santa anita | Horse Racing Free Tips

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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Unbeaten Flightline Back in Training

Undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' and jaw-dropping GI Runhappy Malibu S. winner Flightline (Tapit) returned to the track at Santa Anita Saturday after a strain in his hock forced him to miss a planned start in Saturday's GII San Carlos S.

“He jogged a mile which is pretty routine,” trainer John Sadler said. “We think his setback is over and he's back to training.”

Flightline, campaigned in partnership by the powerhouse line-up of Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, made it a perfect three-for-three with an 11 1/2-length victory while making his stakes debut in the Dec. 26 Malibu.

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Baffert Duo Takes On Santa Ysabel

Bob Baffert brings a strong hand into Sunday's local prep for the GI Kentucky Oaks in Santa Anita's GIII Santa Ysabel S. Leading the charge is Eda (Munnings), last out winner of the GI Starlet S. Dec.4 where she defeated fellow Santa Ysabel contender Cairo Memories (Cairo Prince) by a gamhalf-length. She'll be looking for her fourth stakes victory in a row after also decisively winning both the Desi Arnaz S. and the Anoakia S. last fall.

Not to be outdone by her stablemate, Under the Stars (Pioneerof the Nile) posted her own 3/4-length victory Jan. 8th in the GII Santa Ynez S. Though her recent efforts have all been sprinting, this half to Bodemeister has both the pedigree to cover the longer distance and the speed to overcome her far outside draw. Her speed figures have been on the rise since finishing a distant third to Eda in the Desi Arnaz S., including a career high 91 Beyer Speed Figure in her win in the Santa Ynez.

While she missed a planned start in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies due to surgery to remove a bone chip in her left ankle, 'TDN Rising Star' Ain't Easy (Into Mischief) certainly showed more than enough class as a 2-year-old to earn a place in this field. Though she's been working consistently, she'll be tested coming off a five-month layoff with her last race being a 4 3/4-length victory in the GII Chandelier S. back Oct. 1 where she defeated stablemate Desert Dawn (Cupid), who was six-lengths back in third and also runs here.

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Going to Vegas Ready to Roll in the Buena Vista

Trainer Richard Baltas sends out expected favorite GI Rodeo Drive S. winner Going to Vegas (Goldencents) in Saturday's GII Buena Vista S. at Santa Anita. Last seen finishing 11th in a 12-horse field after setting the early pace in the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Going to Vegas shook off the rust with a five-furlong drill in 1:00 (2/20) Feb. 26 in Arcadia. Flavien Prat, who won the GII John C. Mabee S. aboard the 5-year-old mare last September, has the mount.

To win, she'll have to get by likely frontrunner Leggs Galore (Bayern), sent out by Phil D'Amato, who is coming off a big effort, winning last out down the hill in the Jan. 15 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint S. She carries four fewer pounds than Going to Vegas and will almost certainly set the pace.

Coming after them both will be George Krikorian's homebred Mucho Unusual (Mucho Macho Man), who, after a strong 2021 season, looks to improve on her second-place finish in last year's Buena Vista S. where she finished in front of Going to Vegas. She and Going to Vegas will both need to overcome outside post positions (Going to Vegas in the 10, Mucho Unusual in the 11), but have the class to do so.

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