Reincarnate, inside, outfinished stablemate Newgate to win the Sham Stakes Jan. 8 at Santa Anita Park. (BENOIT photo)
After winning for the first time in late November, Bob Baffert trainee Reincarnate powered into 2023 with renewed energy to win by a neck at 16-1 odds in the Jan. 8 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park. He led a 1-2-3 finish for Baffert in the Grade 3 race.
Setting out in front quickly under the Southern California track’s leading jockey, Juan Hernandez, the gray or roan son of Good Magic battled through quarter-mile fractions of :22.28 and :45.57, with Spun Intended dueling early in an attempt to put a nose in front. Spun Intended dropped back after briefly leading at the half-mile mark. He was pulled up and walked into a van following the race.
Sham winner Reincarnate (Eclipse Sportswire)
The final turn approached in 1:09.55 as Frankie Dettori, on Newgate, moved from the outside into second.
Pressure mounted for Reincarnate after seven furlongs in 1:22.76 as Newgate continued his charge, with late-running National Treasure also putting in a bid. Despite putting on pressure they were not able to catch Reincarnate, who took the $100,000, one-mile event for 3-year-olds on the fast main track in 1:35.87.
“He showed up today like he can go on the turf or the dirt,” Hernandez told FanDuel TV’s Kurt Hoover. “I think he moved really smooth on the dirt. He surprised me; he was sharp out of the gate. I came out with a plan, probably to stay behind horses and make more room, but when the gate opens, everything changes.
“He broke very sharp and sailed in front. I felt the fractions, it was a hot pace, but he’s a big horse and has a huge stride, so I just let him go and have fun. I threw him on the lead and he held on today.”
Newgate was second and National Treasure, the 3-5 favorite, was third.
Owned by the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan, Reincarnate ($35) improved to two wins and three seconds from five starts and increased his earnings to $142,400.
Baffert earned his fourth win in a row in the Sham, following Authentic (2020), Life Is Good (2021), and Newgrange (2021). Since its inception in 2001, the Hall of Famer has saddled nine of the 22 winners.
Bred by Woods Edge Farm in Kentucky, Reincarnate was a $775,000 purchase by SF Bloodstock and Madaket from the breeder’s consignment to the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale. He is out of the stakes-winning Scat Daddy mare Allanah, who has three winners from four foals to race.—Corrie McCroskey
