McKinzie returns to take Pennsylvania Derby (G1)

McKinzie made his comeback in Saturday’s $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) a winning one, capturing the 1 1/8-mile affair by nearly two lengths to set him up for a possible start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

For Bob Baffert, McKinzie’s win was his trainer’s third in the race, following Bayern (2014), who would win the Breeders’ Cup, and West Coast in 2017.

Following Triple Crown winner Justify’s retirement, McKinzie proved he belongs at the top of the 3-year-old class. McKinzie broke very well, but was out-sprinted for the lead going into the turn, forcing Mike Smith to guide his mount very wide around the first turn. 

McKinzie and Trigger Warning were side-by-side on the backstretch and into the turn, when McKinzie put his head in front. He shook clear at the top of the stretch, then held off a late charge from Axelrod to finishing the distance in 1:52.05.

“I felt very confident that I could be aggressive early and move a little early,” said Smith. “He is still learning as well. Although he has raced, he had a lot of time off and he got to looking around, looking at the tracks and gawking around.I had a really good hold of him today and I didn’t really want to bother anyone. I picked his head up and when I asked him to finish, he really got underneath me and really galloped out really well.”

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, McKenzie’s star-crossed career includes a win via disqualification in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) and second, also via DQ, in the San Felipe S. (G2). He has now won $906,000.