Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

TDN Snippets: Week of Feb. 28-Mar. 6

It was a jam packed weekend of action from coast to coast. Here's a small, bite-sized sample of its impact on the bloodstock world.

All The Time…

Few sires are hotter right now than Taylor Made's Not This Time, who has the fewest crops of any of the top 10 sires on the 2022 general sire list. In addition to his one-two finish by Simplification and In Due Time in the Fountain of Youth, his Epicenter is also on the GI Kentucky Derby trail.

McGrath's Seal Of Approval…

Not This Time's 17 black-type winners include six graded winners and his sustained success recently prompted Chris McGrath to name Not This Time possibly Giant's Causeway's “principal American successor.”

No One Said It Was Easy…

Morello, who won the GIII Gotham S. Saturday, was the third-priciest Classic Empire 2-year-old sold at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale when he brought $250,000, but is out of a mare who once RNA'd for $1,500. Stop the Wedding eventually sold in 2020 at Keeneland January for $11,000 to Robert Tillyer–co-breeder of Morello–while in foal to Cairo Prince. Her offspring at the sales have been all over the place, with some RNA'ing for the low four figures, and another bringing $525,000 as a juvenile.

Not Just California Dreamin'

Although the top three money earners for Union Rags, standing for $30,000 this year, have all excelled in California–Saturday's GI Santa Anita H. victor Express Train, Paradise Woods, and Catalina Cruiser–the Lane's End sire is by no means a one-trick pony. He's had a Grade I-winning 2-year-old colt, as well as two Grade I-winning 2-year-old fillies, a Grade I-winning 3-year-old filly, and now a Grade I-winning older horse. He's had graded winners on dirt and turf, short and long. Along the way, he's accumulated 13 graded winners among his 23 black-type winners.

Brilliant Racehorse, Brilliant Sire…

“It's a great day for Pharoah horses. American Pharoah has meant so much to racing.” — Bob Baffert

American Pharoah has four graded stakes winners on dirt in North America this year, topping TDN's General Sire List by that metric. He's more than the real deal.

Lev Miller Picks Up A Gem…

GII Davona Dale S. heroine Kathleen O. (Upstart) is the first foal out of Quaver, who has been a frequent visitor to Tapwrit in recent years, resulting in a 2-year-old colt named Tap Collector (a $65,000 OBS yearling purchased by PJ Campanella) and a yearling filly. Gainesway, Bridlewood, and the Tapwrit syndicate had bought Quaver with Kathleen O. in utero for $90,000 at the 2019 Keeneland January sale, then resold her at last year's Keeneland November sale in foal to Tapwrit for $140,000 to Lev Miller.

Rising Star Update For Yeguada Centurion…

Taiba, a $140,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling turned last year's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream second topper at $1.7 million, became the fourth 'TDN Rising Star' for Gun Runner. Interestingly, his dam, Needmore Flattery (Flatter), racked up more than $730,000 having never earned better than a 75 Beyer Speed Figure while competing mostly in Ohio-bred company. Needmore sold to Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals's Yeguada Centurion for $195,000 at Keeneland November in 2019 before being exported to France and foaling a filly by Uncle Mo.

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Eda Returns a Winner in Santa Ysabel

Baoma Corporation's Eda (Munnings), making her first start since winning the GI Starlet S. last December, went wire-to-wire to win the GIII Santa Ysabel S. by a half-length over her late-closing stablemate Under the Stars (Pioneerof the Nile) at Santa Anita Sunday. Sent off at 3-1, Eda stepped right out to the early lead as even-money favorite Under the Stars sat just off her flank while racing three wide down the backstretch with Ain't Easy (Into Mischief) to her inside. Jockey Juan Hernandez asked Eda for more approaching the quarter-pole as Under the Stars and Ain't Easy started their rallies on either side of the pacesetter. She began inching away and had a two-length advantage with a furlong to run, but Under the Stars was closing late only to run out of real estate on the wire. With trainer Bob Baffert still banned from starting horses at Churchill Downs, neither the winner nor the runner-up were early nominations to the GI Kentucky Oaks and neither were able to earn the Santa Ysabel's qualifying Oaks points.

Eda, second in the GII Sorrento S. while still a maiden, was fifth after attending a hot pace in the Sept. 5 GI Del Mar Debutante, but came back to graduate with a front-running tally in the Oct. 24 Anoakia S. She added a win in the Nov. 13 Desi Arnaz S. before stretching out to 1 1/16 miles to win the Starlet in her juvenile finale.

Pedigree Notes:

Breeder Nate McCauley purchased Show Me, a half-sister to graded winner Aegean (Northern Afleet), for $24,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton February sale and sent her to Coolmore's Munnings. The mare's first foal is Eda and she also has a yearling filly by Karakontie (Jpn). She sold to Camas Park Stud while in foal to Munnings for $535,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Eddie Woods's Quarter Pole Enterprises purchased Eda for $240,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September sale and resold her to the $550,000 bid of bloodstock agent Donato Lanni at the 2021 OBS March sale.

Sunday, Santa Anita
SANTA YSABEL S.-GIII, $101,500, Santa Anita, 3-6, 3yo, f,
1 1/16m, 1:44.31, ft.
1–EDA, 124, f, 3, by Munnings
                1st Dam: Show Me, by Lemon Drop Kid
                2nd Dam: Apt to Star, by Aptitude
                3rd Dam: Sweeping, by End Sweep
($240,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR).
O-Baoma Corporation; B-Nathan McCauley (KY); T-Bob Baffert;
J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-5-1-0,
$430,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Under the Stars, 120, f, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Untouched
Talent, by Storm Cat. O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor,
and Derrick Smith; B-Eaton (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $20,000.
3–Ain't Easy, 124, f, 3, Into Mischief–Ameristralia (Aus), by
Fastnet Rock (Aus). ($400,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Old Bones
Racing Stable, LLC, Michael V. Lombardi, and Joey Platts;
B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $12,000.
Margins: HF, 3 3/4, 1. Odds: 3.30, 1.00, 3.30.
Also Ran: Desert Dawn, Fortunata Tensio, Miss Everything, Cairo Memories, Classical Romance. Scratched: Micro Share.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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As Time Goes By Wires the Beholder

As Time Goes By (American Pharoah), second behind Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in last year's GI Beholder Mile, got the job done in the 2022 renewal of the race with an authoritative victory at Santa Anita Saturday. Sent off the 1-5 favorite while facing just three rivals, the dark bay mare was away half a step slowly, but was hustled out to the early lead. She was clear down the backstretch as the quarter went up in :22.76 and the half in :46.22. In front by three lengths at the top of the lane, As Time Goes By held off Miss Bigly, who gave valiant chase to the wire.

“She broke a little flat footed,” said winning jockey Flavien Prat. “We kind of brushed each other and after that I had to hustle her a little bit to get in the race, but after that I was travelling well and I felt like I was in control. It felt like when she felt that filly coming at her, she kind of regrouped and went on again so, it was nice.”

As Time Goes By, winner of last year's GII Santa Margarita S. and GII Santa Maria S., was eighth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff before ending the year with a win in the GIII Bayakoa S. at Los Alamitos. She opened 2022 with a 13 1/2-length romp in the Jan. 1 GIII La Canada S.

“She gets better with age,” said winning trainer Bob Baffert. “She is such an exciting and classy mare. She never breaks a sweat. I think the longer the better with her.”

Pedigree Notes:

As Time Goes By became American Phaorah's fourth Group/Grade I winner and gave him his second graded winner of the afternoon at Santa Anita, following Forbidden Kingdom's win in the GII San Felipe S. The Triple Crown winner was also represented Saturday by Disco Pharoah, a 19 1/2-length maiden winner in the first race at Aqueduct.

“These Pharoah horses are fast,” Baffert said. “It's a great day for Pharoah horses. American Pharoah has meant so much to racing.”

Take Charge Lady produced Charming (Seeking the Gold), dam of champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) and Grade I winner Omaha Beach (War Front). The blue hen mare is also the dam of Grade I winner Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy) and champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song).

Saturday, Santa Anita
BEHOLDER MILE S.-GI, $490,000, Santa Anita, 3-5, 4yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:37.55, ft.
1–AS TIME GOES BY, 122, m, 5, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: Take Charge Lady (Broodmare Of The Year, MGISW, $2,480,377), by Dehere
                2nd Dam: Felicita, by Rubiano
                3rd Dam: Grand Bonheur, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
   1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John,
and Smith, Derrick; B-Orpendale & Chelston (KY); T-Bob
Baffert; J-Flavien Prat. $300,000. Lifetime Record: 14-7-3-1,
$955,600. *1/2 to Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), GISW,
$1,103,496; and Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), Ch.
3-year-old Colt, MGISW, $3,924,648. Werk Nick Rating: B.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Miss Bigly, 122, m, 6, by Gemologist
1st Dam: Miss Puzzle (Aus) (SP-NZ), by Citidancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Miss Tree (Nz), by Oregon
3rd Dam: Miss Kiwitea, by Truly Vain (Aus)
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($120,000 Wlg '16 KEENOV; $20,000 Ylg
'17 KEESEP). O-Agave Racing Stable, Living The Dream Stables,
LLC and Rockin Robin Racing Stables; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY);
T-Philip D'Amato. $100,000.
3–Varda, 120, f, 4, by Distorted Humor
1st Dam: She'll Be Right, by Sky Mesa
2nd Dam: Boogie Beach Blues, by Cure the Blues
3rd Dam: Lonely Beach, by Kennedy Road
($100,000 Ylg '19 SARAUG; $700,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR).
O-Baoma Corporation; B-Masters 2013 LLC & Distorted Humor
Syndicate (NY); T-Bob Baffert. $60,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 7, 7HF. Odds: 0.30, 8.30, 9.10.
Also Ran: Envoutante. Scratched: Founder's Day, Moonlight d'Oro. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Seven-Figure Gun Runner Colt an Obvious ‘Rising Star’

Taiba (Gun Runner–Needmore Flatter, by Flatter) emerged as the latest standout for trainer Bob Baffert and Zedan Racing Stables as he ran to a hefty price tag as well as plenty of wagering dollars to be named a 'TDN Rising Star'. A $140,000 FTKOCT yearling turned last year's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream second topper at $1.7 million thanks to a powerful :10 1/5 work, the overwhelming 1-2 favorite broke well, but had to settle for a pressing spot in between rivals early. Jockey John Velazquez tapped on the gas entering the bend and Taiba took a narrow lead at that point with stablemate Mauritius (Twirling Candy) also up joining the fray three deep. The Baffert runners looked to have the race all to themselves after a :45.69 half, but it quickly became a one-horse affair as Taiba leveled off and exploded with efficient strides to run up the score to 7 1/2 lengths. He stopped the clock in 1:09.97. Mauritius held second.

Owner Amr Zedan's relatively young racing operation has already campaigned the likes of fellow seven-figure juvenile buy turned 'Rising Star' and GISW Princess Noor (Not This Time), as well as ill-fated and DQ'd GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico).

Taiba becomes the fourth 'TDN Rising Star' for last year's standout freshman sire (by Candy Ride {Arg})–Gun Runner's two other 'Rising Stars' who are not last year's champion juvenile filly Echo Zulu are also out of mares by A.P. Indy-line stallions.

MSW dam Needmore Flattery (Flatter) racked up more than $730,000 having never earned better than a 75 Beyer Speed Figure competing mostly in Ohio-bred company. Her first foal is a still-unraced 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo, and she sold to Leopoldo Fernández Pujals's Yeguada Centurion for $195,000 at KEENOV '19 before being exported to France and foaling a filly by Uncle Mo.

2nd-Santa Anita, $68,000, Msw, 3-5, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.97, ft, 7 1/2 lengths.
TAIBA, c, 3, Gun Runner
               1st Dam: Needmore Flattery (MSW, $732,103), by Flatter
                2nd Dam: Kiosk, by Left Banker
                3rd Dam: Phone Switch, by Phone Trick
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $40,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Bruce C Ryan (KY); T-Bob Baffert. *$140,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $1,700,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR.

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