TDN RISING STARS

January 19, 2019 - Santa Anita, Race 7, Msw, USD $55,000, 6F

Dessman, C, 3, 2016 by Union Rags

1st Dam: Frolic's Appeal, by Trippi
2nd Dam: Cherokyfrolicflash, by Green Dancer
3rd Dam: Cherokee Frolic, by Cherokee Fellow

Owner: Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum
Breeder: Wind Hill Farm (FL)
Trainer: Bob Baffert

Saddling a plethora of ‘TDN Rising Stars’ last year, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert sent out his first ‘Rising Star’ of 2019 at Santa Anita Saturday in ultra-impressive debut winner Dessman (Union Rags). Installed the heavy 4-5 favorite for the omnipresent Baffert barn, he was off a step slowly, but was pushed along by Flavien Prat to chase the pace out wide in third. The $750,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream (:21 1/5) buy ranged up ominously to challenge the leader after a :22.24 opening quarter, and was clearly going better of the top two approaching the quarter pole as stablemate Scalper (Uncle Mo)–$850,000 at the same sale (:10 1/5)–revved up behind. Dessman proved to be in a class of his own in the lane, however, as he leveled off powerfully to run up the score by 7 1/2 lengths. Norski (Liaison) took third over Scalper.

Dessman is a half-sibling to Renaissance Frolic (Paynter), MSW, $149,470. Their dam Frolic’s Appeal did not have a foal in 2017, but produced a colt named Superfrolicflash (Super Saver) in 2018 and was bred back to Liam’s Map. The 11-year-old mare is a half-sister to MGSW millionaire Smok’n Frolic (Smoke Glacken), who is the dam of Canadian champion Hunters Bay (Ghostzapper). This is also the family of graded winners Mokat (Uncle Mo), Frolic’s Dream (Smoke Glacken) and millionaire Lindsay Frolic (Mt. Livermore).