friend and long-time Los Alamitos executive Brad McKinzie The colt is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. Baffert said Mourinho, scratched from the Sham, would run in the Smarty Jones Jan. 15 at Oaklawn Park.