Concert Tour (c, 3, Street Sense–Purse Strings, by Tapit) rolled home to an ultra-impressive debut score for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for 'TDN Rising Star' honors at Santa Anita Friday.
The Gary and Mary West homebred's worktab included a six-furlong bullet in 1:13 (1/11) in Arcadia Jan. 1 and was backed accordingly as the the even-money favorite while debuting with blinkers and Lasix.
He sat a looming presence in second in the early stages and tugged his way to the front under an absolute hammer lock three furlongs from home. The handsome dark bay hit the quarter pole with his ears up awaiting his cue from Joel Rosario, kicked for home in complete command with Rosario still sitting chilly and was never seriously asked in the stretch en route to an effortless 3 1/2-length decision. Mr. Impossible (Munnings) was second.
The final time for six furlongs was 1:10.40.
Baffert, of course, also trained Street Sense's 'Rising Star' McKinzie to four Grade I victories and also saddled the Darley stallion's comebacking Happier to a flashy debut score at Del Mar last summer.
Purse Strings, a $240,000 KEESEP yearling graduate, won one of 12 starts carrying the Wests' hot pink-and-black silks. She had a colt by Lookin At Lucky in 2020 and was bred back to American Freedom.
This is the extended female family of 2008 champion 2-year-old filly Stardom Bound (Tapit), who brought $5.7 million at Fasig-Tipton November following her victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Gary and Mary West also bred graded winner Air Strike, another son of Street Sense out of a Tapit mare.
4th-Santa Anita, $61,000, Msw, 1-15, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.40, ft, 3 1/2 lengths.
CONCERT TOUR, c, 3, by Street Sense
1st Dam: Purse Strings, by Tapit
2nd Dam: My Red Porsche, by Mt. Livermore
3rd Dam: Wind Chime, by Marfa
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart, VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Gary & Mary West; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
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