Like so many horses trained by Bob Baffert, Speed Boat Beach dominated his debut wire to wire. What was exceptional about his performance Sept. 10 at Del Mar was his Beyer Speed Figure of 104, the highest by a 2-year-old this year. He also set a track record of 1:01.86 for 5 1/2 furlongs.
In an unusual move for Baffert, he switched Speed Boat Beach to the turf Oct. 2 for his second race, the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita, a 5-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds that guaranteed a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 4 at Keeneland. Mr. Triple Crown isn't known for his touch with grass runners, but that didn't keep the bettors from making Speed Boat Beach the 2-5 favorite. He lived up to his name and didn't disappoint them.
Speed Boat Beach sat second outside pacesetter Helladic before moving on the turn and taking command in midstretch for a 1 1/4-length victory over Helladic. Despite hopping at the start, he had no trouble cruising into a stalking spot early under Santa Anita's leading jockey, Juan Hernandez. The fractions were hot (:21.06, :43.36) but didn't bother Speed Boat Beach, who drew alongside Helladic at the quarter pole and gradually drew clear.
"He's really fast, and he's a really good horse," Hernandez told FanDuel TV's Millie Ball. "He broke a little awkward and (Helladic) broke a little better than me, but I was in good position, so I let him go. My horse was comfortable where we were. At the three-furlong pole he got focused and took off."
The winner paid $2.80 after being timed in :55.25, with a solid final furlong in :11.89. He earned $60,000, raising his total to $108,000 for co-owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. Helladic was half a length ahead of Ah Jeez, who ran third in the field of nine.
Baffert has trained 17 Breeders' Cup winners, but none in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, which grass ace Wesley Ward won the past two years. Maybe Speed Boat Beach will be Baffert's breakthrough.
"We filled one of the spots on the plane to Keeneland," Baffert said. "I wasn't sure if he would like the turf or not. I told Juan, 'If he doesn't like the turf, raise your right hand.' At the three-eighths pole, he became serious and took off.
"This horse has pretty serious speed."
Speed Boat Beach is a son of Bayern, who won the 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic for Baffert. His unraced dam is Sophia Mia, a daughter of Pioneerof the Nile, the late sire of Baffert's 2015 Triple Crown hero, American Pharoah . Speed Boat Beach, bred by Caperlane Farm in Florida, was a $200,000 purchase by Three Amigos (the nom de course for Pegram, Watson, and Weisman) at the 2022 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The Consignor was Really and Truly Thoroughbreds.
"I think we've got a fast horse," Pegram said. "We look forward to having him race in the Breeders' Cup."
Despite her distinguished sire, Sophia Mia attracted little interest from buyers. She failed to attain her $45,000 reserve at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale when consigned by Warrendale Sales, and two years later Caperlane Farm bought her for only $4,000 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Speed Boat Beach is making his disrespected mom very proud.
