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Photo By: Benoit

Bob and John, shown winning the Real Quiet Stakes (a race from which he was subsequently disqualified), should be the heavy favorite in the Sham Stakes

ARCADIA, CA (February 2, 2006) - Stonerside Stable's Bob and John will be heavily favored in Saturday's $100,000 Sham Stakes (GIII) at Santa Anita. Trained by three-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert, Bob and John has won 2 of 6 career starts and was a good third to Kentucky Derby hopeful Brother Derek in his only other start facing graded competition; the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity. Bob and John has never been worse than fourth in his six race career and comes off an easy three length win over several of today's competitors in his last start, when he faced entry level allowance company racing 1 1/16 miles over the Santa Anita oval. Bob and John's stalking style should have him well placed throughout in the 1 1/8 mile event, to be run as the third race on Saturday's card.

Others that could play a major role in the outcome of the Sham are Genre, who won through the disqualification of Bob and John last out, despite Bob and John besting Genre by six lengths. Genre figures to improve in his second start on dirt after taking two months off after the win in the Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park. He's now had the opportunity to acclimate to local conditions since arriving from Great Britain in early November. Genre has won 3 of 9 career starts and has worked well over Santa Anita's main track of late.

One colt that commands some respect is the Dave Hofman's trained Sacred Light, who was a close up third to Bob and John last out in his first try facing winners. Sacred Light has raced but three times and appears to be improving with every start, and the nine furlongs of the Sham should be right for this gray son of Holy Bull.

Another Bob Baffert trainee that may create some interest is B. Wayne Hughes' Sky Diving. He showed very little in his third career start after showing some promise in two starts in Kentucky. In his first try over the Santa Anita oval he was a distant sixth, beaten 12 ½ lengths racing 1 1/16 miles in a maiden special event when favored in the wagering at odds of 5-2. Sky Diving then traveled up to Bay Meadows in Northern California for his next start and promptly demolished maidens by 14 lengths, going a mile in decent time as the heavy favorite. He's worked well since his return to southern California, and the $310,000 two-year old purchase from the Florida sale last March may just be good enough to threaten in the Sham.

The full field from the rail out with riders and weights are: Sky Diving 118 (David Flores); Woody Be Quick 111 (Juan Ochoa); Genre 122 (Martin Pedroza); Hawkinsville 118 (Alex Solis); Sacred Light 118 (Garrett Gomez); and Bob and John 120 (Victor Espinoza).

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