Bayern dominates Santa Anita allowance race by 15 lengths

The promising three-year-old colt Bayern brought his record to a perfect 2-for-2 on February 13th when he unleashed spectacular acceleration in the final furlongs of a one-mile allowance race at Santa Anita, drawing clear to win by fifteen lengths under a hand ride.

The son of Offlee Wild out of Alittlebitearly (by Thunder Gulch) was sent straight to the lead early on by Gary Stevens, and ran the opening quarter-mile in :24.03 while being pursued by Brother Soldier and Tap It Rich, who both started slowly before pulling their riders up into contention. Flagman and Baranof were the trailers.

With Brother Soldier and Tap It Rich continuing to apply pressure, Bayern picked up the pace inside the second quarter mile, running the distance in :23.74 to reach the half-mile in :47.77. Then came one of the most impressive final half-miles run by a three-year-old in recent memory.

Under no urging Stevens, Bayern began to open up an advantage on his rivals -- slowly at first, then faster. As the field raced past the quarter pole, Bayern was five lengths in front, and had run his third quarter in an exceptional :24 seconds flat. And he didn't stop there. With Stevens now hand-urging just a bit, and waving the whip without actually using it, Bayern continued to extend his lead, and was eleven lengths clear with a furlong to go, having run the seventh furlong of the race in an eye-catching :11.82 seconds. From there, the question was simply how big a margin of victory Bayern would record, and after the colt sped through his final furlong in :12.18 -- to stop the timer in 1:35.77 -- the answer was fifteen lengths.

Tap It Rich was second best at the finish by 5 3/4 lengths over Brother Soldier, while Flagman and Baranof completed the order of finish.

Owned by Kaleem Shah and trained by Bob Baffert, Bayern has without question stamped himself as a contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), and looks bound for a graded stakes in the near future. In many respects, his victory was reminiscent of Bodemeister's maiden victory two years ago. Time will tell of Bayern can emulate or exceed the accomplishments of Bodemeister, who went on to win the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) and place second in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (gr. I), but after watching Bayern's effortless victory, I believe he has the potential.

-Keelerman

Could Gary Stevens win the Kentucky Derby?

When jockey Gary Stevens announced his return to riding following seven years of retirement, I doubt anyone really knew what to expect. There's no denying that Stevens is among the best jockeys that horse racing has ever seen. Before his retirement, he had won three Kentucky Derbies, a pair of Preaknesses, and a trio of Belmonts. His record in the Breeders' Cup was equally stellar, with eight victories, fifteen seconds, and eleven thirds. All told, he had won 4,888 races, and over $221 million in purse money.

But seven years is a long time, and I'm sure many people questioned whether Stevens could successfully return to race riding after such a lengthy absence. Well, he's been at it a month now, and he's already won the $151,750 San Marcos Stakes (gr. II) aboard Slim Shadey and the $86,500 Wishing Well Stakes aboard Purim's Dancer. And while his win total stands at just four victories, his mounts have are finishing in the top three at a 50% clip, which compares favorably with jockeys like Joseph Talamo (46%), Garrett Gomez (46%), Irad Ortiz Jr. (47%), Rafael Bejarano (51%), John Velazquez (52%), and Javier Castellano (53%).

But perhaps the most astonishing thing about Stevens' comeback is that he may have a shot at winning a fourth Kentucky Derby, something only three jockeys before him have ever accomplished. More astonishing yet is that he may have two shots.

On February 2nd, Stevens guided a colt named Tiz the Truth to a 7 3/4-length victory in a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita, for which Tiz the Truth earned a Beyer speed figure of 94. Not only was that figure higher than the one earned by Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) winner Flashback three races later, it was also one of the highest earned by any three-year-old colt in California this year. And wouldn't you know it, Tiz the Truth is trained by Bob Baffert, for whom Stevens won the 1997 Kentucky Derby aboard Silver Charm.

But wait -- what is this news I'm hearing from New Orleans, Louisiana? Stevens is going to come for a visit next Saturday? To ride the highly promising Proud Strike in the Risen Star Stakes? Impossible! Brian Hernandez Jr. rides Proud Strike!

What's this? Hernandez is going to ride Departing instead? I see. So Gary gets the mount on this beautifully-bred son of Smart Strike, that broke his maiden by 7 1/2 lengths last time out? Sounds like a real Derby contender to me . . .

What -- there's more? Now you're pulling my leg! He is also going to ride Sharp Cat Stakes winner Midnight Ballet in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes? Inconceivable! Midnight Ballet is a legitimate Kentucky Oaks contender, and it's too much to ask me to believe that just one month into his comeback, Gary has already found himself two potential Derby mounts and a Kentucky Oaks filly to boot . . .

You had better believe it. While there are still plenty of details to be finalized, and plenty of races left to be run, it is entirely possible that Gary Stevens will find himself on television screens across the country come the first Saturday in May -- sitting on a Derby runner, rather than behind the NBC desk with Tom Hammond.

-Keelerman

Tiz the Truth breaks maiden under Gary Stevens

Tiz the Truth gave jockey Gary Stevens a possible mount for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) when the fine colt dominated a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita by a spectacular 7 3/4 lengths, giving the impression that a graded stakes victory may be in the near future.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Tiz the Truth was entering the race off of a head defeat to the highly-regarded Demonic in a maiden sprint on January 13th. As a result of this performance, Tiz the Truth was sent off as the 1-2 favorite in today's race.

He definitely ran to his odds.

After getting off to a very quick start, Tiz the Truth went straight to the lead and was in front by two lengths following an opening quarter mile in :24.30. With Spirited Touch, Misdeed, Colburn, and Irish Surf tracking him throughout, Tiz the Truth continued to lead through moderate fractions of :48.39 and 1:12.80.

Then -- in the blink of an eye -- Tiz the Truth was five lengths in front.

Under a hand ride from Stevens, Tiz the Truth blazed the seventh furlong in a practically unheard of :11.61 seconds, giving him a five-length advantage with just an eighth of a mile to go. For an encore, he ran the final furlong in an equally jaw-dropping :11.87 seconds to hit the wire in 1:36.28, a very sharp time indeed given the moderate early pace!

Misdeed edged Spirited Touch for second, while Colburn and Irish Surf completed the order of finish.

Tiz the Truth is owned by Mercedes Stables and is a son of Tiznow out of the French Deputy mare Truly Blessed.

-Keelerman