Bast the Leading Lady of Baffert Trio in Santa Ynez

Baoma Corporation's Bast heads a trio of speedy fillies entered by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert into the $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2), which offers points toward a start in the May 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

The Jan. 5 test, run over seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park, drew a field of seven freshly turned 3-year-old fillies. Bast, the race's only stakes winner, will carry the highweight of 124 pounds, giving four pounds to the others. The first four finishers of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier will earn points on a 10-4-2-1 scale.

With three wins—all in grade 1s—from five starts as a 2-year-old, Bast brings experience and talent that may be unmatched in the Santa Ynez. The daughter of Uncle Mo  finished third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita one start before posting a half-length victory in the Dec. 7 Starlet Stakes (G1) at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Video: Starlet S. (G1)

Bast, favored at even money on the morning line, drew post 7 and will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke.

The only other filly with as much experience is K P Dreamin, who has finished behind Bast in four of her five starts. The daughter of Union Rags  won the only start in which she did not face that rival, outrunning another Santa Ynez entrant, Paige Anne. K P Dreamin finished third behind Bast in both the Chandelier Stakes (G1) and Starlet.

Baffert's other entrants include Iowa-bred Auberge, who races for Speedway Stable. The Palace  filly was a $570,000 purchase from Eddie Woods' consignment to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. 

Auberge broke her maiden in her only start, romping by 7 3/4 lengths Oct. 27 at Santa Anita. She outran Parkour, who since ran fourth in the Blue Norther Stakes. Auberge's most recent workout Dec. 29—when she completed four furlongs in :47 1/5, the fastest of 142 at the distance—signaled she's ready to fire again.

Flavien Prat will ride the 5-2 morning-line shot from the rail.

Golden Principal, a Florida-bred daughter of Constitution  racing for Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, and Paul Weitman, is the third Baffert entry. Golden Principal also debuted as a winner, taking a Nov. 30 maiden special weight at Del Mar over Classy Ruler, a daughter of Empire Maker  that brought $700,000 as a yearling.

"I wanted to enter Auberge and Golden Principal in allowance races, but they didn't fill," Baffert said. "Bast has been working well despite the fact that I've had a little bug running through my barn, so I've entered these horses just in case.

"They're nice fillies and I hate to run them all against each other, but that's what we have here now."

Golden Principal, 5-2 on the morning line, posted a bullet six-furlong gate work Dec. 28, getting the distance in 1:12 4/5 to be the fastest of eight that morning.

Mike Smith, once Baffert's primary stakes jockey, rides for the trainer for the first time since he guided Flor de La Mar to a fourth-place finish in a Santa Anita allowance Oct. 10. 

Over the final few months last year, Baffert began utilizing other riders more frequently. He replaced Smith with Joel Rosario on McKinzie before a runner-up finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Baffert has trained four Santa Ynez winners: Awesome Baby (2014), Indian Blessing (2008), Yearly Report (2004), and Queen of Money (1997).

Desi Arnaz Stakes runner-up Orquidias Biz, maiden winner Paige Anne, and starter optional claiming winner Lovely Lilia round out the field.

Entries: Santa Ynez S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Sunday, January 05, 2020, Race 7

• Grade II
• 7f
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 3:38 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Auberge (IA)	Flavien Prat	120	Bob Baffert	5/2
2	2Golden Principal (FL)	Mike E. Smith	120	Bob Baffert	5/2
3	3Lovely Lilia (KY)	Abel Cedillo	120	Philip D'Amato	12/1
4	4Paige Anne (KY)	Joseph Talamo	120	Simon Callaghan	20/1
5	5K P Dreamin (FL)	Ruben Fuentes	120	Jeff Mullins	20/1
6	6Orquidias Biz (KY)	Joel Rosario	120	Jeff Mullins	12/1
7	7Bast (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	124	Bob Baffert	1/1