Saturday Insights: Baffert Brings A Strong Hand Into Del Mar's Closing Weekend

Zabo breezes at OBS March | Photos by Z

By

3rd-DMR, 75K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 5:30 p.m.

One of two entries for trainer Bob Baffert, the New York-bred ZABO (Justify) sold to Zedan Racing for $700,000 at OBS March earlier this year from the Chester and Mary Broman consignment. The colt is the first foal out of MSW/GSP Pauseforthecause (Giant's Causeway) who earned nearly $550,000 in her career and is herself a daughter of MSW/GISP Spritely (Touch Gold). After bringing just $100,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September, Zabo impressed with a sharp quarter-mile breeze in :20.2.

Joining him to the outside is stablemate King's Road (Quality Road), a $525,000 Keeneland September grad for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables. The dam is a half-sister to GSW Mrs. Danvers (Tapit) and from the family of MGSW/MGISP Teammate (A.P. Indy) and, most notably, GSW/GISP and prolific turf sire War Front (Danzig). TJCIS PPS

6th-DMR, 75K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 7:00 p.m.

Another Baffert pair gets on the main track later in the card with Into Midnight (Into Mischief) breaking from the gate under Victor Espinoza. Dam Midnight Lucky, bought as a yearling at Saratoga by Mike Pegram for $200,000, would take both the GI Acorn Stakes and the GI Humana Distaff Stakes in her racing career. The family includes GISW and $2.9m Stonestreet broodmare buy Hookedonthefeelin (Citidancer) and her progeny MGISW Pussycat Doll (Real Quiet) and GISW and sire Jimmy Creed (Distorted Humor).

Stablemate Yaqin (Nyquist), a $525,000 OBS April grad for Zedan Racing, is out of a half-sister to the late Laoban (Uncle Mo) and to the dam of Canadian champion 2-year-old colt Mr. Hustle (Declaration of War). TJCIS PPS

4th-CNL, 60K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 2:30 p.m.

Another son of Justify debuts on the grass as Marshal, a $600,000 Keeneland September purchase for Pin Oak Stud, makes the races Saturday on Colonial Downs' closing weekend. From three foals to race, dam Durga Devi (Ire), who is a half to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Wrote (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), has produced a Scandinavian champion 2-year-old colt in Downtown Leo (Speightstown) and Saudi Arabian winner Sa'aeid (Munnings). TJCIS PPS

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

Liked this article? Read more like this.

  1. Mawu Turns And Burns On Debut At The Great Race Place
  2. The Week in Review: East Avenue Tops Bumper Crop of Juveniles
  3. Justify's Ramatuelle Roars Back To Her Best In The Foret
  4. Into Mischief's Citizen Bull Stamps Ticket to Breeders' Cup in American Pharoah
  5. Hang The Moon Worst To First In WAYI Rodeo Drive
X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.