Speed Boat Beach Takes The Malibu For the Three Amigos

[Wandering Eyes]

Having won the pace battle with his sales-topping stable companion Hejazi (Bernardini), Watson, Weitman and Pegram's SPEED BOAT BEACH (c, 3, Bayern–Sophia Mia, by Pioneerof the Nile) went on to win the war as well, has he kicked on very gamely to take Tuesday's GI Malibu S. on opening day at Santa Anita. Hejazi, who topped the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale on Gary Young's bid of $3.55-million on behalf of Amr Zedan, won the break and took a narrow advantage through the opening exchanges, but Speed Boat Beach, last seen setting a quick tempo before finishing fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, matched motors through a quarter in :22.21 and a half in :44.42. The 2-1 second choice, Hejazi perhaps had his nose in front passing the five-sixteenths, but when asked to kick by Flavien Prat, Speed Boat Beach found just a bit extra and went on to a hard-fought victory in 1:21.70. He is the third Malibu winner in four years for trainer Bob Baffert and his sixth overall, dating back to The Factor (War Front) back in 2011. The win represented firsts in the race for the Watson, Weitman and Pegram team and for Bayern, the GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero who now plies his trade in South Korea. Sales history: $12,000 Ylg '21 OBSOCT; $200,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR. O-Watson, Weitman & Pegram; B-Caperlane Farm (FL); T-Bob Baffert.

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