TDN RISING STARS

January 19, 2020 - Santa Anita, Race 7, Msw, USD $55,000, 6 1/2F, .0000

Nadal, c, 3, 2017 by Blame

1st Dam: Ascending Angel, by Pulpit
2nd Dam: Solar Colony, by Pleasant Colony
3rd Dam: Meteor Stage, by Stage Door Johnny

Owner: George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman & Mark Mathiesen
Breeder: Sierra Farm (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert

George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman and Mark Mathiesen's Nadal (Blame) broke slowly as the 6-5 favorite in his Santa Anita unveiling Sunday, but he had no trouble giving his foes a head start, and ultimately proved too much for them to handle en route to being named a 'TDN Rising Star'. A $65,000 KEESEP yearling turned $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream grad after a :10 flat breeze, the Bob Baffert pupil had been buzzed about for some time despite a setback over the summer, and finally showed what all the fuss was about.

Away last as is often the case for rail-drawn firsters, the bay zoomed up to seize a narrow advantage through a :21.88 opening quarter. He shook loose through a :44.91 half, and waved goodbye to his competition from there as he kicked home by 3 3/4 lengths. Exaulted (Twirling Candy), a $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad, got up for second over Lane Way (Into Mischief), a $550,000 OBSMAR purchase.

By far his sire's priciest juvenile to sell last year by $410,000, Nadal is one of just two foals out of the late Ascending Angel (Pulpit), who hails from the family of champion juvenile filly Pleasant Stage and GISWs Marsh Side, Changeintheweather, A Phenomenon and Seattle Meteor.

GI Hopeful S. runner-up and fellow 'Rising Star' Mucho is also bred on the same Blame over Pulpit cross, while Arch (Blame's sire) over Pulpit is the cross responsible for MGSW Newsdad. G1 Prix de Diane heroine Senga (Blame) was out of an A.P. Indy mare (Pulpit's sire).