Highly regarded Mastery cruises to victory in the Bob Hope

The buzz on this one is going to be hard to control. Hammered down to 3-10 odds for the second time in as many starts, Mastery once again lived up to his advance billing with an effortless looking 1 ¼-length victory in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes Saturday at Del Mar.

The son of Candy Ride was a flashy winner of his career debut four weeks ago at Santa Anita, already prompting Kentucky Derby 2017 talk. In today’s test, and stakes debut, he was ridden with great confidence by his Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith, after breaking just a tad outward at the break.

The $425,000 yearling purchase quickly forged to the lead in the compact field of five, and was always within himself while longshot Bernin Sensation briefly pressured him from the inside. Smith let him go a little and he again pulled clear into the far turn of the seven-furlong race. California Diamond, the main competition, stayed within striking distance on the outside, but Mastery always looked to have plenty in the tank. As the field turned for home, the favorite had two close to him, one on the inside, and one on his outside, but horse and rider continued to appear less than worried.

California Diamond, a clear second choice on the Del Mar tote board, turned in another strong effort, but had no answer for the good-looking winner. Mastery cruised to wire more than a length in front, while looking far more in control than the final margin would indicate, over an experienced colt who had already won four stakes races. Ann Arbor Eddie, also making his second lifetime start, ran well to be another 1 ½-lengths behind the runner-up, but way ahead of the rest.

“It went well after we got away from there," remarked Smith. "He was a little funny in the gate; had some of those second-race jiggers. But once we got rolling he was fine. He’s got a beautiful stride -- big, long and powerful. He’ll go two turns, too. These seven eighths races (the Bob Hope was at seven furlongs) can be tougher than a two-turner. He handled this race fine. I think two turns will be fine, too."

Trained by the master, Bob Baffert, Mastery completed the seven furlongs in 1:23.32, while cruising home in a strong final furlong in 11.61 seconds. Now undefeated in two starts, he raised his career earnings total to $91,200 for Cheyenne Stables.

“We knew he was a nice horse when he broke his maiden, but from what we saw today he could be something," said Baffert. "The second out is so important. They can run well in the first outing and then take a step back. We didn’t have him super cranked for the first out and this one was a lot of him (talent). He just shipped down this morning and he shipped well. Now’s he’s got that experience. He didn’t look exhausted afterwards but he didn’t really have to exert himself.”

As the overwhelming favorite, the dark bay colt returned $2.60, $2.10 and $2.10 across the board. Mastery was liked so much by the bettors, in fact, a minus show pool of $54,724 resulted in the short field.

Already #6 on my first Kentucky Derby rankings, off his debut performance, you can expect that Mastery will be on a short list of winter-book favorites for next May’s run for the roses. Blessed with a plethora of promising youngsters, Baffert seems to like this one as much as any. The sky would seem to be the limit for Mastery.