TDN RISING STARS

December 29, 2023 - Santa Anita, Race 8, Msw, USD $65,000, 6F

Kinza, F, 2, 2021 by Carpe Diem

1st Dam: Secret Wonder, by Quality Road
2nd Dam: Maxinkuckee Miss, by Langfuhr
3rd Dam: Wini Jones, by Seeking the Gold

Owner: Michael Lund Petersen
Breeder: JD Business Ventures LLC, Brushy Hill Stable & Carpe Diem Syndicate (NY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert

Michael Lund Peterson's Kinza (Carpe Diem–Secret Wonder, by Quality Road) debuted in 'TDN Rising Star' style Friday, leading a field of maiden fillies at Santa Anita gate-to-wire to graduate for trainer Bob Baffert. Purchased for $350,000 as a 2-year-old earlier this year at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale after breezing in :10.1, the 5-1 shot prepped for this spot with a pair of back-to-back bullet works earlier in the month (five furlongs from the gate in :59 3/5 {1/9} Nov. 29 and again in 1:00 flat {1/4} Dec. 6} and certainly seized her opportunity to strike the front at first call under Juan Hernandez. Despite heavy pressure to her outside from race favorite Ms Bo J (Mitole), Kinza was able to shake that rival off through fractions of :21.92 and :45.24 and really open up when unleashed past the quarter pole. From there, it was only a matter of who would finish second (an honor taken by Splendora {Audible}) as Kinza won for fun by 7 1/2 lengths.

The fourth 'TDN Rising Star' for Louisiana-based Carpe Diem, and the first since 2020, Kinza is the first to the races and first winner for her dam who has since produced a yearling Instagrand filly. Secret Wonder is due on a cover to Honest Mischief for 2024.