Bodemeister getting stronger as he drilled 6 furlongs in no time
Zayat Stables owned 3-year-old colt, Bodemeister is looking beyond a start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on 7 April, because his connections are more focused on a race a week later from the Santa Anita Derby called the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby to be run at Oaklawn Park’s dirt course over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on 14 April, 2012.
The competition looks stiff at Oaklawn Park, with stable mate Secret Circle already thrown in the mix, the fast developing colt Bodemeister will have his work cut out with the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes winner, On Fire Baby, is also looking for a potential start in the Arkansas Derby.
Bob Baffert trained son of Empire Maker, out of mare Untouched Talent by Storm Cat, Bodemeister on the other hand is making headway in becoming the most feared Kentucky Derby hopeful there is, at least in the workouts he has been putting in.
Runner up in his previous start to winner Creative Cause in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on 10 March, 2012, Bodemeister under jockey Rafael Bejarano drilled six furlongs in a bullet 1 minute and 10 2/5 seconds at Santa Anita Park.
Bodemeister’s run was calculated in fractions with the splits of 12 1/5 seconds, 36 2/5 seconds, and 59 1/5 seconds, as the colt galloped out seven furlongs in 1 minute and 23 1/5 seconds.
“This was the best work he’s ever had,” said Ahmed Zayat. “I can see why (Bob) Baffert is getting excited. The horse keeps getting stronger at the end. We wanted to see him relax, and he did, and finished like a monster. And he never took a deep breath. I am so excited you have no idea. I decided to go in the Arkansas Derby to give him and Baffert an extra week. He worked so brilliantly, I’m afraid Baffert will land (from Dubai) today and will want to change his mind and run him in the Santa Anita Derby.”
The Grade 3 Sunland Derby’s runner up Isn’t He Clever will also vie for a run in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, and the dark horse who can seriously turn in a massive upset could be the Bluegrass Cat colt, Sabercat.
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