Zedan Racing Stable's Barnes (Into Mischief), a $3.2-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, made it a perfect two-for-two for Bob Baffert with a jaw-dropping performance in Saturday's GII San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita.
The even-money favorite was placed in a tracking second by Juan Hernandez, gained command approaching the quarter pole and leveled off beautifully in the stretch to win with authority by 5 1/2 lengths. His Baffert-trained stablemate Romanesque (Practical Joke), a debut winner over freshly minted 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic), rounded out the exacta. Narrow second-choice Bullard (Gun Runner), named a 'TDN Rising Star' after his debut and who was a last-out winner of the GIII Bob Hope Stakes, was third.
Barnes, named after Baffert's longtime right-hand man Jimmy Barnes, made the Hall of Famer's return to Churchill Downs a winning one with a hard-fought debut win going 5 1/2 furlongs beneath the Twin Spires Nov. 27.
Barnes was the first starter for Baffert at the Louisville track since Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) on July 19, 2024, announced the lifting of a corporation-imposed three-year suspension that had kept the Hall-of-Fame trainer from racing in the GI Kentucky Derby and at any of CDI's tracks nationwide.
“You just keep him healthy, when you get a good horse, you have to keep him healthy and then everything flows,” Baffert said after saddling his 14th San Vicente winner.
“I'm happy for Amr (Zedan), he had to really stretch to get this horse. When you have clientele like that it is everything. This horse looked like that as a yearling, he looks like (broodmare sire) American Pharoah body wise. He has a lot of American Pharoah in him and it worked out.”
Baffert continued, “I knew he would run well. I was watching Juan, he knows the horse well and he said he was a little green. But everyone who has worked him says he has another gear in him. They were all a little green and the second out is the most important for all these horses.”
Barnes added, “They surprised me and I was honored. I was a little nervous, but it is working out well so far. I had a little bit of a knot in my stomach, but it will only get better after this.”
Pedigree Notes:
Barnes becomes the 80th graded winner worldwide for his all-conquering sire Into Mischief.
The Kinsman Farm-bred All American Dream (American Pharoah), a maiden of two career starts for Jeffrey Drown and Don Rachel, is also represented by an Essential Quality colt of 2023 and a Flightline filly of 2024. She was bred back to Into Mischief.
Barnes's third dam is the classy MGISW Dream Supreme (Seeking the Gold), who produced GISW Majestic Warrior (A.P. Indy).
Barnes is bred similarly as promoted GI Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun (Into Mischief) and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River (Into Mischief), who are both out of Empire Maker mares.
BARNES is a beast! 😤
Dominant winner of the GII San Vicente Stakes at @santaanitapark. pic.twitter.com/fswXz5Q4Ae
— TDN (@theTDN) January 4, 2025
Saturday, Santa Anita Park
SAN VICENTE S.-GII, $200,000, Santa Anita, 1-4, 3yo, 7f, 1:22.15, ft.
1–BARNES, 120, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: All American Dream, by American Pharoah
2nd Dam: A. P. Dream, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Dream Supreme, by Seeking the Gold
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($3,200,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $189,000. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Romanesque, 120, c, 3, Practical Joke–Mony'slittlegracie, by Alphabet Soup. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($60,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $435,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Elizabeth B. Barr (PA); T-Bob Baffert. $40,000.
3–Bullard, 124, c, 3, Gun Runner–Reve d'Amour, by Warrior's Reward. ($675,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-By Talla Racing LLC, St. Elias Stables LLC, Three Chimneys Farm and West Point Thoroughbreds; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Michael McCarthy. $24,000.
Margins: 5HF, HF, 2HF. Odds: 1.00, 7.00, 1.10.
Also Ran: Smooth Cruisein, McKinzie Street.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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