Power Broker stepped out of the maiden ranks with an eye-opening 6 1/2-length victory in the $250,000 Frontrunner S. (G1) Saturday at Santa Anita, giving his trainer Bob Baffert a record sixth victory in the race formerly known as the Norfolk S.

Though he was a maiden coming into the Frontrunner, Power Broker was already stakes placed with his runner-up finish in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Sept. 5. In the Frontrunner, he was making his first start on traditional dirt. Breaking from post 10, Rafael Bejarano was able to establish himself in third going into the first turn. After a three-way duel for six furlongs, Power Broker began to clear off coming into the stretch and then put away the field in the final furlong to stop the timer in 1:44.44.

Power Broker cruises home in the G1 Frontrunner S.

“This horse has turned out really good. I’m surprised with the way he ran today, he was amazing,” said Bejarano. “It was the first time he ran on this track at this distance and it looked like he loved this track. It’s important to be on the lead right now, and it was easy to find early position right away.”

“I was really high on this horse before we went to Del Mar. I thought he was a top horse,” said Baffert.  He let me down when he ran down there (when fourth in his maiden first time out at Del Mar), and I was a little disappointed. Then he came back and he didn’t work that well. Then he worked really well the other day. I was thinking of putting him on the grass. After that last race, I switched him up. It worked out.”

Power Broker is owned by Gary and Mary West. He was a $360,000 purchase at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale. With the win, the Kentucky bred colt is 1-1-1 in four starts, with earnings of $182,600.

The Frontrunner is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race for the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park.