TDN RISING STARS

November 22, 2020 - Del Mar, Race 2, Msw, USD $57,000, 6 1/2F, .0000

Life Is Good, c, 2, 2018 by Into Mischief

1st Dam: Beach Walk, by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Bonnie Blue Flag, by Mineshaft
3rd Dam: Cassie Blue, by

Owner: CHC Inc. & WinStar Farm LLC
Breeder: Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert

With likely Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief) recently retired to stud, the Bob Baffert barn wasted no time unveiling its next speedy superstar by the nation's leading sire as CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC's Life is Good (Into Mischief) demolished his competition to become a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star'. The bay prepped for this with a head-turning 1:00 flat (1-of-51) gate breeze last Saturday (XBTV Video), and drifted up to 1-5 at the off after spending much of the betting cycle at 1-9. Zipping off to lead them by open lengths through speedy splits of :21.80 and :44.84, he was always in complete control and streaked home 9 1/2 lengths clear in 1:15.50 while flashing similar brilliance to the same ownership group's undefeated monster Nashville (Speightstown). Fellow firster Wipe the Slate (Nyquist) was second best.

The winner, who was a $525,000 KEESEP yearling, is bred on the same cross as MGISW and promising young sire Practical Joke (Into Mischief). His dam, herself a $435,000 September buy, never won in five tries but hit the board in maiden special weights in both Kentucky and Arkansas. She has a yearling filly by Blame and was bred back to Candy Ride (Arg).

Life Is Good's second dam is SW and MGISP Bonnie Blue Flag (Mineshaft), who sold for $1.5 million in 2011 but just $15,000 last November in foal to California Chrome at the age of 12 after having little success with her produce on the track. Bonnie Blue Flag is a half to MGISW and group producer Diamondrella (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}).