Heavily favored Scipio sailed home a much-the-best winner of the Baffle Stakes at Santa Anita. The dark bay colt, twice graded-placed while still a maiden, earned his first career victory going one mile over the Santa Anita turf last time out and was the 4-5 favorite to make it two in a row while making his first start down the hill Sunday. He raced near the back of a compact field and was buried behind a wall of horses approaching the stretch. Tipped to the center of course at the top of the lane, Scipio glided effortlessly to the lead under a hand ride from Flavien Prat and cruised under the wire.
A debut third at Del Mar last August, Scipio closed to be a narrowly beaten third in the Sept. 8 GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf. He was fourth in the Nov. 1 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes and second in the Dec. 1 GIII Cecil B. DeMille Stakes before graduating versus maiden company Dec. 28.
Soul Spirit, a half-sister to graded winners Journey Home (War Front) and Ticker Tape Home (Medaglia d'Oro), has a 2-year-old colt by Hard Spun and a yearling filly by Tacitus. She was bred back to Essential Quality last year. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
BAFFLE S., $101,000, Santa Anita, 2-16, 3yo, 6 1/2fT, 1:12.52, fm.
1–SCIPIO, 120, r, 3, by Caravaggio
1st Dam: Soul Spirit, by Quality Road
2nd Dam: Soul Search, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Solar Colony, by Pleasant Colony
($60,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Nguyen,
Calvin and Tran, Joey C.; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY);
T-Richard Baltas; J-Flavien Prat. $60,000. Lifetime Record:
MGSP, 6-2-1-2, $149,000.
2–Game Warrior, 120, c, 3, Game Winner–Le Mi Geaux, by First
Samurai. ($52,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Jethorse LLC; B-George W. Ruggiero (KY);
T-Ruben D. Alvarado. $20,000.
3–Freedom's Not Free, 120, c, 3, Omaha Beach–
Wonderfuladventure, by Tiz Wonderful. ($75,000 Ylg '23
KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '24 EASMAY). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Blinkers On Racing Stable, Janlois Racing, LLC, Valinor Racing
Stable, LLC, Corbett, Tom, Kwan, Adny and Wagner, Jay Lester;
B-Cove Springs, LLC (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $12,000.
Margins: 1HF, NO, 3 3/4. Odds: 0.90, 34.40, 2.80.
Also Ran: Fomo Joe, Triple Diamonds, Style Cat, Maximus.
#5 SCIPIO ($3.80) swung to the outside for the stretch and went right on by the leaders to easily win the $100,000 Baffle Stakes at Santa Anita. The son of Caravaggio was ridden by Flavien Prat and is trained by Richard Baltas.
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