Baffert sweeps Santa Anita’s Breeders’ Cup qualifiers
Regardless of what controversy may swirl around him in Kentucky and New York, it is still Bob Baffert’s world in California.
After he saddled Corniche’s victory in the American Pharoah (G1) and Medina Spirit’s in the Awesome Again (G1), Baffert completed a sweep Sunday of the Breeders’ Cup qualifiers on opening weekend of the Santa Anita fall.
Private Mission (1-1) took the lead in the second turn and ran off by about two lengths to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. It was also a “win and you’re in” for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
After Mike Smith won Friday on Corniche and John Velázquez on Saturday on Medina Spirit, it was Flavien Prat’s turn to win one for Baffert. It was his second consecutive winning ride on the 3-year-old Into Mischief filly, the earlier one coming by 6 1/2 lengths Aug. 21 in the Torrey Pines (G3) at Del Mar.
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As Time Goes By (8-5), also trained by Baffert, rallied from mid-pack to place second. Miss Bigly (17-1) closed to finish third. Stellar Sound (6-1) rallied late to take fourth.
Bought for $750,000 by Susan and Charlie Chu’s Baoma Corporation, Private Mission’s was clocked at 1:43.77, chasing an early pace of 23.21 and 46.87 seconds before moving into the lead and getting fractions of 1:11.45 and 1:36.89.
Lightly raced since making her debut last fall, Private Mission’s record is 5: 4-0-0 with a 3-for-3 mark at Santa Anita.