Uncle Chuck, a well-bred 3-year-old colt, made an auspicious career debut Friday at Santa Anita, winning a one-mile maiden race by seven lengths and earning a 95 Beyer. Bob Baffert trains the son of Uncle Mo, whose siblings include 114-Beyer debut winner Maclean’s Music and Grade 3 winners Kentuckian and Electric Forest.

Mike Smith rode Uncle Chuck ($4), who broke a step slow from the inside post, then recovered and made the lead into the first turn. He set honest fractions of :46.51 and 1:11.10, drew away into the lane, switched back to his wrong lead in deep stretch, and finished in 1:36.78. Uncle Chuck, purchased for $250,000 as a yearling, is owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman. Stay tuned.