TDN RISING STARS

January 2, 2015 - Santa Anita, Race 5, Msw, USD $56,000, 1m

Popover, f, 3, 2012 by Lookin At Lucky

1st Dam: Starboard Tack, by Seattle Slew
2nd Dam: Hangin on a Star, by Vice Regent
3rd Dam: Hangin Round, by Stage Door Johnny

Owner: Arnold Zetcher LLC
Breeder: Ron Stolich (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert

Popover ran too good to lose when a very strong second--beaten only a nose to Jeff Bonde first-time starter Rattataptap (Tapit)--as the 5-2 favorite after a tardy beginning from post 10 in her 6 1/2-furlong Del Mar bow Nov. 29. The Arnold Zetcher colorbearer posted four workouts since, including a sharp five-furlong move in :59 2/5 (3/135) at Santa Anita Dec. 21, and was pounded into 2-5 favoritism in her two-turn and dirt debut here. Placed in a tracking second through fractions of :22.69 and :46.76, Popover took over from the pacesetter at the top of the straight with her ears pricked waiting for a command and stormed home nicely to post an impressive seven-length victory. Danette (Curlin), a close fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, was second. "We thought kind of early in the game that she had real good possibilities, and she ran that one race where she broke slow out of the gate and came on and almost won," Zetcher said on HRTV. "We were waiting for this race to come along, and [Bob Baffert] felt that we had to stretch her out. It was important to get a little more distance in her." How did she get her name? "My sister likes to make popovers," Zetcher replied. Popover, from the family of Canadian champions Comet Shine (Fappiano) and Irish Mission (Giant's Causeway), is a half-sister to Patience Game (Woodman), GSW, $152,336; and Star Queen (Kingmambo), SW, $158,047. Sales history: $100,000 yrl '13 KEESEP; $35,000 RNA wlng '12 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $44,800.