Baeza scores breakthrough in Pennsylvania Derby

Sep 21, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Baeza wins the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing. (Photo by EQUI-PHOTO)

As a half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Mage and 2024 Belmont (G1) winner Dornoch, Baeza brought pedigree power into his own journey on this year’s Triple Crown trail. But he was still developing through the spring, and not quite ready to emulate his half-brothers when finishing third in both the Derby and Belmont.

On Saturday, an improved Baeza broke through with his first stakes victory in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx. In the process, he followed in the hoofsteps of his sire, McKinzie, who captured the Pennsylvania Derby in 2018.

Baeza’s trainer, John Shirreffs, also conditioned Hall of Fame racemare Zenyatta. For Shirreffs, his Pennsylvania Derby performance was as riveting as the great Zenyatta’s spine-tingling victories.

“Today was one of the most exciting races I have ever participated in, to tell you the truth,” Shirreffs said. “And that includes races that included Zenyatta.

“This was like, ‘prove yourself today.’ And he did. Because of all the hope we had for Baeza, all that build-up and working at the barn. It was just like, ‘this is it today.’

“This was very gratifying. We have been close in some of the big races and today, he put it all together.”

Although Baeza wasn’t facing the divisional heavyweights who beat him earlier in the season – Kentucky Derby and Belmont star Sovereignty, or Journalism, the runner-up in both classics – his convincing display at Parx suggested that he could be a stronger opponent for them next time.

The great rematch among Sovereignty, Journalism, and Baeza could come in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar. There they would also clash with such older champions as Sierra Leone and Fierceness, and Japanese celebrity Forever Young, who ran one-two-three in last year’s Classic.

Sent off as the 7-5 favorite in the Pennsylvania Derby, Baeza wasn’t that quick out of the gate. But he steadily improved his position down the backstretch under a well-judged ride by Hector Berrios.

Meanwhile, a contested pace was unfolding up front. So Sandy held a narrow lead under pressure from David of Athens, with Goal Oriented also forwardly placed in an attending third. After So Sandy established fractions of :23.01, :46.63, and 1:10.51, David of Athens retreated, and Goal Oriented went on the attack.

Just as Goal Oriented struck the front on the far turn, Baeza launched a circling move and rapidly took over into the stretch. The bay drew off by 2 1/4 lengths and finished 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.03.

In the replay, watch how Baeza leads with his left front leg coming out of the far turn, and then switches to lead with his right front leg later down the lane. He’s supposed to make that switch sooner, as soon as he straightens up, to gain more momentum. But he’s getting the hang of the fact that he needs to “switch leads” from the left to the right leg.

It was Baeza's day to shine! He wins the G1 Pennsylvania Derby! 🏆🌟 pic.twitter.com/m2BTYuRK2I

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 20, 2025

Magnitude also leveled off very well late to rally for second. Hitherto more effective as a front runner, the Steve Asmussen pupil showed a dimension to punch on from just off the pace.

Goal Oriented held third, another two lengths back. Next came So Sandy, Big Truzz, Gosger, Mo Plex, Happily Delusional, David of Athens, and Altobelli.

Baeza became a millionaire with earnings of $1,503,500 from a record of 8-2-3-2 (eight starts, two wins, three seconds, and two thirds). In addition to his placings in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, he was a close second to Journalism in the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and to Sovereignty in his latest in the July 26 Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.

After knocking on the door, Baeza finally burst through on Saturday.

“He handled everything so well,” Shirreffs said. “He has shown great signs of maturity. When he went to the Kentucky Derby, he was never exposed to anything. It was a eyes-pop-wide-open kind of deal for him. After the Derby, it took him a little while to refocus and calm down. Now, he can handle the races and not have to have a little down time.”

Baeza’s maturity was also evident in how he went through the race itself.

“He was tactical, he had a kick, he did everything today,” Shirreffs said. “He broke OK, but it looked like he was maybe thinking about dropping back a little bit, but Hector (Berrios) was like ‘no, no, we are going to stay connected with the field.’ He did that and saved maybe a pinch of ground around the turn. He willingly started creeping up and getting better position. The horse ran beautifully, Hector rode him perfectly and it was a great afternoon.”

Baeza is the third Grade 1 winner produced by his mother, Broodmare of the Year Puca. She is herself a daughter of 2008 Derby and Preakness (G1) conqueror Big Brown.

Sold for $1.2 million as a yearling at Keeneland September, months after half-brother Mage upset the 2023 Derby, Baeza races for C R K Stable and his breeder, Grandview Equine.

Lee Searing of C R K Stable noted that Baeza took time because he was born later, on May 13, 2022.

“He’s a late foal, and John is the perfect trainer. With this kind of horse, you’ve got to be really patient, and he was. When it was time to run, he ran three really good races against that big boy (Sovereignty), and he was just getting stronger.

“I don’t care who we run against, this horse is right there. If he’s not equal to them, he’s right there. Obviously with a horse like this, winning a Grade 1 is a big deal. He’s got that done now; we can move onward.

“He’s just getting better, stronger, bigger,” Searing added. “This was his best race.”

Also on Pennsylvania Derby Day, three-year-old fillies got their turn in the $1 million Cotillion (G1). But Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Good Cheer ran well below her best in sixth, and up-and-comers fought out the finish.

The 5-1 Clicquot prevailed by a neck from the 7-1 Dry Powder, with 42-1 longshot Ourdaydreaminggirl just a head away in third. Scottish Lassie, the 8-5 favorite, was a non-threatening fourth, and La Cara tired to fifth.

Clicquot takes the G1 Cotillion at 5/1 for trainer @brenpwalsh with @iradortiz aboard! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/AY8KlAAvMF

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 20, 2025

Trained by Brendan Walsh for X-Men Racing IV, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing, Clicquot clocked 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.85. The gray has won four straight, including the Indiana Oaks (G3) in her prior start, and her bankroll stands at $840,153.