TDN RISING STARS

July 2, 2017 - Santa Anita, Race 2, Msw, USD $54,000, 5F

Diamondsandpearls, f, 2, 2015 by Congrats

1st Dam: Azalea Belle, by Dixie Union
2nd Dam: Westerly Breeze, by Gone West
3rd Dam: On the Brink, by Cox's Ridge

Owner: Phoenix Thoroughbred III Ltd.
Breeder: Todd & Chad Frederick & Phoenix Farm & Racing
Trainer: Bob Baffert

Diamondsandpearls, the $1.7-million topper at this year’s OBS March sale after breezing a furlong in :9 4/5, took all the money for her debut and rolled to a frontrunning tour de force victory, earning ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors in the process. Backed to 1-2 despite an average-looking worktab for the Bob Baffert barn, the dark bay broke sharply and made a clear lead in the first handful of strides. Tracked by eventual runner-up Mondaymorningblues (Morning Line) through a :22.30 quarter, the favorite cut the corner nicely and shook loose soon after straightening. Blowing the race apart by the eighth pole, Diamondsandpearls coasted home seven lengths to the good in :58.03. The winner is the second ‘TDN Rising Star’ juvenile for Bob Baffert in a week, as his Serengeti (Algorithms) toyed with a field of maidens by 11 lengths last Sunday. Diamondsandpearls has a yearling half-sister by Orb and her dam was bred to Constitution last spring. Second dam Westerly Breeze (Gone West) was a Grade II winner as a juvenile.

Bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe, the wife of trainer Jeremy Noseda, made plenty of noise worldwide on behalf of Phoenix Thoroughbreds–the Luxembourg-based investment platform–at the 2-year-old in training sales this spring, led by OBS March topper Diamondsandpearls and a record-breaking €1.4-million Street Sense colt at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale. With Amer Abdulaziz serving as Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix currently has operations in six countries, with the goal of becoming the first regulated Thoroughbred investment fund in the world. Some of Phoenix’s other purchases this spring include: an $800,000 Scat Daddy filly and $750,000 Uncle Mo filly-both at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream; and a $625,000 Super Saver colt and $600,000 More Than Ready filly at OBS March.