Euroears gives Baffert East-West Grade 1 double
Euroears capped off a terrific last dayof July for Bob Baffert with a track record setting performance in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby S. at Del Mar (VIDEO). A few hours earlier, Baffert’s 3-year-old colt Coil outdueled Shackleford to win the $1 million Haskell I. (G1) at Monmouth Park.
Euroears, who had not been out since finishing second in the $2 million Golden Shaheen March 26 in Dubai, prepped for the Crosby with a series of excellent works. The 4-year-old colt was ultra-sharp right out of the gate, going up a length after a quarter mile in :22.13 seconds. He widened his margin around the turn and into the stretch and held steady in the final furlong to win by 1 1/4-lengths in 1:08.17 for the six furlongs.
“He made an amazing run,” winning rider Rafael Bejarano said. “He loves this track.”
Jim Helzer, Euroears’ owner spoke after the race. “Bob and his team have done a tremendous job. I hope he’s as excited as we are; we have been good friends since 1980.”
Euroears has won 10 of 19 starts and $1,041,562.
Helzer added that Euroears was supplemented to the Breeders’ Cup program earlier this summer with the intent of a start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs in November.