In a matchup of three talented newly-turned-sophomore fillies from the Bob Baffert barn, it was the experience and the class of multiple Grade I winner Bast (Uncle Mo) that proved superior, as the 124-pound highweight sat off her stablemates and edged clear late to score an odds-on success in the GII Santa Ynez S. Sunday at Santa Anita.
A debut second Aug. 11 at Del Mar, the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga buy added blinkers and dominated the GI Del Mar Debutante S. by 8 3/4 lengths 20 days later. A narrow victress of the GI Chandelier S. at 1-5, the bay ran well to be third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies after disputing a sizzling pace over the dull Santa Anita strip. Gamely prevailing over Juvenile Fillies runner-up Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo) in the GI Starlet S. last out Dec. 7 at Los Alamitos, Bast was made a 3-5 favorite turning back to a sprint here and came away smoothly from the outside draw. Second choice, 'TDN Rising Star' Auberge (Palace) was off a step slowly from the rail, but recovered quickly and snuck through inside of third favorite and fellow Baffert 'Rising Star' Golden Principal (Constitution) to lead narrowly past a sharp :22.02 quarter while Bast kept watch from third.
The Baffert trio started to separate from the other three entrants going by a :44.59 half-mile, and the barnmates had it to themselves at the top of the lane. Under the most pressure of the three, Bast appeared to have her work cut out for her, but Golden Principal was the first to wilt, leaving it to her and Auberge in the final furlong. Starting to do the better work outside the sixteenth pole, the favorite gradually inched clear from her rival to post a 1 3/4-length success.
Pedigree Notes:
One of 52 stakes winners, 27 graded stakes winners and eight top-level scorers for Uncle Mo, Bast is the first foal out of winless Laffina, a half-sister to GSW/GISP Mananan McLir (Royal Academy). Laffina is responsible for a juvenile California Chrome colt named Unexpected and a yearling filly by Pioneerof the Nile. She was bred to Ghostzapper last spring.
Sunday, Santa Anita Park
SANTA YNEZ S.-GII, $200,500, Santa Anita, 1-5, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.42, ft.
1–BAST, 124, f, 3, by Uncle Mo&log=">Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Laffina, by Arch
2nd Dam: St Lucinda, by St. Jovite
3rd Dam: Majestic Nature, by Majestic Prince
($200,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $500,000 Ylg '18 FTSAUG).
O-Baoma Corporation; B-BlackRidge Stables LLC (KY); T-Bob
Baffert; J-Drayden Van Dyke. $120,000. Lifetime Record:
MGISW, 6-4-1-1, $852,200. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Auberge, 120, f, 3, Palace–Prenuptial Vow, by Broken Vow.
'TDN Rising Star' ($140,000 Wlg '17 FTKNOV; $170,000 Ylg '18
KEESEP; $570,000 2yo '19 EASMAY). O-Speedway Stable LLC;
B-H. Allen Poindexter (IA); T-Bob Baffert. $40,000.
3–Golden Principal, 120, f, 3, Constitution–Gold D' Medaglia, by
Medaglia d'Oro. 'TDN Rising Star' ($35,000 RNA Ylg '18
KEESEP; $200,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR). O-Karl Watson, Michael E.
Pegram & Paul Weitman; B-CESA Farm (FL); T-Bob Baffert.
$24,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2HF, 9 1/4. Odds: 0.60, 2.40, 4.20.
Also Ran: Orquidias Biz, K P Dreamin, Lovely Lilia. Scratched: Paige Anne. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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