Topping a Bob Baffert trifecta, REINCARNATE (Good Magic), the co-longest shot on the board at 16-1, held off Newgate (Into Mischief) and favored National Treasure (Quality Road) to steal the GIII Sham S. Fresh off his maiden-breaking score in just his second start on the dirt following a pair of turf efforts in the fall, Reincarnate, a $775,000 yearling, came in the least heralded of Baffert’s trio.
Sent right to the front from his middle gate, the roan colt was able to clear National Treasure on his inside for a rail-hugging trip with Spun Intended just to his outside. That duo paced the field through an opening quarter in 22.78 as Packs a Wahlop and National Treasure raced in tandem behind while Newgate brought up the rear.
While the top three finishers would normally have been awarded points on a 10-5-3-2-1-scale on the road to the Kentucky Derby, only Packs a Wahlop (Creative Cause) and Spun Intended (Hard Spun) were eligible due to Baffert’s ongoing suspension.