'TDN Rising Star' McKinzie (Street Sense), a controversial winner via disqualification in the GI Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity Dec. 9, had his mind on business against five overmatched rivals in Saturday's GIII Sham S. at Santa Anita.
Taking blinkers off this time, the 1-5 favorite kept the early leaders within his scope on the outside from fourth through opening fractions of :23.69 and :47.73. The Watson/Pegram/ Weitman colorbearer, named for the late, long-time Los Alamitos executive Brad McKinzie, hit he gas with a three-wide sweep on the far turn and leveled off nicely down the lane under minimal urging to score by 3 1/2 lengths. Pacesetter All Out Blitz (Concord Point) was second; My Boy Jack (Creative Cause) was third.
“He came back to run like we hoped,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “I was happy. Everything went smooth; that's what you want. I don't have to work him that much before the next one. I don't know [which race it will be]. It could be the [GII] San Felipe [Mar. 10]. We'll try and get two [races] into him. I think he showed more maturity today.”
A jaw-dropping debut winner going seven furlongs in Arcadia Oct. 28, he crossed the wire 3/4 of a length behind stablemate Solomini (Curlin) in the Los Al Futurity. Hall of Famer Mike Smith has been aboard in all three of his career starts.
“If he'd have relaxed in the Los Al Futurity–he got a little rank, but he got a lot out of it,” Baffert said. “He was really tired that day, but he came back and worked extremely well for this race. I told Mike Pegram I wanted to run him again and get a two-turn race into him. Everybody thought he was supposed to win easy or whatever at Los Al. The track's been good here and I think he was more manageable without the blinkers.”
Smith added, “He was a bit too aggressive last time. Today, he seemed to relax early, then he jumped when I asked, so taking the blinkers off today, I thought we might as well try it and I think it was a great move.He's getting better as he matures.”
Pedigree Notes:
McKinzie is out of MGSW & MGISP Runway Model (Petionville), who was purchased by breeder Summer Wind Farm for $2.7 million carrying her first foal by Storm Cat at the 2006 Keeneland November sale. The 15-year-old mare, a half-sister to SW & MGSP Mambo Train (Kingmambo), has since produced the 2-year-old colt Lock Box (Super Saver) and a yearling filly by Liam's Map.
Saturday, Santa Anita
SHAM S.-GIII, $100,345, SA, 1-6, 3yo, 1m, 1:36.58, ft.
1–MCKINZIE, 124, c, 3, by Street Sense
1st Dam: Runway Model (MGSW & MGISP, $725,598), by Petionville
2nd Dam: Ticket to Houston, by Houston
3rd Dam: Stave, by Navajo
'TDN RISING <STAR'($170,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O– Karl Watson,
(KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Mike E. Smith. $60,000. Lifetime Record:
3-3-0-0, $270,000.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”eisaman-equine-maroon”][bullet ad=”lanes-end-sales-grad”][bullet ad=”lanni-hillndale-purchased”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–All Out Blitz, 120, c, 3, Concord Point–Smart and Single, by
$20,000.[bullet ad=”eisaman-equine-maroon”][bullet ad=”hillndale-foaled-raised”]3–My Boy Jack, 120, c, 3, Creative Cause–Gold N Shaft, by
KEESEP). O-Don't Tell My Wife Stables & Monomoy Stables,
LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-J. Keith Desormeaux. $12,000.[bullet ad=”legacy-myboyjack”]Also Ran: Shivermetimbers, City Plan, Here Is Happy. Scratched: Mourinho. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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