+VALIANT MINISTER (c, 4, Candy Ride {Arg}–Spooky Minister, by Deputy Minister), the 2015 OBS June sales topper, made his belated unveiling a winning one with a frontrunning score at Santa Anita. Hammered down for $680,000 at that sale after breezing one furlong in :9 4/5, the gray missed all of his sophomore season, but came into this debut with a sharp worktab, sporting four straight sub-1:00 five-furlong moves, capped off by a spin in :59 4/5 (2/150) here Jan. 4. Bet hard late to 11-10 favoritism, Valiant Minister made the lead in the early stages and was pressed by barnmate Lord Simba (Discreet Cat) through a :21.86 quarter. That foe crept closer to his outside nearing the top of the lane, but the favorite shrugged him aside and scooted clear by the eighth pole before hitting the wire two lengths to the good in a sharp 1:08.84. Lord Simba was well-clear for the place. The winner is a full to 'TDN Rising Star' Holy Candy, GSP, $161,280. His dam has a 2-year-old Bodemeister colt and foaled a filly by Atreides last term before visiting Maclean's Music. Second dam Lunar Spook (Silver Ghost) captured the GI Ashland S. in 1993. Sales History: $680,000 2yo '15 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: $32,400. O-Baoma Corporation; B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings Inc.; T-Bob Baffert.[bullet ad=”hillndale-bredraised”][bullet ad=”hillndale-lanni-purchased”]
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