Greyvitos comes up huge in Bob Hope S. (G3)

Malibu Moon’s 2-year-old colt Greyvitos entered Saturday’s $100,000 Bob Hope S. (G3) a maiden and came away a stakes winner following his courageous 1 1/2-length win in the seven-furlong contest at Del Mar.

Greyvitos showed promise in his previous outing, a third-place finish from well off the pace last month at Santa Anita. The gray 2-year-old changed tactics in the Bob Hope, going right to the lead and never being headed despite posting a swift half-mile in :45.20 seconds. In the stretch, Mourinho loomed a danger, but could get no closer than a length as Greyvitos finished the distance in 1:22.20 and earned an excellent Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

“I wasn’t surprised to see him on the lead,” winning trainer Adam Kitchingman said. “In his last race, he was climbing with the dirt hitting him so I was okay with him on the lead today. Those were solid fractions and the final time was good. With his pedigree, we figured him for a grass horse and definitely for two turns because he’s bred top and bottom for that. But he trained so well on the dirt that we wanted to try him on it. I also figured he’d like the seven furlongs.”

Greyvitos is owned by Triple B Farms and is out of the two-time graded stakes winner Snow Top Mountain. He was bred in Kentucky by Audley Farm Equine.

Malibu Moon’s progeny have accounted for 22 stakes wins and earnings of over $10.1 million this year, both top-10 numbers on the General Sire list. The venerable stallion will stand at Spendthrift Farm next year for $75,000 live foal.