Speed Boat Beach

Speed Boat Beach emerged as a talented 2-year-old turf runner in fall 2022, although won his career debut on dirt at Del Mar. Switched to grass for start number two, he impressed onlookers at Santa Anita Park with a 1 ¼-length score in the listed Speakeasy Stakes on Oct. 2.

He shipped to Keeneland for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, but finished ninth. Sent back to California and stretched out to a two-turn mile, he resumed his winning ways with a half-length score in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes Dec. 4 at Del Mar.

Speed Boat Beach did not race again until Sept. 30, 2023, returning for a try on dirt in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Presented by Estrella Jalisco. He dueled for the early lead with Sir Atticus and dispatched that foe, only to be outfinished by Dr. Schivel and lose by a head in an outstanding comeback effort. In his next start, the colt set a pressured pace in the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita and faded late to finish fourth by three lengths.

Speed Boat Beach did not race again until Sept. 30, 2023, returning for a try on dirt in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Presented by Estrella Jalisco. He dueled for the early lead with Sir Atticus and dispatched that foe, only to be outfinished by Dr. Schivel and lose by a head in an outstanding comeback effort. In his next start, the colt set a pressured pace in the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita and faded late to finish fourth by three lengths.

Wheeled back for a final start at age 3 in the seven-furlong, Grade 1 Malibu Stakes Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, Speed Boat Beach assumed his usual prominent early position and battled on the lead with stablemate Hejazi through the turn. He dispatched that foe in early stretch and rolled to his first top-level victory in impressive fashion under Flavien Prat, finishing 1 ½ lengths clear of Hejazi.

The Bayern colt is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman and trained by Bob Baffert.