The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.
Abraham Lincoln
The annual Maiden Special Weight opening day at Santa Anita has turned into a key race with future stakes winners the last three years. This anticipated opening day feature has a recent history of producing future stakes winners.
1990 – Dinard
1998 – Cape Canaveral
2004 – Going Wild
Lately Bob Baffert has circled this race in his condition bok.
2009 Concord Point: Concord Point debuted on December 26, 2009 with a win at Santa Anita and Beyer speed figure of 95. Concord Point retired with 4 wins in 6 starts including wins in the West Virginia Derby (GII) and Iowa Derby (GIII).
2010 The Factor: The Factor showcased his speed at Santa Anita with a 8 length win and went on to win 6 races in 13 lifetime starts including the Grade 1 Mailbu, Pat O’Brien (G1) the Rebel Stakes (GII) at Oaklawn Park.
2011Midnight Transfer led the way as Bob Baffert won his third straight opening day MSW. Midnight Transfer followed up his MSW win with a San Pedro Stakes win, followed by 3rd place finish in the San Felipe and 7th place finish in the Santa Anita Derby.
2012: Belvin makes it four-in-a-row for Bob Baffert as the son of Empire Maker airs in his 2nd lifetime start. Beyer speed figure of 90 and a strong pedigree looks has the development pattern of a future stakes winner. Forest Boy and Footbridge finish in the money and may have nice futures of their own.