Fed Biz , a colt with a building reputation despite a slight record, gave an indication as to why there's so much interest when he dominated four sophomore rivals in a one-mile allowance race at Santa Anita Feb. 9 (VIDEO).
Trained by Bob Baffert, Fed Biz took the lead coming out of the far turn and drove clear while lugging inward in the final furlong of the $58,000 event. He won under a hand ride by 5 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:34.74 on a fast track.
Jockey Rafael Bejarano exclaimed, “This is my Derby horse buddy,” before entering the winner’s circle.
Fed Biz already had been established as a 20-1 shot in Pool 1 of Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby Future Wager which opens Feb. 10 and will close Feb. 12. His odds were the same as top West Coast-based prospects Creative Cause , I'll Have Another , Liaison , and Out of Bounds.
A $950,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Kaleem Shah, Fed Biz was bet down to 3-5 favoritism in the first-level allowance race. The bay is by Giant's Causeway out of Spunoutacontrol, by Wild Again.
Fed Biz is now two-for-three in his career after winning a one-mile maiden special weight test impressively at Santa Anita Dec. 30. Bred by Colts Neck Stables in Kentucky, he debuted with a fourth-place finish going six furlongs on Hollywood Park's Cushion Track Nov. 27.
The colt showed good speed while well off the rail heading into the clubhouse turn, racing about one length behind 7-5 second choice Consulado, ridden by David Flores. A half-length behind at the quarter pole, Fed Biz waited until leaving the far turn to make his move, gaining control while edging away from Consulado approaching mid-stretch. Fractions were quick -- :21.95, :45.50, and 1:10.03.
Fed Biz was geared down approaching the wire in spite of racing somewhat greenly.
“When he hit the top of the stretch, he had his ears up and he didn’t switch leads until real late," Baffert noted. "I’m glad I got a race into him. That’s part of the process. You know he has the pedigree, and he has a lot of just natural talent.”
The colt broke his maiden by defeating Zackn'mat by 1 ¾ lengths in 1:35.40. Zackn’mat returned to win his next race.
“He repeated that race, and he’s going to improve a lot more,” Bejarano said. “Today, he was more comfortable and he showed me more kick in the stretch. He won very easy. I knew the time was kind of fast, but I had so much horse, he was just galloping.”
Fed Biz paid $3.40, $2.20 and $2.20. Consulado returned $2.40 and $2.10, finishing 6 ½ lengths ahead of third-place Blueskiesnrainbows . The latter, with Martin Garcia aboard, paid $2.60 to show.
Baffert, who has saddled nine Triple Crown winners, did not specify a next start for Fed Biz. “It’s a long way to go,” commented the Hall of Fame trainer.
Fed Biz cruises at Santa Anita.
Benoit Photo