Baeza #8 with Hector Isaac Berrios riding won the $1,000,000 Grade I Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing in Bensalem, PA on Saturday September 20, 2025. Photo by Taylor Ejdys/EQUI-PHOTO.

Taylor Ejdys/EQUI-PHOTO

One of the great things about sport can be the conversation it creates when measuring one competitor against another in philosophical terms. Who is the better and how good are you really are always points of contention. For one blossoming three-year-old Thoroughbred, the Pennsylvania Derby was all about the right answers to those pondering the quality of this colt.

Baeza came into the grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on September 20 full of potential. Having flashed brilliance while running second in the Santa Anita Derby, third in the Kentucky Derby, and second in the Jim Dandy Stakes, this son of McKinzie was still in search of a graded Stakes win. Having knocked heads with the best in the division since early April, this John Shirreffs trainee was ready for another measuring stick race.

Walking into gate eight as the post time favorite in a field of ten, Baeza looked every bit the part of a grade 1 runner. Having matured both physically and mentally, hopes were he would realize the potential he had flashed at times. During sections of his previous graded Stakes starts he had been excellent in putting himself in position to win, but had just not closed the deal. A complete effort was what his conditioner was in search of. Having a pony with potential is good. Having a runner that creates results is better.

The gates opened for this mile and an eighth journey that featured a $1 million purse with Baeza near the back of the field in the race’s early stages. So Sandy guided the group through the first three quarters of a mile while throwing down solid but not blazing fractions (23.01 opening quarter, 26.63 half mile, 1:10.51 three quarters). Rolling up the back stretch in seventh, jockey Hector Berrios kept Baeza focused and in the race. Moving with purpose into the far turn, the vast potential became reality for this grandson of Big Brown.

With Berrios booting his charge to the outside, a determined drive saw Baeza bolt to the lead at the top of the stretch. Finishing with a flourish, it was all smiles for Shirreffs and his team as the horse he touted as one of the top three-year-olds in the game was just that. Crossing the wire a geared down 2 ¼ lengths to the good, Baeza was much the best.

“Every contest comes with hopes and dreams”, says Shirreffs, who trained the magnificent Zenyatta to nineteen wins in twenty career starts. “Baeza ran to ours with an emotional win.”

The Pennsylvania Derby score ran the record for Baeza to two wins, three seconds, and two thirds in eight career starts. His on-track earnings are just over $1.5 million. What’s next for this colt owned by CRK Stables and Grandview Equine is to be determined.