Life Is Good holds off Medina Spirit in Sham S. (G3)

Life Is Good led a Bob Baffert exacta with a victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Sham S. (G3) at Santa Anita Park, defeating stablemate Medina Spirit by three-quarters of a length in the track’s first Kentucky Derby prep of 2021.

The 3-year-old colt was making his stakes and two-turn debut after a dominating Nov. 22 maiden win at first asking at Del Mar. 

As he did in the maiden win, Life Is Good was intent on getting the lead early and did so despite going very wide into the first turn. He was up three lengths after a half-mile and increased the margin to four at the top of the stretch. Ridden without urging by Mike Smith, Life Is Good let Medina Spirit closed ground late while the duo was some 13 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

The final time was 1:36.63 on a fast main track.

“Medina is a nice horse, he’s a good horse and I could tell that Mike (Smith, on Life Is Good) was just cruising out there,” said Baffert, who won the Sham for the seventh time, including last year with eventual Derby winner Authentic. “I always feel that the second race is most important. You’re going up against winners. I think Mike did a great job, just sort of cruising out there and it was just the kind of race we were looking for.” 

Saturday’s win earned Life Is Good 10 qualifying points toward the 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Baffert said the next start is to be determined for the 3-year-old colt, who has now earned $94,200 in his two victories for CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm.