Santa Anita: Maymun could be another star for Baffert

A new budding star from the Bob Baffert barn emerged Saturday at Santa Anita.

First-time starter Maymun, a 3-year-old Frosted colt purchased for $900,000 at auction last year, aired by 7 1//2 lengths under Juan Hernandez in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race on dirt. Maymun sizzled the opening half-mile in 43.91 seconds before crossing the wire in 1:15.59.

According to Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free, the effort earned a lofty 94 Beyer Speed Figure. That ties for the second-highest figure posted by a 3-year-old so far this year.

At Fair Grounds on Jan. 7, Godolphin’s Maycocks Bay ran a 95 Beyer when winning an allowance by 10 3/4 lengths going one mile and 70 yards for trainer Michael Stidham. Equaling Maymun’s 94 Beyer on Saturday was Hall of Fame, a $1.4 million Gun Runner colt who won a 1 1/16-mile allowance race in his second start at Fair Grounds for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Maymun was purchased at last year’s OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training after he breezed a furlong in 9.60 seconds. Agent Donato Lanni signed the ticket on behalf of Amr Zedan’s Zedan Racing.

Maymun’s hammer price also provided a home run for pinhooker Paul Neatherlin. At the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale, Neatherlin purchased Maymun for $50,000.

Maymun is out of the Indian Charlie mare Handwoven, who was winless in just one start in 2013. She has had only one other winner from seven foals of racing age.

Although the next step for Maymun remains to be determined, it likely will be on to stakes company sooner rather than later. Santa Anita’s stakes series for 3-year-olds on dirt includes the Grade 2 San Felipe at 1 1/16 miles on March 2 and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby going 1 1/8 miles on April 7.