By Christina Bossinakis
Searching for redemption following a sub-par effort as the beaten 1-10 choice in her stakes debut last time out, Michael Lund Petersen's Maysam (Game Winner) appeared to have her running shoes on Sunday while registering a hard-fought victory at odds of 3-2 over favored Supa Speed (Justify) in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita.
Rushing to the lead from her outside perch facing three others, Maysam, dropping the blinkers here, clicked off an opening quarter in :23/45 as even-money choice Supa Speed kept the frontrunner in her sights. Hitting the half-mile pole in :47.74, the Bob Baffert trainee picked up the tempo approaching the final turn, while Supa Speed increased the intensity to her outside. Straightening for home in tandem, the sophomore fillies battled head to head all the way down the lane, but it was Maysam who got her nose down ahead of the ultra-game Supa Speed, who finished 6 1/2 lengths clear of fellow Baffert runner Howin (Gun Runner).
“It was really close,” said winning rider J.J. Hernandez. “We were fighting from the quarter pole to the wire, but my filly put her nose in front. She was really happy today. Last time in the Sunland Park Oaks, I think she didn't like the track at all. She was really upset…But today she was a different filly. She was so happy today. She broke really sharp and was waiting for company. She was looking around just waiting for the competition.”
Maysam won like a good thing when strolling home a six-length winner in her Jan. 24 debut at Santa Anita, earning 'TDN Rising Star' credentials in the process. Failing to replicate that form when asked to stretch to a mile for the Feb. 16 Sunland Park Oaks, the filly couldn't justify her heavy backing, finishing a well-beaten sixth that day.
“We really enjoyed her performance today,” Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes said. “We had a little difficulty at the gate in Sunland Park, but that's not her. We brought her back, made a few corrections and hopefully figured her out. She ran very well today.”
Pedigree Notes:
Maysam was a $140,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling purchase prior to bringing $500,000 at last year's OBS March sale. She is the third black-type winner for her sire Game Winner. Dam Sefani produced a filly by Silver State in 2023 and followed up with a filly by Epicenter last season. She was bred back to Street Sense.
Sunday, Santa Anita
FASIG-TIPTON SANTA YSABEL S.-GIII, $98,000, Santa Anita, 3-2, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.62, ft.
1–MAYSAM, 120, f, 3, by Game Winner
1st Dam: Sefani, by American Pharoah
2nd Dam: Seacrettina, by Sea of Secrets
3rd Dam: Sha Hearah, by Dehere
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN Rising
Star' ($140,000 Ylg '23 FTKJUL; $500,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR).
O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Seclusive Farm LLC, Chester &
Anne Prince (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000.
Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $98,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Supa Speed, 122, f, 3, Justify–Elfin Queen, by American
Pharoah. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($460,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP).
O-Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC; B-Coteau Grove
Farms, LLC (LA); T-John W. Sadler. $20,000.
3–Howin, 120, f, 3, Gun Runner–Flora Dora, by First Dude.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($550,000 Ylg '23
KEESEP). O-Baoma Corp; B-Coffee Pot Stables (KY); T-Bob
Baffert. $12,000.
Margins: NO, 6HF, 20. Odds: 1.50, 1.00, 3.50.
Also Ran: Just as Fancy. Scratched: Cipriani, Hey Jessie.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
What a race!! #5 MAYSAM ($5.00) outdueled Supa Speed in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) at @santaanitapark. This win earned her 37.5 Kentucky Oaks points.
Maysam is sired by @LanesEndFarms' Game Winner. She was ridden by @JJHernandezS19 for @BobBaffert. pic.twitter.com/ATuRP6sQuy
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 2, 2025
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