Baffert-Trained 2YO Speed Boat Beach Streaks To Track Record-Setting Win In Career Debut At Del Mar

Pegram, Watson, and Weitman's Speed Boat Beach sped to a track record in his racing debut Saturday at Del Mar when he covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.86.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Bayern colt out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Sophia Mia took the lead out of the gate in the maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds and was never headed under Flavien Prat. He set fractions of :21.34, :44.17, and :55.96 en route to his record mark. The previous record of 1:02.10 set by Power Jam, also trained by Baffert, in the 2016 Pirate's Bounty Stakes.

Baffert also trained Speed Boat Beach's sire and broodmare sire. His dam was unraced.

Earlier this year, Speed Boat Beach fetched $200,000 from Three Amigos (Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman) at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Finishing behind him Saturday were two other Baffert trainees: Zedan Racing Stables' runner-up Hejazi (a $3.5 million purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training sale) and SF Racing and partners' third-place finisher Fort Bragg (a $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale purchase in 2021).

Baffert had put 10 works into Speed Boat Beach at Los Alamitos and Del Mar prior to his Saturday start, including a handy :58.60 five-furlong drill out of the gate on Sept. 3 at Del Mar.

Baffert's track record-setting win Saturday with Speed Boat Beach was his 10th 2-year-old maiden special weight victory of the meet. He also won the 2-year-old Best Pal Stakes with Havnameltdown.

Speed Boat Beach was bred in Florida by Caperlane Farm. He returned $6.40 for the win.