McKinzie Avenue Tackles Baffert Pair in Bob Hope Stakes

Twice grade 1-placed, McKinzie Avenue  holds a definitive class edge over his 5 rivals within the $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds Nov. 17 at Del Mar.

Initially pre-entered within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), McKinzie Avenue’s connections opted for the Bob Hope with the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) because the long-term goal for his or her promising colt. Unraced since a third-place effort within the Oct. 5 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) to eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull , the Tim Yakteen trainee cuts again to seven furlongs within the Bob Hope.

After incomes his maiden win sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar in July, the son of McKinzie   was a gritty runner-up to Gaming  within the seven-panel Del Mar Futurity (G1) Sept. 8. Owned by Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley, McKinzie Avenue will break from the within submit with common rider Kazushi Kimura within the irons.

Standing in the best way of McKinzie Avenue’s first black-type win is the Bob Baffert-trained duo of Kalea Bay  and Madaket Street . Baffert has gained the Bob Hope an unprecedented 13 occasions and goals for his fourth straight rating on this yr’s version.

Kalea Bay turned in an explosive maiden-win Sept. 28 at Santa Anita Park at third asking, romping by 8 1/2 lengths in an eye catching time of 1:09.67 for six furlongs. A $700,000 Keeneland September yearling buy for the highly effective partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Decided Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan, Kalea Bay netted a 97 Equibase Velocity Determine for his maiden victory. Though the colt has by no means run in a black-type race, he was third to Citizen Bull and stakes-placed Smash It  in his Aug. 17 Del Mar debut.

Juan Hernandez retains the mount on the speedy son of Genuine  .

Baffert additionally will saddle the maiden Madaket Street for a similar connections. The $650,000 purchase has lit up the morning work tab in preparation for his debut, clocking 4 consecutive bullet works in a row. He labored a bullet 5 furlongs from the gate in :58 Nov. 9 at Santa Anita. The High quality Street   colt is out of grade 2 stakes winner Frolic’s Dream, by Smoke Glacken, and is a half sibling to two-time stakes winner Bode’s Dream (by Bodemeister).

Outdoors of these three, the Michael McCarthy-trained Bullard  has a great opportunity to steal the present in Sunday’s contest. A $675,000 son of Gun Runner  , the colt overpowered Kalea Bay in a last-to-first effort to take his debut in a six-furlong maiden particular occasion at Del Mar Sept. 1.

Final-out winners Maxmius and Dr Ruben M  full the sector.