Published Sunday, December 4th, 2022   ( 1 year ago )

Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (GIII)

Speed Boat Beach | Benoit Photo

Speed Boat Beach © Benoit Photo

FLAVIEN PRAT (Speed Boat Beach, winner ) – “He broke well and I thought I was going to be on the lead. But Umberto (Rispoli on Game Time) wanted to go, so we were fine running second. My horse was relaxed and that’s what I wanted. When it came time, he went about his business. Two turns, no problem today. Good race for him.”

BOB BAFFERT (Speed Boat Beach, winner) – “I liked the way he relaxed and (yet) he has the speed. For a horse that can go from a five and a half track record and then win going a mile on the turf, that’s a pretty good race horse and he’s going to get better with age. So we’ll just pick our spots with him. Just have fun with him.”


FRACTIONS:  :22.82  :47.30  1:12.08  1:23.69  1:35.38


The stakes win was the fifth of the meet for rider Prat and his second (Flying Scotsman, 2018) in the Cecil B. DeMille. He now has 85 stakes at Del Mar, 10th most among all riders.

The stakes win was the fourth of the meet for trainer Baffert, but his first in the DeMille. He now has 156 stakes wins at Del Mar, far and away the most of any trainer.

The winning owners are the partnership of Mike Pegam, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.