Cave Rock

Cave Rock made a memorable first impression. The dark bay or brown colt from the first crop of champion Arrogate led from start to finish in a six-length romp going 6 ½ furlongs Aug. 13 vs. 2-year-olds on the main track at Del Mar. He earned a 109 Equibase Speed Figure, 101 Beyer Speed Figure, and 104 Brisnet speed rating in a very fast debut.

Cave Rock set a blistering pace in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 11 in his stakes debut, leading through a pressured opening quarter mile in :21.56 and a half-mile in :43.65. Stablemate Havnameltdown challenged him near the top of the stretch but could not match strides with Cave Rock, who surged away to a dominant 5 1/4-length win in a stakes-record time of 1:20.99.

Cave Rock kept his record unblemished when once again cruising to victory impressively in his third career start in the Grade 1 $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 8. After crushing his opponents in both of his first two races, the only question Cave Rock had to answer in the American Pharoah was his ability to stretchout and get the 1 1/16-mile distance in his first try around two turns. Indeed, Cave Rock passed the test with flying colors, sending out to the front from the get-go and leading in :22.4, :46.4 and 1:11 splits en route to a decisive 5 1/2-length score in a final time of 1:43.05.  The American Pharoah was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Win and You're In race, and Cave Rock is expected to be on his way to Keeneland to make his next start in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Nov. 4. Cave Rock also earned 10 qualifying points to the 2023 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve with the win.

Cave Rock concluded his 2-year-old season with a start in the Grade 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on Friday, Nov. 4, where he was sent off as the heavy 1-2 odds favorite in a field of 10. After battling for the lead most of the way on strong :22.4 and :47 fractions going 1 1/16 miles, Cave Rock was passed in the stretch by Forte and settled for second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths.

The dam (mother) of Cave Rock is Grade 3 winner Georgie's Angel, by Bellamy Road. Cave Rock is trained by Bob Baffert and races in partnership in the familiar red and yellow silks of Michael Pegram.