Sabino Canyon gives Baffert 10th straight Los Alamitos Derby

Bob Baffert won his record 16^th Los Alamitos Derby, and 10^th straight, with Sabino Canyon’s come-from-behind victory in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds.

Coming into Saturday’s race, Sabino Canyon was a maiden after two starts, including his debut on the turf. The dark bay showed more early foot than his previous outings as he pressed Southern Melodee in the first half-mile. Start the Ride joined the fray and the trio were less than a length apart at the top of the stretch. With a furlong to go, Start the Ride had a one-length lead, but Sabino Canyon was going better late and won by a half-length.

“We just kind of put this horse in there,” said assistant trainer Mike Marlow. “It is hard to say what he is. His first race was on the grass and he showed nothing, and next time he just kind of ran even. We just told [Ricardo Gonzalez] to get him away running and put him on cruise control and see what happens. He’s definitely improved and he ran a good race.”

Sabino Canyon is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, who purchased the son of Maxfield for $575,000 out of the 2024 Keeneland September sale.