MARCIE HEACOX 2006 TRIPLE CROWN NOTEBOOK

Bob And John Up and Outta’ Here

Saturday February 4, 2006

Santa Anita Park - Arcadia, CA

by Marcie Heacox

Bob and John stalked a slow early pace and overpowered his four Sham Stakes (gr. III)  rivals by 4 ½ lengths Saturday.

The field was off well, with Hawkinsville taking the lead. Bob and John tracked comfortably off the slow pace, but pressured the leader into the far turn. These two upped the tempo and kicked away, with the grey Sacred Light two lengths back, and Genre and Woody Be Quick tailing off. Bob And John drew off under several cracks from jockey Victor Espinoza, with Hawkinsville gamely driving to hold off Sacred Light. Sky Diving, the other Bob Baffert-trainee, was scratched.  

©2006 Photo by  Marcie Heacox

Bob and Jon gets his first stakes victory in The Sham Stakes.

The 1 1/8 miles were completed in 1:49:15, only .01 seconds slower than the Strub Stakes (gr. II) run by four-year-olds later on the day.

With a controversial disqualification still on everyone’s minds, the three-year-old Dk B/Br. son of Seeking The Gold grabbed his first official stakes win. In the Real Quiet Stakes last November at Hollywood Park, Bob And John was disqualified from first to third after the stewards determined he had cut off original third-place finisher Kissin Knight. The default winner of that race, Genre, ran fourth, 14 3/4 lengths behind today.

"This will be the last powder puff race he gets," trainer Bob Baffert said. "From here on out, it's going to be all heavyweights.” The trainer, who has had great success in previous Triple Crowns, expressed desire to keep Bob And John in California as his leading contender. His next race is likely the Santa Catalina (gr. II) on March 4, Big ‘Cap day. One couldn’t ask for heavier weights than the two masses of horseflesh that will be waiting - Brother Derek and Stevie Wonderboy.

In Other Triple Crown News:

Gulfstream Park - Hallandale, FL

Barbaro, undefeated in three previous turf starts, translated that impressive form into a 3/4 length win in the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes on Saturday. The highweight 3yo Dk B/Br. Colt edged clear of pacesetter Doctor Decherd at the eighth pole under jockey Edgar Prado. Great Point, who had traffic trouble, made a late rush but couldn’t catch Barbaro over the sloppy track. It was another 2 ½ lengths back to My Golden Song in third. The $150,000, 1 1/8 mile race was completed in 1:49:3. Trainer Mike Matz has scheduled the Fountain of Youth (gr. II) or Florida Derby (gr.  I) as possible preps for the Triple Crown.

Keyed Entry, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velasquez, won the Grade II Hutcheson Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths  over multiple-grade I winner First Samurai. The Dk B/Br. Son of Honour And Glory started slow on the inside, but rolled past First Samurai and led to the end in a time of 1:27:1 for the 7 ½ furlongs. Both horses opened a 16 length lead on the rest of the field and traveled wide around the turn. Pletcher plans to “gradually stretch him out”, citing  the 1 1/8 mile Fountain of Youth  (gr. II) in the colt’s future.