Potente, a three-year-old colt who was purchased for $2.4 million as a yearling, claimed victory in his first race by three-quarters of a length over six furlongs at Santa Anita Park on Saturday. The colt, sired by Into Mischief and trained by his owner Bob Baffert of Speedway Stables, demonstrated his promise right out of the gate.
“We broke the maiden. Here we go,” Baffert declared from the winner’s circle.
Favored at 3-5 and ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Potente took the lead at 8-5 odds on the backstretch, closely pursued by Captain Shreve. The pair ran the opening quarter mile in 22.77 seconds and reached the quarter pole in 45.62 seconds, neck and neck. Ultimately, Potente powered away in the final stretch to finish in 1 minute 10.65 seconds.
“He showed his true class today, and he’s ready for action,” Baffert said. “He’s not built for sprinting—I want him to have two starts within a short period. Kimura agrees, and he’s a stunning horse.”
Coming in third was Deep Tracks, a first-time competitor trained by John Shirreffs and owned by CRK Stables. Deep Tracks was acquired for $1 million at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds-In-Training Sale, according to Nyquist.
Potente was bought by Speedway Stables at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Select Sale. His dam is Sweet Sting, an Awesome Again mare, who is a daughter of Perfect Sting, the 2000 turf champion mare.
Potente returned $3.20 to win.
Fan Take: This impressive debut from Potente signals a rising star in the racing world, exciting fans who cherish the thrill of watching elite young talent develop. With Bob Baffert’s expert guidance and Potente’s evident class, this colt could become a defining competitor, bringing fresh energy and high stakes to horse racing’s future.
