Life Is Good gives trainer Bob Baffert record seventh win in Sham
ARCADIA, California (AP) — Heavily favoured Life Is Good survived a mild threat late from stablemate Medina Spirit and went on to a three quarters of a length victory in the US$100,000 Sham Stakes on Saturday (January 2) at Santa Anita.
The three-year-old colt, trained by Bob Baffert, earned 10 qualifying points for the May 1 race at Churchill Downs. Baffert trained last year’s Sham winner Authentic, who later gave him a record-tying sixth Derby victory. Baffert now has a record seven wins in the Grade 3 Sham.
Ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Life Is Good ran a mile in 1:36.63.
“It was his first time around two turns,” Smith said. “He didn’t know what he was doing going twice around, and he just got the lead and was looking out at the infield on the big screen. I was watching as well, so I saw the horse coming on the outside. I didn’t want to panic, I just showed it (the whip) to him a little bit.”
Life Is Good paid US$2.40, US$2.10 and US$2.10 at 1-5 odds in the field of five.
Medina Spirit, also trained by Baffert, returned US$3.60 and US$2.20 at 9-1 odds. Parnelli, the 9-2 second choice, paid US$2.10 to show.
“Mike did a great job, just sort of cruising out there and it was just the kind of race we were looking for,” Baffert said. “It is so exciting he passed the two-turn test.”
The victory, worth US$60,000, increased Life Is Good’s career earnings to US$94,200.
Saturday for the San Gabriel, a 1 1/8-mile turf route.
Anothertwistafate went off the 5-2 second betting choice from post number 6 under jockey Joel Rosario. He sat second through the early stages as Bob and Jackie went through opening fractions of 23.02 and 46.95.
Rosario positioned his mount outside of Bob and Jackie coming through the far turn, and he moved ahead into the lead. Racing near the middle of the track, Anothertwistafate kicked on well to score by 2 1/4 lengths.
Anothertwistafate covered the nine furlongs in 1:46.63 and returned US$7.60 to win. He donned blinkers for the San Gabriel, which Rosario thought made a difference as compared to his race in the Seabiscuit without them.
“He was more focused today,” Rosario said. “... He definitely improved today.”
Bob and Jackie stayed up for second, with Next Shares edging Multiplier for third. Even-money favourite Count Again was eased in the stretch and walked off after finishing last of seven.
Peter Redekop B C campaigns the Kentucky-bred Anothertwistafate. The horse’s earlier career included a 2019 El Camino Real Derby win at Golden Gate Fields and a 10th-place effort later that year at Pimlico in the Preakness Stakes.
Miller said Gulfstream Park could be Anothertwistafate’s next destination. The Southern Florida track hosts both the Us$3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and Us$1million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) on January 23.
“We’ll look at the Pegasus, both the turf and the dirt,” Miller said. “The dirt is more money, but obviously, there’s tougher horses in there.”