6th-Santa Anita, $51,000, Msw, 6-6, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:16.13, ft.
CEZANNE (c, 3, Curlin">Curlin–Achieving, by Bernardini) topped last year's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale at $3.65-million after breezing in :10 flat (see below) and started off his career on the right hoof here with a debut graduation. Away well from the one-hole, the hulking bay engaged in a three-way battle for second, hot on the leader's heels through a :22.19 opening quarter, Drawing even with the pacesetter on the backstretch, the 2-5 chalk shrugged off his stubborn foe in mid-stretch and rolled clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths. The lightly raced Charlito (Fed Biz), a $725,000 FTFMAR buy in 2018, completed the exacta. “He really needed [the race],” Baffert told the TDN. “He is still a little heavy. He did that all on class. I am excited about him. He is a really good horse. He ran like his pedigree. When they are really good and have the pedigree to back it up, like Arrogate, those are the really good horses. The winner is a half to Counterforce (Smart Strike), SW, $323,708; 1/2 to Arabian Hope (Distorted Humor), GSW-Tur, SW & G1SP-Eng, $227,783. Their dam Achieving is a half-sister to Grade I winner Streaming (Smart Strike) and stakes winners Treasuring (Smart Strike) and Cascading (A.P. Indy). Cezanne's third dam is GSW & MGISP blue hen Better Than Honour (A.P. Indy), who is responsible for GI Belmont S. winners Jazil (A.P. Indy) and champion filly Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy); as well as GSW Casino Drive (Mineshaft). Achieving's 2018 Liam's Map colt passed away and she produced a Curlin filly in 2019. The $1.475-million KEENOV purchase was bred back to Quality Road. Sales history: $3,650,000 2yo '19 FTFMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B., Smith, Derrick and St. Elias Stable; B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc. & St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
WATCH: Cezanne breezing at Gulfstream last winter
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