Sent right to the front after a fast beginning by jockey Flavian Prat, FAIZA (Girvin–Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike), a $725,000 2-year-old purchase out of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale, hooked up early with Teena Ella (War Front) and outlasted her rival to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut. The pair kept the pace honest, covering the first quarter in :21.92 as Teena Ella, the daughter of four-time champion Beholder, stuck a head in front and the top two pulled several lengths clear of the rest of the field. Though it looked briefly as if Teena Ella might get away, Faiza threatened past the quarter pole with Prat sitting cool while Juan Hernandez was already hard at work on his filly. By the top of the lane, Faiza began to assert her dominance, coming into the final eighth well clear as Teena Ella faded from contention. Lily Poo chased her home from second but was ultimately no match as Faiza hit the wire a wrapped-up 3 1/2 lengths ahead.
The second 'TDN Rising Star' and 16th winner for her freshman sire (by Tale of Ekati), Faiza is out of a half-sister to MGSW and Spendthrift Farm stallion Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) while second dam Pomeroys Pistol, a graded-stakes winner herself, placed in both the GI Prioress S. and the GI Test S. Faiza's yearling half-sister by Cairo Prince recently brought $160,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
4th-Del Mar, $71,000, Msw, 11-12, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:09.28, ft, 3 1/2 lengths.
FAIZA, f, 2, Girvin
1st Dam: Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Pomeroys Pistol, by Pomeroy
3rd Dam: Prettyatthetable, by Point Given
$90,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $725,000 2yo '22 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000.
O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
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