“Victor (Espinoza) did just what I wanted — hold him back,” Baffert said.
Macias had been on the engine in his past two starts. Prior to sprinting
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In the Eddie Logan, Macias appeared ready and willing to repeat those
tactics, but Espinoza managed to keep a tight hold on the colt and persuaded him
to sit just off the pacesetting Lucks Mine (Mineshaft). Macias intently stalked
the front runner through fractions of :23 2/5, :46 4/5 and 1:11, then was
allowed to advance turning for home.
After a confident Espinoza took a couple of glances over his shoulders, he
turned Macias loose, and the colt responded by powering to the lead. His task
was not yet finished, however, for the 3-2 favorite Alfarabi (Yes It’s True)
uncorked a strong rally from last. Although Alfarabi’s thrust briefly hinted at
making things interesting, it only caused Macias to keep up his relentless
momentum in deep stretch..
“I expected him to show speed today,” Espinoza said, “but he was under
control and he settled real nice with me around the first turn. Going to the far
turn, I had a lot of horse under me, but I didn’t want to take the lead too
soon. I waited as long as I could and when I asked him, he really accelerated.
Through the stretch, I knew the other horse (Alfarabi) was running, but there
was no worry.”
Alfarabi yielded $2.60 and $2.60 and ended the $8.80 exacta ($1). Another two
lengths back came Thomas Baines (Johannesburg), who paid $5 to show at 17-1. The
$1 trifecta was good for $71.80, and with the 10-1 Via Verde (Cherokee Run) in
fourth, the $1 superfecta totaled $360.20 (8-1-9-4). Came Aboard (Came Home),
Fog Alert (Thunder Gulch), Mr. Saturdaynight (Grand Reward) and Lucks Mine
completed the order under the wire. Cardiff Giant (Yankee Gentleman) was
scratched in favor of Wednesday’s 2ND race.
Macias, a $170,000 Keeneland September yearling, now sports a mark of
5-3-0-1, $117,117. Third in his career debut at Del Mar, he rolled from off the
pace to break his maiden next time out at Oak Tree, and captured his stakes
debut in the aforementioned Jack Goodman at the same track and six-furlong trip.
Baffert had been aiming to put Macias on the turf for some time.
“We worked Macias on the turf in October, but there was never a race for
him,” Baffert said. “He’s a nice horse, and I’ll have to keep him separated from
my other good horses turning three (years old).”
Bred by Rankin, Cummings, Drake and Grant in Kentucky, Macias is out of the
French stakes-placed Azelna (Fr) (Tropular), whose youngest offspring is an unnamed
yearling colt by E Dubai. This is the family of Australian Group 1 hero Always
Aloof (Alleged) as well as German highweight Toylsome (Cadeaux Genereux), upset
winner of the 2007 Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1). The female line traces to the
influential Monarchy (*Princequillo), full sister to Hall of Famer Round Table.
“It’s nice to win this race named for Eddie,” Baffert said of the race’s
namesake, Santa Anita’s iconic figure who died last February at the age of 98.
Logan had operated a shoe shine stand outside the racing office since the track
opened on Christmas Day, 1934.
“‘Give me the leather and we’ll get it together.’ That’s what he used to
say.”