Velazquez Vies for Graded Stakes Record at Santa Anita

Less than a week after tying Jerry Bailey's modern-day record of 660 graded stakes-winning rides, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has three chances to surpass Bailey Sept. 27 on opening day of the fall meet at Santa Anita Park.

The Hall of Fame rider is booked to ride Bast in the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes (G1), Double Touch in the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes (G2T), and Eight Rings in the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1).

This 660-win milestone covers racing data from 1976 to present. Bailey began riding Thoroughbreds at 17 in 1974, rose to prominence in the 1980s, and retired in 2006 at the top of the sport as a seven-time Eclipse Award winner and member of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Bast, the 3-5 morning-line favorite for the juvenile filly test, gives Velazquez his first opportunity to hold the record alone when the Chandelier goes as the fifth race on the nine-race card at 3:10 p.m. PT. Second in her Aug. 11 debut at Del Mar, the 2-year-old Uncle Mo  filly returned less than three weeks later to win the Aug. 31 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) by 8 3/4 lengths, an effort that stamped her as the West Coast's leading prospect for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita.

"She wasn't that tired after the race," trainer Bob Baffert said. "That's a good sign right there."

The Chandelier and the American Pharoah are Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races, providing guaranteed paid berths into the Juvenile Fillies and TVG Juvenile (G1), respectively.

At 1 1/16 miles on the Santa Anita main track, the Chandelier presents a new test for Bast, who has sprinted exclusively, typical of most of her rivals except K P Dreamin, a maiden winner going a mile. Bast's longest race in two starts was the seven-furlong Debutante.

"She hasn't shown me anything to make me think she won't do it," Baffert said of the distance. "She's been working well. I think this will set her up for the Breeder's Cup. It's exciting. She has a good mind on her. She has speed. She's just a really nice filly."

Bred in Kentucky by BlackRidge Stables out of the Arch mare Laffina, Bast was a $500,000 purchase by Baoma Corporation from Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 

She is the first foal out of Laffina, who raced in Ireland at 3, twice placing second in mile races on the grass. Bast's half brother, a yearling by California Chrome , was also purchased by Baoma for $325,000 from the Taylor Made consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Only five foes are lined up to face Bast, two of them trained by Doug O'Neill: Buyer's Remorse and Comical. Buyer's Remorse ran second in her only start Aug. 18 at Del Mar, beaten a half-length, and Comical is the most experienced member of the field with four starts. A winner of her first two races, including the July 11 Schuylerville Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course, she finished sixth in the Sorrento Stakes (G2) at Del Mar and third in the Debutante.

The strength of the Del Mar Debutante was apparent when fourth-place finisher Lazy Daisy returned Sept. 14 to win the Pocahontas Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

California-bred stakes winner Been Studying Her and Leucothea, eighth in the Del Mar Debutante, complete the field.

Entries: Chandelier S. (G1)

Santa Anita Park, Friday, September 27, 2019, Race 5

• Grade I
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 2 yo Fillies
• 3:10 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Been Studying Her (CA)	Mike E. Smith	122	Dan Ward	9/2
2	2K P Dreamin (FL)	Ruben Fuentes	122	Jeff Mullins	6/1
3	3Comical (KY)	Abel Cedillo	122	Doug F. O'Neill	8/1
4	4Bast (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Bob Baffert	3/5
5	5Buyer's Remorse (FL)	Mario Gutierrez	122	Doug F. O'Neill	12/1
6	6Leucothea (KY)	Norberto Arroyo, Jr.	122	Peter Miller	5/1