Mastery validated his stellar maiden score last month with another dynamic performance in Saturday's $100,000 Bob Hope S. (G3), winning by two lengths under a very confident ride from Mike Smith.
Cheyenne Stables' 2-year-old son of Candy Ride (ARG) set all the pace in the seven-furlong affair. Trainer Bob Baffert removed the blinkers after the colt's first race, and with Mike Smith in the irons, the big dark bay looked in command the entire trip. Smith never had to use the whip and only gave his colt slight urging in the final furlong, where he pulled away for the easy win in 1:23.32.
“I like the way he relaxed, we didn't have to go too fast early, which I like too,” said Baffert. “I loved what I saw today. I'm happy Everett Dobson sent him to me, he looks very special.”
Though Baffert didn't say which race would be next, Mastery would be the prohibitive favorite for next month's $300,000 CashCall Futurity (G1) at Los Alamitos. The 1 1/16-mile race would be Mastery's first route race.
Master has won both his starts and has earned $91,200.