TDN RISING STARS

July 7, 2017 - Los Alamitos, Race 4, Msw, USD $45,000, 5F

Zulfikhar, c, 2, 2015 by Bodemeister

1st Dam: Pink Diamond (SP, $131,160), by Mineshaft
2nd Dam: Zinfandoll, by Sky Classic
3rd Dam: Gold Shadow, by Mr. Prospector

Owner: Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum
Breeder: Nursery Place, Donaldson, Broadbent & Hughes (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert

Zulfikhar (c, 2, Bodemeister–Pink Diamond, by Mineshaft), not much of a secret as the 3-5 favorite, earned his ‘TDN Rising Star’ badge with a razor sharp debut score for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert at Los Alamitos Friday afternoon. The bay broke alertly from his inside draw and was immediately reguided to the outside to force the issue from second through an opening quarter in :22.18. He gained a narrow advantage on the far turn, began to edge clear as they straightened for home and was never seriously asked for run while cruising to a 3 3/4-length length victory. Almeria (Into Mischief) was second.

Zulfikhar brought $750,000 earlier this spring after breezing in :10 at the Fasig-Tipton March Sale. The $190,000 KEESEP graduate was part of a highly successful group of pinhooks–which also included fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ and $1.7-million OBS March topper Diamondsandpearls (Congrats)–for Zayat Stables this spring (Zayats Test Juvenile Market).

Zulfikhar’s stakes-placed dam Pink Diamond brought $65,000 from Woods Edge Farm at the 2015 KEENOV sale. The half-sister to GI Hollywood Starlet S. runner-up Rahy Dolly (Rahy) had a Graydar colt in 2017.

Baffert also trains GI Santa Margarita S. heroine Vale Dori (Arg) (Asiatic Boy {Arg}) on behalf of owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum.