(Potente wins debut at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert / Photo Courtesy of Santa Anita)

From the Santa Anita Media Team:

$2.4 MILLION COLT POTENTE WINS DEBUT FOR BAFFERT GOING 6 FURLONGS SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

The 3-year-old son of Into Mischief is owned by Speedway Stables

ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 31, 2026)—Potente, a 3-year-old colt who sold for $2.4 million as a yearling, won his debut going six furlongs Saturday by three-quarters of a length at Santa Anita Park. Potente, by Into Mischief, is trained by Bob Baffert for Speedway Stables.

“Broke his maiden, here we go,” Baffert said from the Winner’s Circle.

Sent off the 3-5 favorite with Kazushi Kimura aboard, Potente dueled on the lead with 8-5 second choice Captain Shreve down the backstretch through an opening quarter mile in 22.77. On the turn, Captain Shreve and Kyle Frey inched closer to Potente and were on near even terms when reaching the quarter pole in 45.62. It remained a two-horse battle through the stretch, but in the late going Potente edged away from Captain Shreve to win in a time of 1:10.65.

“His class showed up today. Now he’s ready,” Baffert said. “He’s not a sprinter, he wants two turns. Kimura said he’s definitely two turns. He’s a beautiful horse.”

Finishing third was first-time starter Deep Tracks, who was ridden by Mike Smith for trainer John Shirreffs and owner C R K Stable. By Nyquist, Deep Tracks was a $1 million auction buy at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale.

Potente was purchased by Speedway Stables at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. He is out of the Awesome Again mare Sweet Sting, who herself is a daughter of 2000 champion turf mare Perfect Sting.

Potente paid $3.20, $2.10 and $2.10. Captain Shreve, trained by George Papaprodromou, returned $2.20 and $2.10. Deep Tracks, ridden by Mike Smith, paid $2.10.