Cezanne lands Kona Gold Stakes
Hill ‘N’ Dale-based stallion Curlin (Smart Strike) was handed his 78th stakes winner on Sunday when the Bob Baffert-trained Coolmore Stud-owned Cezanne (4 c ex Achieving by Bernardini) obliterated his rivals in the Kona Gold Stakes (Gr 3, 6.5f) at Santa Anita.
Last seen running fourth in the Shared Belief Stakes (Listed, 8.5f) last August, having landed his first two starts, the four-year-old colt bolted clear to beat Brickyard Ride (Clubhouse Ride) by an emphatic nine and three-quarter lengths. Fight On (Into Mischief) was another length and a quarter in third.
"We knew there was going to be a hot pace. Not sure how fast, but it ended up being fast, and you know Cezanne just ate them up," said Baffert's assistant Jimmy Barnes. "Flavien Prat gave him a wonderful ride and Bob had him ready. It's tough to find a spot to run these horses off a layoff, we chose the Kona Gold and made the right decision.
"With the races coming up this spring and summer, we should be looking really good with Cezanne."
The colt was purchased by M.V. Magnier for US$3,650,000 at the 2019 Fasig Tipton Gulfstream March Select 2YO Sale and he winning Bernardini (A.P. Indy) mare Achieving, making him a half-brother to Group 3 winner Arabian Hope (Distorted Humor), while he is a three-quarter brother to Listed winner Counterforce.
Achieving herself is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Streaming (Smart Smart) and Listed scorers Treasuring (Smart Strike) and Cascading (A.P. Indy).
The colt’s third dam is Grade 2 scorer Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister) - the dam of Grade 1 winners Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy) and Jazil (Seeking The Gold) as well as Grade 2 scorer Casino Drive (Mineshaft) and Listed winner Man Of Iron (Giant’s Causeway).
Curlin’s stakes winners are headed by 14 top-flight winners and he stands for a fee of US$175,000.
