TDN RISING STARS

February 11, 2012 - Santa Anita, Race 3, Msw, USD $56,000, 1 m, ft

Bodemeister, c, 3, 2009 by Empire Maker

1st Dam: Untouched Talent (GSW & GISP, $243,550), by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Parade Queen, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Spanish Parade, by Roberto

Owner: Zayat Stables LLC
Breeder: Audley Farm Inc (VA)
Trainer: Bob Baffert

Bodemeister, a $260,000 KEESEP yearling, showed promise in his first start when finishing second in a 5 1/2-furlong test at Santa Anita Jan. 16. He was drawn on the outside for this stretch-out to a mile, and was 2-1 in what appeared to be a competitive heat on paper. But it was all about Bodemeister. After clearing the field, the blaze-faced bay bowled along merrily through splits of :23.09 and :46.95. Rider Rafael Bejarano moved his hands entering the far turn and Bodemeister responded impressively. With track announcer Trevor Denman saying "pick a number" for the winning margin, the 3-year-old cruised under the wire 9 1/4 lengths in front under a motionless Bejarano. His seven-furlong split was 1:22.50, and the final time was 1:34.45. Welter Weight (Smart Strike) nosed out Stirred Up (Lemon Drop Kid) for second. Bodemeister is the second foal from Untouched Talent, who captured the GIII Sorrento S. at Del Mar in 2006. She also finished second in both the GI Del Mar Debutante S. and GII Darley Alcibiades S. that season before selling for $850,000 at FTKNOV. Bred to Unbridled's Song, the mare wound up going for $1.2 million to Audley Farm at KEENOV in 2007. She has a Smart Strike yearling filly, and produced a Tiznow filly Jan. 9. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $44,800.