Baeza Gets Another Shot at Kentucky Derby Top Two in Belmont Stakes

[Wandering Eyes]

While the rematch between GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) has received top billing, the camp surrounding the blue-blooded Baeza (McKinzie) sees a slightly different storyline ahead of Saturday's GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.

“They talk about the challenge of the two of them. I think it's more the challenge of the three of us,” said Lee Searing of C R K Stable, who campaigns Baeza in partnership with the colt's breeder Robert Clay of Grandview Equine.

“This horse can really run.”

Baeza rallied smartly for third at odds of 13-1–beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Sovereignty and just a neck for second by Journalism–after somewhat of an eventful journey on the first Saturday in May.

Widest of all in post 19 after drawing in off the also-eligible list, Baeza was bumped and steadied beneath Flavien Prat at a very crucial juncture at the five-sixteenths and came flying home while completely covered in mud to pass the top two shortly after the wire.

Baeza was previously a fantastic second to Journalism while making his stakes debut in the GI Santa Anita Derby.

“We only got beat a neck for second, and we didn't have the greatest of trips, either,” Searing said. “We had one of the best riders in the world riding him and he blames himself for the path he took. The stretch he had to move him in and out and he finally got free.”

C R K Stable (those are the initials of Lee and Susan Searing's three adult children–Christina, Richard and Katherine) has also finished a rallying fourth with GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code) in the COVID-delayed Kentucky Derby in 2020 and a troubled 13th with Candy Boy (Candy Ride {Arg}) in 2014. Skinner (Curlin) was scratched due to a fever from the 2023 Run for the Roses.

“When you start going to the racetrack when you're eight years old, which goes back to 70 years ago, you start hearing about the big races, the great jockeys and great horses, and the Kentucky Derby comes right up,” Searing said.

“Then you go through the years and think, 'Can I ever get a horse good enough to go?' We've had four and we haven't had a clean trip yet. It's a dream to win it. I have some really nice horses for next year and we'll try again. But the focus right now is on Baeza.”

And, of course, that pedigree page of his.

Hailing from the first crop of McKinzie, Baeza brought $1.2 million to top the third session of the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling sale.

He can become an unprecedented third American Classic winner for Broodmare of the Year and 'TDN Rising Star' Puca (Big Brown), who has also produced 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) and last year's Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch (Good Magic). Only Better Than Honour has produced back-to-back Belmont winners–Jazil (2006) and Rags to Riches (2007).

The 13-year-old Puca, also responsible for a Good Magic colt of 2024 and a Good Magic filly of this year, sold to John Stewart for $2.9 million at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale.

“The quality of his breeding and the bloodlines that he comes from–I have a partner in Robert Clay that bred him and is sitting on the fact that mare would be the first to have three winners in Triple Crown races,” Searing said. “He's a great man, good partner and fun to be around. We're both gonna root really hard. God, if he gets it done it will be a tremendous feat.”

The purple-and-yellow colors of C R K Stable (Searing's silks pay homage to the Los Angeles Lakers and the late Kobe Bryant) have been carried by 1,713 starters (according to Equibase stats), including Grade I winners Beyond Brilliant, Express Train and Switch. Just never one at the Spa.

“I've never run a horse at Saratoga,” said Searing, who will also be represented by 'TDN Rising Star' Justique (Justify) in Friday's GII Bed o' Roses S. “That's an amazing statistic as many good horses as we've had.”

Searing, the CEO of Searing Industries, a California- and Wyoming-based, family-run business specializing in manufacturing steel-tubing products, will have another rooting interest of sorts via the aforementioned Honor A. P., who is the sire of Heart of Honor (GB), a 30-1 longshot in the Belmont Stakes. The sophomore sire stands at Lane's End.

Baeza is listed as the third choice at 4-1.

“It's gonna be fun going to Saratoga and it's gonna be fun watching the race,” Searing said. “I think with a good track–seven, eight horses–and a clean trip, it's gonna be a really really good horse race. But I think we got a really good horse.”

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