An attentive second to a moderate early pace, Michael Lund Petersen's Faiza took command turning for home en route to a facile 2¼ length win in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) Sunday at Santa Anita, giving Bob Baffert his record eighth victory in a traditional prep to the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
With Flavien Prat employing a hand ride the final sixteenth of a mile, Faiza got 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.66 as she remained unbeaten in four starts.
Although the Santa Ysabel is structured to award 50 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the winner, Faiza is ineligible due to a dispute between Baffert and Churchill Downs. However, the second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-place finishers will receive 20, 15, 10, and five points, respectively.
With Blessed Touch and Hector Berrios showing the way around the Club House turn, Faiza, who broke from the far outside in a field of five sophomore fillies, appeared to have her measured throughout and drew alongside mid-way on the far turn before taking control leaving the quarter pole.
Although ridden by Ramon Vazquez to a half-length score going one mile in the Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) Jan. 28 at Santa Anita, Prat, who had been aboard for a win in the Starlet (G1) at Los Alamitos Dec. 10 and a first-out maiden win sprinting Nov. 12 at Del Mar, was reunited with the daughter of Girvin.
Off at 4-5, Faiza paid $3.60 for the win.
“Obviously, a great post so she jumped well and got me into the race,” said Prat. “She was travelling well all the way around. I felt the pace was quite easy, so I could get myself going around the turn and she stretched her legs down the lane really well.
“It seems like she is getting better, race after race. I think the distance is not a problem for her. She's a filly that has stamina so there is definitely improvement.”
A $725,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase from Paul Sharp's consignment, Faiza is out of the Smart Strike mare Sweet Pistol and was bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones. With the Santa Ysabel's winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $402,000.
“She's got a great mind and she's by one of the hottest sires, Girvin, who is just unbelievable,” said Baffert. “His progeny (Dorth Vader) won the Davona Dale (G2, Gulfstream Park) yesterday. We are just lucky to have her. …”
Trained by Peter Miller, And Tell Me Nolies rallied four-wide turning for home and was clearly second best under Ramon Vazquez. She finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of Blessed Touch in third.
Off at 10-1 with Hector Berrios, Blessed Touch finished 2½ lengths in front of Justique.
Both Justique and fifth-place finisher Pride of the Nile, never threatened from off the pace.
Fractions on the race were :24, :48.32, 1:12.89 and 1:38.25.
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