Bast Proves Best in Santa Anita's Chandelier Stakes
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Bast wins the Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Although racing in New York has been the principal base for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, it was in California that he delivered a record-setting moment Sept. 27, guiding Bast to a neck victory in the $300,351 Chandelier Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, giving him the modern-day record of 661 graded stakes wins by a jockey.
The Chandelier proved more challenging than the public expected for Bast, the 1-5 favorite coming off an 8 3/4-length victory in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1). Sent after frontrunner Comical, the eventual runner-up, on the second turn by Velazquez after pressing the pace, Bast poked a head in front coming into the stretch but could not extend her advantage.
Bast ($2.40) earned an automatic, entry-paid berth in the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita. As a two-time grade 1 winner and a winner at the track, she figures to be one of the favorites.
The six-horse race was not lacking in drama. Leaving the gate, 24-1 outsider Leucothea broke awkwardly, unseating jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. and then running loose around the track while near the outer rail. She went immediately toward photographers positioned to capture the start of the race, leaving them diving to escape.
She was corralled by an outrider, and Arroyo dusted himself off and walked back to the grandstand following the incident. He rode the next race, the Eddie D Stakes, where he was third on Stormy Liberal.
Game in defeat was Schuylerville Stakes (G3) winner Comical, who after setting fractions of :24.92, :49.54, and 1:13.98, finished three lengths in front of third-place K P Dreaming. Been Studying Her and Buyer's Remorse completed the order of finish.
The time for the Chandelier was modest: 1:46.10 for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track, though the surface produced slow times Friday, Santa Anita’s opening day.
“I really think this race is going to move Bast up, so I feel pretty good about it,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “You’re supposed to get tired first time two turns. They’re a little bit confused; they’re 2-year-olds and they probably thought, ‘What are we doing? We have to go around again?’”
A daughter of Uncle Mo out of the Arch mare Laffina, Bast won for the second time in three starts, with her only defeat a runner-up finish in her Aug. 11 debut at Del Mar. She has earned $372,200 for owners Charles and Susan Chu of Baoma Corporation.
Bast’s score helped Velazquez surpass the 660 graded stakes wins by retired Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey, according to Equibase, which tracks statistics dating to 1976. A few races later Friday, Velazquez increased his win total to 662 in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) aboard Eight Rings.
Velazquez said Bailey "is a guy who I rode with for so many years and have looked up to for so long. It’s incredible."