NOTES FROM THE UNDERGOUND

Game win by Creative Cause in the San Felipe Stakes last Satuday at Santa Anita Park.....nice job getting him ready and shout out to trainer Mike Harrington...... He said after Creative Cause won the Best Pal Stakes that owner Steinmann had another colt that was as good if not better then Creative Cause.....this week I hope he sends out French Storm by A.P. Indy out of Ile De France......just might his debut this week......Saturday or Sunday I think....

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Santa Anita hosted the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes last Saturday for 3YOs going 1 1/16 miles. The betting public made it a two-horse race with recent maiden winner Bodemeister the slight 2-1 favorite over Grade 1 stakes winner Creative Cause at 22-10.



Bob Baffert was asking a lot of Bodemeister to jump into the deep waters after only a maiden win but it was going a mile and in very fast time. Being by Empire Maker out of a dam by Storm Cat, he figures to get better with distance so his only negative was lack of experience.



Creative Cause, on the other hand, has plenty of experience with a win in the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita last fall and a good third in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile. His first start this year was going seven furlongs in the Grade 2 San Vicente where he rallied for third with a BRIS Late Pace figure of 115. With only one more prep race on the horizon, solid efforts were needed to stay on schedule and they both delivered.



Bodemeister was part of a three-horse battle for the lead and held on grimly after putting those rivals away turning for home. Creative Cause sat behind the speed duel up front and had to go wide to get clear running. He lost a lot of ground so his final BRIS Speed rating of 102 was very legit and based on his 102 in the San Vicente, he should be set up for a big effort down the road. Plus, he had to give five pounds to most of the field.



Bodemeister answered all the questions and should be still moving forward. He showed he can go fast and still finish and even though he was dead tired in the stretch, it's probably exactly what he needed to move him to the next level

Written by Blood-Horse Magazine