Trainer Bob Baffert earned his ninth consecutive Los Alamitos Derby Saturday when favored Nevada Beach led in stablemate Varney to top an exacta for the Hall of Famer. In a field scratched down to just four (Baffert had a third entrant in Tiz Secure {Maximum Security}), it was clear the money was on the less experienced of the stablemates with Nevada Beach having broken his maiden Apr. 19 before running second to Gaming (Game Winner) in the Affirmed Stakes June 8. Drawn just to inside, Varney was making start five, coming off a 5 1/2-length maiden win at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 17. It was clear from the start of the race that the winner would be decided from those two as the pair opened up on their longshot rivals. Dueling between them off the far turn past the half in :45.91, it was Nevada Beach down the outside that kept going as Varney, buried against the rail, struggled to keep pace and ultimately settled for second in a field that came in well strung out.
“I could tell right away (Nevada Beach) was just bouncing over this surface,” said Baffert. “He got a hold of it immediately. I’ve always liked this surface here. This is where I get my 2-year-olds ready. Those are two really nice horses. When (Nevada Beach) broke his maiden, I remember telling his owners he’s going to run in the Affirmed (at Santa Anita) and win there, then win the Los Alamitos Derby and then go to the Travers. After (stablemate) Gaming beat him in the Affirmed (June 8) it was kind of disappointing, but Gaming is a good horse and he’s starting to circle back to his best form. This horse just flourished over this track and he was just getting going there at the end.”
Morrow Cove, who the Tacketts purchased for $95,000 at KEEJAN in 2014, is a half-sister to GISW Decked Out (Street Boss). She’s produced five winners from as many to race and last reported a 2-year-old American Pharoah filly named Queen of Cairo.
LOS ALAMITOS DERBY, $100,000, Los Alamitos, 6-28, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:47.59, ft.
1–NEVADA BEACH, 119, c, 3, by Omaha Beach
1st Dam: Morrow Cove (MSW, $182,610),
by Yes It’s True
2nd Dam: Once Around, by You and I
3rd Dam: Persimmon Hill, by Conquistador Cielo
($260,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Michael E.
Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman; B-Paul Tackett
Revocable Trust, Phil Tackett Estate & Christy Tackett (KY);
T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,500. Lifetime Record:
3-2-1-0, $116,500.
2–Varney, 119, c, 3, Vekoma–Summer of Fun, by Include.
($775,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-By Talla Racing
LLC, Spendthrift Farm LLC and St. Elias Stables LLC;
B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $20,500.
3–Rank, 119, c, 3, Honor A. P.–Fabulous Babe, by Touch Gold.
($45,000 Wlg ’22 KEENOV; $80,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP). O-Calumet
Farm; B-Scott Pierce (KY); T-Doug F. O’Neill. $12,500.
Margins: 4 1/4, 12HF, 27. Odds: 0.40, 2.50, 4.50.
Also Ran: It’s a Factor. Scratched: Tiz Secure. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
