Baffert scratches Speed Boat Beach for Sham Stakes

Speed Boat Beach, a two-time stakes winner on turf, was scratched from Sunday’s Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita going a mile on dirt by trainer Bob Baffert. Speed Boat Beach was the 5-2 co-second choice on the morning line.

Baffert said Speed Boat Beach likely would be rerouted to the $200,000 San Vicente (G3) going seven furlongs on Jan. 29.

“I’m going to wait for a different race, probably the San Vicente around one turn,” Baffert said. “I’ve been running him on turf, and I kind of go by my gut. I don’t know if he was prepared.”

Baffert had previously said he was hoping to have one dirt start for Speed Boat Beach before a potential trip to the Middle East for races such as the Saudi Derby (G3) and UAE Derby (G2).

Speed Boat Beach has won three of four starts including, the Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita in October and Cecil B. DeMille (G3) most recently at Del Mar on Dec. 4. Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, the son of Bayern previously was scratched from the one-mile Eddie Logan on grass on Dec. 30.

After the scratch of Speed Boat Beach, this is the field for the Sham in post position order: Newgate, Frankie Dettori (6-1); National Treasure, John Velazquez (2-1); Reincarnate, Juan Hernandez (8-1); Packs a Wahlop, Ramon Vazquez (6-1); Spun Intended, Mike Smith (5-2).